High School Do You Do A “reveal” For Tryouts?

[Sterling von Shimmer]

We have tryouts coming up for “summer spirit” (read: basically the cheer team but defined as a “advanced summer-long cheer clinic” until we’re legally allowed to hold offical tryouts in August).

Anyway, I wanted to do something a bit flashier rather than just an online posting of the teams. I’ve seen programs make everyone wait outside after tryouts and then come back in to find a gift bag with their name on it telling them which team they’ve made. And I think if we could guarantee that everyone makes a team so nobody goes home literally empty-handed that’d be a good idea, but I can’t promise that. What do you guys do?

For reference: currently we have tryouts over two weeks with the official tryout on the last day. Then we post the teams online at about 8 pm that evening. The next week the girls come in on their appointed day for their first team meeting where they receive their contract, handbook, schedule, and are sized for uniforms and camp clothes. Nothing super flashy or congratulatory, which I’d like to change if I can.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Boring lady here: Last few seaaons I sent an email. Before that I posted the list to a website.

Reason: no matter how you do it, someone is going to be upset. Ex: even if everyone makes one, someone is still going to be upset about the one they made. I liked for kids to be upset in their own homes.

Also: The why of things is important. Why is it important for a team reveal to be "cute?"

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Boring lady here: Last few seaaons I sent an email. Before that I posted the list to a website.

Reason: no matter how you do it, someone is going to be upset. Ex: even if everyone makes one, someone is still going to be upset about the one they made. I liked for kids to be upset in their own homes.

Also: The why of things is important. Why is it important for a team reveal to be "cute?"

Oh I know. I’ll always opt to give them the privacy to be upset at home, if possible. But I see all these cute tryout ideas on IG that look fun. We’re all business from day one so I like to do fluffy things for them when I can.

 

[DonnaM]

What if you send an e-mail for “you made a team”, but did a special reveal for summer groups (team colors,Hogwarts houses (possibly based on possible JV/Varsity, or stunt groups, or year in school).....)? That would let you do the cute stuff, but also avoid disappointment right then-and also give you some wiggle room for moving people around in the fall.

 

[OldskoolKYcheercoach]

Pull individuals aside, away from the group, and cut them with some instructions on what to work on next year. We allow them to leave quietly without drawing attention to the fact that they’re leaving. My assistant coach fishes their stuff out of the gym if she needs to.

Then I pull the remaining ones together and welcome them to the team