☐ Student-athletes and parents are informed of:
☐ Start dates/times for tryouts and practices
☐ Eligibility requirements (academic & VHSL standards)
☐ Required equipment and uniform expectations
☐ Locker room and facility usage
☐ Tryout structure, timeline, and evaluation criteria
☐ Information is communicated in advance via multiple platforms (meeting, email, team page)
☐ Tryouts begin only after official VHSL-sanctioned start date.
☐ No team selections or cuts occur prior to the second allowable practice
☐ Multiple qualified coaches are involved in evaluation
☐ Objective and diverse evaluation methods are used:
☐ Skill-specific drills
☐ Game-like scenarios
☐ Conditioning metrics
☐ Position-specific assessments
☐ Evaluation criteria are clearly defined and consistently applied
☐ All athletes receive a sufficient and equal evaluation period
☐ Cuts are not made prematurely or in isolation
☐ Tryout structure avoids embarrassment or public singling out
☐ Decisions reflect a fair and unbiased process
☐ Cut athletes are informed privately and respectfully (face-to-face)
☐ Feedback includes:
☐ Strengths demonstrated
☐ Areas for improvement
☐ Suggestions for future development
☐ Alternative roles are offered when appropriate:
☐ Team manager
☐ Student assistant
☐ Support staff roles
☐ Coach is prepared to clearly explain:
☐ Tryout process
☐ Evaluation criteria
☐ Selection decisions
☐ Meetings with parent + athlete are offered when needed
☐ Communication remains professional, consistent, and documented
☐ No discussion of cuts with other athletes or parents
☐ No comparison of one athlete to another
☐ Student privacy is strictly maintained
☐ Athletic Director is notified before cutting any senior
☐ Senior athletes receive a face-to-face meeting
☐ Follow-up communication with parents is conducted
☐ Athletic Director is informed of:
☐ Potentially upset athletes or parents
☐ Any concerns arising from selections
☐ Situations that may require administrative support