Can I have tips to follow while preparing for tryout? How can I impress the coach to be on the team? Also how should you score? Can I have tips on scoring?

The only thing you can do is be yourself. If you try to perform for some one else or do things you are not good at because you think that is what they are looking for, it will not be productive.

There are a lot of other important parts of the game outside of scoring. If you are a scorer, then scorer. If you are a passer, rebounder, defender, etc. then do those things.

Be secure in who you are and then just play.

While every coach is looking for a kid who can shoot well... there are other things that I know I used to look for.

How hard do they work on defense.... are they sound fundamentally? Can they pass and catch on the move? Will they get on the floor after loose balls? Are they good rebounders? Are they a team player? Can you shoot the three? Anybody that can do these things can play for me. Here are a few intangibles.... are you easy to get along with? are you coachable?
Do you hate to lose but are a good sport? (nobody wants a whiner and complainer) These are just a few of the things that I looked for.

I agree with coach... go out, play hard and stick to the things you do well for the time being. You have plenty of time to work on your game. AND
Hustle, hustle, hustle! Good things happen when you hustle.

Good luck... let us know what you think now and If you made the team.

Ken

Good luck to you as try outs approach.


And also good luck to the parents and coaches. It can be am emotionally trying time. You are the models. Help your kids through whatever happens with mature behavior, love and (if possible) humor. Coach Wooden’s comments about success and failure are applicable at this time of the year. "Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

To summarize our approach to try outs, these 4 points are made with each player in addition to the obvious importance of skill development and conditioning. Embrace these points, they are what good coaches call “intangibles” and they are important.

Pay attention. Look at the coaches in the eye. Be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Do not be reminded.

Work hard. It’s easy for coaches to see if players are engaged physically, mentally or not. Be engaged, work hard.

Reduce/eliminate frustration by getting over it quickly and continuing on immediately. The ONLY play that matters is the next play, not the one we just messed up or even the one we just succeeded in. Never hang your head.

Play your game. Kids know what they can do and what they can’t do well. Try and execute the skills you are comfortable with on the court, do the things you do well. Don’t let skills you can not execute interfere with skills you can.


Jim McGannon