Tryout Drills

Not much experience with tryouts indoors, but here's a couple of drills that work well for me in a small area outdoors. They might also work in a gym:

1. Fielders: Pair off 6 or 8 players and have them spread out in two facing rows. Place a ball about 4 feet in front of each partner in one of the rows. (Allow plenty of space between players in each line, and have several assistants in position to grab an errant throw before it hits the wrong kid.) On a signal, have them throw to their respective partners. Repeat this several times, then switch sides.

This drill will give you some indication of arm strength and accuracy, footwork, balance, agility, and whether a player knows how to pick up the ball and get off a throw in one smooth motion. Since they are trying to beat each other, you'll also get a sense of how well each thrower behaves under competitive pressure (does he get nervous and tighten up, fumble the ball, etc.).

2. Hitters: Have them hit off a tee into a net, and then have them hit soft toss into a net. Vary the "pitch" locations. This will show you most of what you need to know about their swings, hand-eye coordination, balance, etc.