Pre-Tryout Clinic

You will need to conduct a pre-tryout clinic to teach the tryout material to the candidates.  It is easier for judges to give a consistent score if everyone is using the same material.

Helpers
Have someone make up or learn the material for the tryouts.  For a high school, use your outgoing seniors for this job.  For a middle school, you can use your outgoing senior class or some of the high school dancers may be able to help.  They should demonstrate their knowledge of the material at least one week prior to tryouts.  They must understand the importance of not teaching or showing the material to anyone!  If they need to practice teaching the material, they can practice teaching to each other.

Schedule
At the clinic, give the order of the material and skills to be presented at tryouts.  If you want, you can have each candidate bring a blank cassette to record the tryout music on a dual cassette player.  If you choose not to make the music available, be sure that your seniors refrain from recording it for their friends.

Assigning Numbers, Grouping Candidates
Have each candidate draw for the order of the tryout.  Write down each candidate’s name and corresponding number.

To find out how the candidates work in a group, have them perform the standard dance in groups of three or four.  You may want to have groups draw numbers for their tryout groups on the first day to allow them to meet each other before working together on the second day.

An easy way to group candidates is to divide the number of candidates by three or four, whichever number works best for your groups.  If for example, you have 20 candidates, write a “1” on four slips of paper, a “2” on four slips of paper, and so on until you have a “5” on four slips of paper.  The candidates all draw and get with their like-number group.  If your numbers do not work out evenly, try to work it out so that there are no groups with less than three or more than four candidates.

On the second day, review the material for a few minutes and then let the groups start working together.  If you are planning on participating in the judging process, this is a good time to evaluate how well each candidate will work with others.  Make sure your helpers assist everyone, not just people they know.

Mock Tryouts
If there is time, conduct a mock tryout to let the candidates get used to the tryout process.  This will also give you a feel for their sportsmanship qualities.

Try This One Out–Coach Selects Team
Spring can be a great time of year; flowers are blooming, the rain is washing away the gloom of winter.  Then why aren’t you smiling?  Could it be that panel of judges you have coerced, conned or bribed into selecting a dance team for YOU to work with for the next 365 days?  No wonder each spring you wear that face of doom.

But . . . it doesn’t have to be this way.  The football, baseball and volleyball coaches are smiling — why can’t you share that look of excitement for a new team for a new year?  Could it be that every other coach in your school selects their OWN team?  Wow!  What a concept.

It can be done, just like selecting a basketball team.  Watch the skills for two weeks of practice, then select the best qualified team members to be on your team.  Yes, clinic-style tryouts.  Here’s how!

• Start with your administration.  Have a plan and be determined.  Explain that you are a qualified coach, capable of picking your own team.  Who better than you?  Who else would select the football team other than the coach?  They would never consider bringing in a panel of judges, let them evaluate the skill of the candidates for about ten minutes, and then select the team based on a scoring system!
• Start early with school announcements, signs, flyers, etc. Change can be misunderstood; the more they hear it, the better they will understand it.
• Determine the length of your clinic.  This should be based on the number of participants.  I generally go 4 days a week for two weeks.  (This also shows the work ethic of the candidates; if they cannot make it for the two-week clinic, chances are they won’t make all the scheduled practices you have throughout the year.)
• Determine (very arduously) your “practice” schedule.  What elements will they learn, display or demonstrate?  Have a written agenda, but make sure to allow for change as needed.  Here’s an example: a basketball coach goes over shooting and ball handling, teaching an offense or defense and then he evaluates the players based on a variety of skills.  Use the exact same concept.
• Set up a scoring system.  You can simply use a Yes/No checklist.  Also leave plenty of room for specific notes pertaining to each candidate.
• Determine “cut” timeline.  We recommend first cuts sometime during the first week: this will allow you to look at a smaller number of people the second week.  We also used a second “cut” before the FINAL day of the clinic.  It is suggested not to “cut,” but to “INVITE” candidates back for the next day.  Then post a list with the names of the candidates “invited” back.
• Meet as a coaching staff DAILY to go over the “look at” list.  Agree on “yes/no” list to eliminate continuing to look at consensus “no” candidates.  Be sure to “look” again, maybe 3, 4, and 5 times before cutting that candidate.
• Last ... but the very most IMPORTANT COMPONENT!  Document, document and document!  It forces you to be accountable, and ... that is what makes it a “fair” tryout.