Worried About Tryouts

I talked with a concerned parent yesterday. High School practice has begun and his son was not invited to pitchers and catchers week. This, understandably, concerned him because the player has been a solid contributor for the first two years of high school and was thought to be a candidate to be a varsity player this year - at least in a JV and Varsity combined role. What I didn't understand was the comment that his son was seemingly letting down and resgining himself to maybe not making it in favor of other, less successful players.
Rule 1, only worry about you. Past performance can sometimes help a player get an extra look from the coaches. But not all coaches are basing their decisions on statistics. What they may be doing during the early practice season is look at other players for specific reasons. Don't take it personally, as hard as this may be.
Rule 2, work as hard as you possibly can at this point because you can handle success and failure better knowing you did everything possible to make the team. One thing is for certain, if you give up and go through the motions with a half hearted effort, you will have half a chance to make the team.
Rule 3, coaches don't cut you - YOU cut you. Work hard to never let this happen! It takes discpline.

Some of you will not have to worry about making the team. You maybe be very good and established or you may have a program with very few players trying out. This doesn't give you a pass to not improve your game. Take pride to be the best you can be. It's worth it and others will notice.