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 and a better parent of athletes.
I succeeded even though I wasn’t the tallest, fastest, strongest, most skilled, or best player on the court. I simply worked harder than anyone else. Somehow, I learned how to master the “soft” skills of sports and used them to my advantage. Sports have been a constant in my life and have taught me so much about resiliency. And it has been my joy and privilege to watch my kids play a multitude of sports.
I have coached middle school girls’ basketball and AAU basketball teams, and I am the director of a church-based basketball league. I have been through many tryouts and player evaluations. And as a moI’m watching my kids try out for various sports teams, including basketball. I want to pass on to them and to you what I learned as a player, coach, and mom to give them the best chance of success in 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 the cooler weather this time of year to get some fun and exercise 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 for doing well. Encourage those having a harder time. Kids should be the kind of teammate they want others to be. Coaches will see you!
4. Be a “try hard”.
I hate this phrase because my kids seem to think that being a “try hard” is a bad thing. Well, guess what? “Try hards” make the team. “Try hards” get playing time. And the one you want the most: “Try hards” get recruited to play sports in college. Go hard. Always. When the coach says “run”, then your child should sprint. Never jog to a spot when you can run. And never walk if you can help it. They should make sure they are never the last one to finish a drill, return after a water break, or run 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 speak up. The coaches want to hear your child’s voice!
6. Be confident.
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. The key about tryout is that it really isn’t about how well you perform; it’s about how well you fit on the team. Do everything you can to show you are a good fit.
7. Be positive.
Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re probably right.” I believe that statement and repeat it often. Tell your kids to believe in themselves and have confidence in their skills. Don’t let negativity get you down.
8. Be willing to 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 when 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 for a loose ball
- Listen with your eyes
- Battle hard for rebounds
- Sprint the floor on every possession
- Focus on your strengths
- Don’t get distracted
9. Be humble.
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 basketball basics…shooting, passing, dribbling. And they want to see them done well.
10. Be grateful.
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 impression 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. This would be a good time to ask for feedback from coaches, too.
Parents, these tryout tips can give your kids the best shot at making the team. But there is no guarantee 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!
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