If you are looking for some tryout tips for your kids, you have come to the right place. The fact of life is that not everyone makes the team. Especially as kids get older, they may find themselves edged out of certain sports. However, there are things your child can do to give him/her the best chance.
I have played sports my whole life and that means I have tried out for many, many teams. Most of them I made. Some of them, like the Olympic Team for the 1996 Olympics, I didn’t. All those tryouts have made me a better coach now. I know now why I was able to succeed even though I wasn’t the tallest, fastest, strongest, most skilled, or best player on the court. Sports have been a constant in my life and have taught me so much about resiliency.
As a middle school girls basketball coach and AAU coach, I have been through many tryouts. And as a mom, my kids are trying out for various sports teams. These are the things I’ve learned as a player, coach and mom to have successful tryouts. Remember, these tryout tips are for your kids…as well as for you!
10 Tryout Tips To Help Kids Make The Team
1. Be in good shape.
If your child can’t make it up and down the floor, court or field, they are at a disadvantage. Kids don’t have to be able to run a sub-6 minute mile but they should take some time to get ready for the upcoming season. Preparation is the key to success! Take advantage of events like the Atlanta Kids Fit Strong Fitness Challenge in Piedmont Park to add some different challenges in.
2. Be aware of body language.
One of the easiest tryout tips I have for kids is to make it look like they want to be there. Smile. Make eye contact. Have fun. They shouldn’t let their shoulders slump or (God forbid) roll their eyes. Kids should show their coaches they are confident and coachable.
3. Be a good teammate.
Cheer for others. Give high fives. Compliment those around on the court doing well. Encourage those having a harder time. Kids should be the kind of teammate they want others to be.
4. Be fast.
Go hard. Always. When the coach says “run”, then your child should sprint. They should make sure they are never the last one finishing a drill, coming back after a water break or running laps.
5. Be loud.
When you are trying out for a team, that is not the time to be quiet. Be confident and loud. When talking to coaches, tell your kids to make sure they speak up. The coaches want to hear your child’s voice!
6. Keep your head up.
It can be difficult but kids should not get down on themselves after one missed shot. Or even twenty missed shots. Keep trying and working hard.
7. Be positive.
Whether you think you can or you can’t you’re probably right. Tell your kids to believe in themselves and have confidence in their skills. Don’t let negativity get you down.
8. Do the “little things”.
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens once said: “When considering the consequences of not doing the little things, you realize there are no little things.” Here are some things kids can do if they are trying out for a basketball team. These “little things” are some of the most important tryout tips I can pass on.
- Take a charge.
- Communicate loud
- Dive on a loose ball
- Listen with your eyes
- Battle hard for rebounds
- Sprint the Floor on Every Possession
- Focus on your strengths
- Listen intently.
- Don’t get distracted.
9. Focus on the basics.
Tryouts aren’t the time for showboating. Good coaches don’t want to see all the silly things kids see NBA stars do. They want to see the basics…shooting, passing, dribbling. And they want to see them done well.
10. Thank your coaches after every practice.
Thanking your coaches after every practice is a good habit for athletes and a great life skill for everyone. Your coaches will appreciate it and it gives them a positive final thought of you. Kids should look their coaches in the eye, say their name, and say thank you. Let the coach know you are serious. And do it every time.
Parents, these tryout tips can give your kids the best shot of making the team. But there is never a guarantee that they will make it. I encourage you to give them a safe place to fail (or succeed) and help them try things even if they might come up short. Good luck! (And stay tuned for my tryout tips for parents.)
