Hearing Crabs has had a lot of players from other teams at their practices...basically a try-out and heard team will be decided before the actual try-out. My guess is they already know who they are cutting on existing team knowing they have 2027s and out of state kids coming in. What's the best option for a fair try-out/look in Baltimore/Southern PA area.
Most teams will accommodate a guest player at practice as it's a much easier way to see where a kid would potentially fit in. That doesn't mean kids aren't getting a fair look at the official tryout. No coach would ever be unwilling to add a new face at tryout if they thought they'd upgrade their team. That is 100% a parents excuse when their kid doesn't make a team. The fact is that a lot of kids are really similar in skill and ability and you need to be a clear upgrade or have a much higher ceiling to displace a current player.
This is 100 percent true. Most clubs are not displacing a long-time player from the team unless the new kid, either at a practice or a tryout is way better than a current player. If your kid simply fits in with the rest of the talent, you will not get on the team. Your kid needs to be the new top at his position and be that by a bit. And, at the "elite" level teams, that is exceptionally difficult to do.
