Tryouts for the 2011 14U East Cobb Astros will be held August 14 & 15 in conjunction with the main ECB 14U tryouts in part because of our heavy July game schedule and in part to allow players the opportunity to finish their 13u season with their existing team without distraction to the player or their current team. However, any player that would like to set up a private evaluation in advance to know where they stand or may stand can request to do so by emailing eastcobbastros14u@comcast.net or calling 404-247-0994. We will conduct such requested private workouts during July.
The following are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the 14U Astros tryouts and program:
1. Is the Astros team already picked and formed before the tryouts?
Absolutely not. Although there are some players that we have a good idea will make the team before tryouts, there are always a large number of players that we do not make final decisions on until after tryouts are complete. Every year we have players that we have never seen or thought may not make the team in fact make our club and become great players in the ECB program and beyond.
2. Are any parents involved in the team tryouts or in the coaching or operation of the team?
No. Never. No way. Not ever.
3. What if a coach of another team tells me I have to commit before the Astros tryouts or I will lose my spot?
Why would you want to play for someone like that anyway? If it is another East Cobb coach - let us know and we will deal with it. If it is a coach from another program we would suggest to you that the coach is full of it. If he really wants you and wants to help you and thinks you are good enough to play for him, chances are very good that he will find room for you despite what he says if things don't work out with the Astros. If this is really an issue you are concerned about, simply give us a call for a private workout in July.
4. If I don’t make the Astros is it in my best interest to play with another East Cobb team?
You bet. Each year we have at least 2 other Elite-level teams at the 14U age group at East Cobb. Often these teams are also coached by non-parent coaches with a significant amount of baseball experience. We also have many, many players that do not make the Astros at 14 that go on to make our top teams at 15 & 16U and use the many benefits provided by East Cobb to have successful baseball careers beyond high school.
5. What are the goals and objectives of the 14U Astros Program?
Winning Championships is great and a goal of ours but we like to say it comes as a natural by-product of having great players, teaching them to play the game right and demanding that they work hard and compete. We have many National Titles in recent years but we get a lot more satisfaction seeing nearly all of our players eventually having the opportunity to go on to play college and/or pro baseball. All of our players are going to be very good high school players based on their talent alone. That is not what we are about. We are about laying a foundation at 14 years old so they can build on that foundation and be successful at 15, 16, 17 and at playing baseball after high school at the level where they want to play.
6. Do college coaches really ever know about and watch the 14U Astros play?
Believe it or not they sure do. Prominent D-1 baseball programs are starting to evaluate and offer scholarships to players very early. We have great relationships with coaches from many SEC and ACC programs and we make a concerted effort to talk to them about our kids, get them to watch us play, and make sure our players are on the radar of these schools very early in the process. We frequently set up on-campus visits for our players and also help our players in the recruiting process after they leave our team and go on to older age groups.
7. What type of game/practice schedule do the 14U Astros have?
After the team is picked in the Fall we focus on development (not games) mostly on Sunday afternoons. In the later part of the Fall we will typically play some games (in late October). However our main emphasis in the Fall is development and teaching parts of the game that most players are not normally exposed to at the younger ages especially given the move to the bigger/regulation fields. We shut it down for most of November and December and in the new year do indoor hitting, fielding and pitching work usually starting mid-January. We will get outside as we can in February and then start playing/practicing with our 8th graders in March. During the early Spring and school year we practice on Wed. nights and play or practice on the weekends. Our 9th graders join us after their school season is complete. In the Summers we play a lot and mostly against 15 & 16U teams with the exception of major 14U events including the Elite 32 and Perfect Game National Championships. We typically play around 80-85 games in the Spring and Summer combined and also get a lot of practice time in.
8. Do the 14U Astros have a lot of out-of-state players?
No - we usually only have about 2 kids per year from outside Georgia and these players will stay with a host family from our team in the Summer. We welcome any player from anywhere but we are not a showcase program - we are a team - and we do not fly kids in for events or have "guest players". We expect a full commitment and do not add position players once we are well into the season and will only add pitchers later in the season if we need additional arms given our schedule and only if there is a firm commitment to remain with the ECB program long-term.
9. How much does it cost to play for the Astros?
Our team fees are typically around $1975/year and we have scholarship and financial aid available through East Cobb Baseball and other sources for those who need it. We try to to cut a little break to players that live far away to help with travel expenses and we have never let money get in the way of a player who wants and deserves to play on our team.
10. Where can I get more info and ask other questions?
Email us at eastcobbastros14u@comcast.net or call 404-247-0994.
