Ready or not, basketball tryouts are coming. Of course, you want to be ready.

Now, you can't control whether you make every shot at tryouts. And you can't control if other players pass you the ball or not. But there are a number of things you can control. And those are the areas that deserve your effort and attention.

Having run tryouts at various levels for 20 years, I have a pretty good idea of what coaches are looking for. It may not be what you think.

So, as you begin to prepare for tryouts, here's a checklist for you to ensure you maximize your chance of making the team.

10 Controllable Factors That Will Increase Your Chances at Basketball Tryouts

1. Talk to the coach - you have done this, right? The coach knows who you are? If not, that needs to change immediately.
   
   Introduce yourself. Ask what qualities they value the most at tryouts. Once you know those qualities, you can focus on them. However, just asking in a genuine way is a great start.
   
   It puts you on the coach's radar. It also shows that you are coachable. Those two things give you a big leg up.
2. Be in great shape - conditioning shows up in tryouts. If you are struggling to get up and down the floor, that reflects poorly on you. If you aren't in good enough shape to play hard, why would a coach think making the team is important to you?
   
   Anyone can get in good shape. And yet, not all will. Why? Because it’s hard. Show your coach you are willing to put in the hard work to be in great shape.
3. Have great energy - you control your energy. Are you upbeat? Are you supporting your teammates? Are you attacking every drill with purpose? If so, your coach will notice.
4. Take good shots (for you) - too many players equate their play with scoring. That said, if it takes you 20 shots to score 20 points, you aren't a very efficient player

With that in mind, make sure you are taking good shots. For some, that's open 3's. For some, that's layups. To do this, you have to know your game. If you're not sure, ask a coach.

By taking shots you can make, you'll shoot a better percentage. You also show that you can play within yourself. That is a trait that is valued by coaches.

5. Model strong body language - body language screams. What will yours say? When something goes wrong, do you hang your head and slump your shoulders? Or do you model strong body language and immediately move on to the next play?

When the coach is addressing the team, is your body still? Are you making eye contact? Those may seem like little things. Trust me - they aren't.

6. Chase reps - The more reps you get, the more you improve. When going through drills, do you hustle to get to the front of the line? When a volunteer is needed to demonstrate, do you raise your hand?

Are you chasing reps or are you too cool? Don't be so cool that you get yourself cut.

7. 100%, 100% of the time - Do you go hard ALL the time? Not just in 5v5. What about in stationary ball handling drills? The truth is, most players don't.

Take advantage of that. Be the exception. By going hard all the time, you will get noticed. And even more importantly, you'll get better, too!

8. Make your voice heard - coaches are always telling plates to communicate. The great news is communication takes no physical skill. It doesn't require you to be fast or strong. It requires you to be observant and willing to speak up.

You can be heard in multiple ways. Celebrate great plays by your teammates. Help teammates who are struggling. Be loud on defense. That will get your coach's attention.

9. Be early -everyone knows not to be late. But how many make an effort to come in early? If possible, do so.

And when you come in early, work with a purpose. Don't just grab a ball and shoot around. Work on something. When the coach walks in and sees you engaging in focused practice, they will be impressed.

10. Do the dirty work - it takes maturity to focus on aspects of the game besides scoring. Do you box out and pursue every rebound? Do you keep players in front of you? Will you take a charge?

Many of those actions don't show up in the box score. But they do affect winning. And that's what coaches care about more than anything! Show you're a winning player and your chances of making the team skyrocket.

Why This List Will Help You Relax at Tryouts

Tryouts can be stressful. But, like most things in life, they are stressful when you focus on things that are out of your control.

All 10 items on the list above are within your control. That should be reassuring. If you put your attention there, you'll tend to find that the other pieces fall into place.

You'll also tend to find a place on the team - and that's the most important thing!

What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First Billy says: 12/16/2024 at 11:25:43 AM I have basketball tryouts today and im not good at shooting the ball, what should i do? Like     login   register

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