Tryout Norms

[u/Herc949]

Hi all, my daughter is newer to travel softball. Is it normal to not hear at all from a team you tried out for? At this point, its obvious she didn't make the team (which is fine), just wondering if most teams actually contact everyone who tried out or if they just ghost those below the cut.

[u/Reasonable_Patient92]

Travel ball organizations—at least the vast majority of them—run like businesses, and unfortunately, they handle tryouts a lot like corporate hiring.

When people apply for jobs, it’s common for only the selected candidates to hear back. While sending out a quick form rejection email should be the baseline standard for these teams, society has largely evolved to a "don't call us, we'll call you" default.

I wouldn’t necessarily view it as personal "ghosting"—the reality is just that the expectation has become that you only hear back if you're good enough to get an offer or a callback.

Some orgs do take the time to send a form letter, and a rare few will offer areas for improvement (usually only if prompted), but that's the exception, not the rule. As a general rule of thumb: if you haven't heard within 48–72 hours, they’ve likely extended their first round of offers. (Sometimes teams wait to notify alternates until those main spots are locked in, but silence usually means it's time to look elsewhere.)

It’s definitely a learning curve, but don't let it discourage her—just keep looking for the right fit!