06/14/2026
Yesterday, we had some guidance for parents, and today, it's for the players. With tryout season approaching, here are a few suggestions to help you make the team of your dreams.
1. Get plenty of sleep and eat well. Fueling your body fuels your game. Don't forget this!
2. Introduce yourself. When you get to the tryout, shake the coaches' hands and introduce yourself. This not only shows your maturity level but will also help the coaches remember you. Trust me, it will make an impact!
3. Speak for yourself. If a coach asks you a question, make sure you answer it—not your parents. The coach wants to get to know you, not your parents.
4. Show up looking professional and leave dirty. Have your shirt tucked in and look sharp, but make sure you ball out enough that your uniform is dirty by the end of the tryout.
5. Stay with the team. Don't talk to your parents during tryouts. Stay with the players. If you brought water, keep it on the field, not with your parents.
6. Control your attitude. Obviously, every coach is looking for a stud, but a stud with a terrible attitude is not what they want. No matter your skill level, every player can control their attitude and effort. Missed a ball? Don't just go to the back of the line. Sprint after the ball as if a runner is advancing, and finish the rep.
7. Be a good teammate. How can you be a good teammate on a team you're not on yet? Make sure to cheer on everyone at the tryout. Cheer when they make a great play, and pick them up when they make a mistake.
8. Recover quickly. If you make a mistake—which you all will—pick yourself up, smile, and get the next one. No coach wants to watch you dwell on a mistake, because dwelling on one failure will quickly roll into three.
9. Run everywhere! If you're heading to a new drill or coming in for a water break, run. It shows that you are disciplined and that you approach the game with intensity.
10. Finish strong. At the end of the practice, thank the coaches and shake their hands. If the final decision comes down to you and another player, this step will show your maturity and ensure the coach remembers you.
Good luck at tryouts this year! Whether you make that dream team or not, keep working. Remember, everyone is on their own journey; do your best not to compare your path to that of other players. Rarely is the best 12-year-old in town still the best at 16.