Hi guys,

Is there a standard criteria for conducting middle school basketball tryouts? The reason for my question is that my school district has a new coach that has put kids through a first day tryout of just running, suicides, etc. The only basketball skill he did at all were foul shots. There were no other lay-ups, scrimmages, and actual ball drills. Afterwards, based on the running he made first cuts. Several players who cannot even play basketball were selected over some kids with outstanding basketball abilities, but may be short on speed. He is also the soccer coach. What do you think and Is this a typical tryout?
Thank you and best regards,
Fred

I thought he was the track coach..... I will keep my thoughts to myself... but this is NOT how I would conduct a tryout... for any level.


Ken

Fred:
I know of no standard tryout procedures for try outs, most coaches have their own way of conducting them. However, although conditioning is important when playing any game or sport, it would be only a small part of my tryout. This coach is coaching two entirely differently played sports and if my child was involved, I would certainly want to ask him his philosophies on selecting players from his tryouts.

As an afterthought, did he introduce the Zedani head butt or the Beckham bend during this workout.
coach Mac

You're bad Mac :-)

Hello guys. I agree that different coaches have different approaches to tryouts. At my school we have an evaluation form for all players trying out for the middle school teams. The middle school head and assistant coach put the players through numerous basketball/conditioning drills and a third party does the evaluating. Our tryouts are usually three days and then cuts are made based on numbers and the results of the evaluation form. A basketbal tryout should primarily involve BASKETBALL and nothing else.

Coach Cleveland

Well I had 41 try out and I did use the 1st day and ran the life out of them. We lost 12 so were down to 29 for the rest of the try outs. That would be the only reason I could think a coach would do it. Is to eliminate those who just like the idea of playing basketball.

Can you give me one good reason why you would waste a day just running kids? You ran off 12 kids.... you never knew IF they could play or couldn't... maybe they were just thinking... IF THIS is what BASKETBALL is all about - then I want no part of it.

Isn't that what its all about.... playing basketball... if they wanted to try out for track they could do that. Why not find out IF they can pass, dribble, shoot, defend, rebound, OR have a clue about the game?

Ken

If they are serious about playiong basketball they stay and understand that it is part of the "weeding out " process. I am more than comfortable with the 12 who left.

Do you think a true basketball player/athelete will quit after 1 day of conditioning - I'll help you - the answer to that question is NO!

As a coach you have to know who can hold up and be there for you in the 4th quarter. Those who quit after 1 tough practice will not be - no matter how good they or their parents think they may be!

Again, different coaches and different approaches to how tryouts should be conducted. The original post on this topic was about middle school age kids and I think player age should be considered when conducting any kind of tryout. In my opinion, running the players at a tryout is important because it allows you to see who's in shape and who's not. It also helps you to see which players are mentally tough. However, I still firmly believe that players at a basketball tryout should be evaluated on just that, their basketball ability or the lack there of.

To each his own... but you can accomplish the same thing with a BALL rather than just run them. The longer I coached the more I realized how important the time on the floor is.... We never ran just for the sake of running... we conditioned our kids through well thought out practice plans.

"Do you think a true basketball player/athelete will quit after 1 day of conditioning - I'll help you - the answer to that question is NO!"

You are certainly entitled to your opinion... somewhere down the line you will be saying I wish I had that two hours back so I could teach them more. You can be as tough as you want to be, but if you aren't using that time to teach, you are wasting it.

When I held try outs it was to find out who can or can not play, who can or can not shoot, pass or dribble... I don't care if he can run all day... IF he can't play, what good is that? IF you listen to guys - X players - on radio talk shows they always talk about how good they were at the combine.. but the players or coaches in the know would always say, but can he play football?

JMO

Ken