Tryout Tips

Thank you a lot for the E-books. I'm a 14 yr old freshman in high school play point guard, about 5'5 135 lbs, is there any last minute tryout tips you could give me with about a week and a half till tryouts? Should i rest? Should i work harder? What should i do to impress my coach. I can make a little above average on 3's and can dribble pretty great, but we tryout with the older guys so its intimidating, challenging, and hard. What should i do and not do? should i dribble more and shoot less? If you were a coach what would you look for? Please any reply to this WILL be helpful and honestly, i don't know what i should do at tryouts, i know to PLAY, but its easier said then done. Thank you again and please reply.
- Robert

Here are a few good links I suggest you check out to help with tryouts:

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/8-tips-tryouts.html

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/players/10-basketball-tips-playing-time.html

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=325%5C

Jeff,

Thanks for putting my thread with Ben in there.... saved me a lot of typing LOL Those are all good links.

Robert - IF you look at that last link you will see my "conversation" with a boy that was in your spot right now, Take some time and read what we had to to say to each other. We went back and forth for a long time.... I think there is a lot of good informtation there.

Good luck, relax, play hard, play smart and have FUN.

thank you a lot. I''l be sure to read them. Once agaian thanks

Can I ask a question? Okay, so ive already told you about how i play and all, but one thing makes me stand out more than everything.... MY SHOT..... I dont know whether its good or not because my shot is different. I bring it up from my pocket, but instead of keeping it like directly infront of me i bring it about eye level, a little to the right, back a tinny bit thin my release, my release arm (right handed by the way) is usualy straight and i make most 3's at about a 65-70% rate, do coaches care if i shoot like this and will it affect my possible tryouts cut?

my dad was a basketball supertar, had chicago bulls summer camp invites in 11 grade, after 8th grade he played last 6 games for varsity team bc he was 6'1 pg. He went to vietnam, got shot, and adopted a few kids including me from romania, so he is 67 and has great form for a old guy, plays old fasion and is just amzing, but he can't play anymore from sergurey and stuff, so ive worked on my own for yrs and this is my shot. I hope you reply asap!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tryouts nxt wednesday, thursday, and friday

Some great stuff in those links up there ^. I like the Coach Sar's thread, tons of good advice. I'll throw in my quick 2 cents (which is already mentioned in all the other advice above).

It's easy to hang out in the middle of the pack during a tryout and let the other kids go first type thing. Don't do it. Be the first in line, be in the front of the lines during drills and volunteer when they ask for 3 players on the floor. Be where the ball is as much as possible. You want to get noticed.

Defense. Big deal. Now is the time to play like you've never played on defense. Coaches definitely look to see who can make it happen on offense, but if your guy blows by on defense, that's no bueno.

Everyone is nervous at first during the tryouts. Everyone is going to miss shots and make mistakes. Move on when something doesn't go right, don't dwell on it.

If you have access to a gym and a shooting partner (dad/mom/brother), I'd shoot a ton of shots two days before tryouts. You can even do this the day before tryouts. Basically a round-the-world type thing from five different spots moving further out each time you make it around. You're looking at about 15 shots from each spot with a make on last shot to move on. Could be as high as 300 shots when it's all said and done. Your shooting partner is just shagging balls and firing them back. Use two balls to keep it moving. I've found this drill to be highly effective before tryouts or big games to build shooting confidence.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

I'll jump in on the shot form, now is not the time to change it. You need to shoot like you normally shoot during tryouts. The coach is not going to cut you because you're going to grab your old man and shoot 300-400 shots right before tryouts. Once you get to tryouts, you'll be so used to making 90% it will be like second nature.

Btw, your old man sounds like a great guy!

Its hard to tell since we cant see your shot. Most coaches will be looking at the results. When youo plav against other guys.... do you have any problems getting your shot off?

Your elbow should be around your ear/e area...... but with that being said .... IF you are having success with your shot, I wouldn't over thnk your shot. Ask your dad what he htinks about your form since he can see it.

I had several kids that had terrible form...but they could really shoot..... never tried to change it.

Thanks a LOT. I have almost no problem geting my shot off because playing pg and shooting guard means i Have to dribble good, and i'd omit im a pretty good dribbler. Ive talked to my dad about my shot. He says its different but like yall said he can NORMALLY argue with the result. I love to do either a crossover or dribble then just step back and shhot or pop it in my face, and because of my shot, i normally don't get packed unless they are tall or im in the lane.

I play a hr during lunch at shoot in the gym, usually 3 point or games. But last week bc of rain i couldnt play at home on wednesday or thursday, but friday at school i promise i hit 90-95% from down town and it felt great now im back to playing at home and at school and back to before. And during them 2 or 3 days i worked out a lot pushups, situps, riding a exercise bike and just carying a ball around. Do you think i should just not play like a day or 2 before tryouts and maybe i will be great at 3's again?

I try to shoot atleast 150 shots a day bc of school, weekends about 250+. I do lot of push ups, sit uos, biking inside, and 20 lbs weights and every wednesday i go to the weight room and give it all i got. Is that a good routine?

I'll be sure to inform yall about tryouts and thinks for all of the help, really. On my next comment either tonight or tomorrow i will break down where i stand right now and ask what yall think, (talking about tryouts) our situation as a school this yr doubles my chance of making the team, but ill tell yall about all of that soon
once again THANKYOU

Robert -

So tell me, why are you beating yourself up over this? Sounds like you are shooting well % wise and you don't have any real problems getting your shots off!

Relax a little bit, don't over think this to the point where you are doubting yourself. Have some FUN, its still a game. Having a good workout routine can be helpful, but it should be all about basketball. Do you have a trainer at your school? If so, ask for his advice - or go to the Head Coach and ask him.

Just remember to give your body a chance to recover from everything you are doing. Take a day off before tryouts start except for some shooting and you should be ready. JMO

robert.s64 wrote:Thanks a LOT. I have almost no problem geting my shot off because playing pg and shooting guard means i Have to dribble good, and i'd omit im a pretty good dribbler. Ive talked to my dad about my shot. He says its different but like yall said he can NORMALLY argue with the result. I love to do either a crossover or dribble then just step back and shhot or pop it in my face, and because of my shot, i normally don't get packed unless they are tall or im in the lane.

I love the crossover move , as for getting your shot blocked... its going to happen... but IF you pick your spots and get good looks, it will be few and far between.

thanks, really, and no we're not really a big highschool, but were getting there, right now theres no PERSONAL trainer... but the coaches (JV is a new guy) both played ball as a kid so they know what it takes, today in the weightroom i did almost max out everything... AND im not sore so i think i can take tryouts well, me and my dad literaly just got done talking about basketball i the car, he said," just pretend the coaches aren't there, play the game you know, play it right, and you'll be good" which i will do along with ALL the info im getting off of here. And idk if you are famillier with a 2 man 3 point compitions, a guy rebounds the other shoots at each 5 spots from 3, makeing it to advance, by 5 you and rebounder switch and he does same but opposite way, 2 teams, first done wins. Well i HATE realyyyy Hate a brager, but me and my partner won 8 straight today and it felt great, a few guys reasured me i should make the team but u never know
I keep having doubts about not really playing great, but messsing up, i hope the coach doesn't take a turnover or 2 too serious bc i love to pass the ball not "fancy" but in the best way possible and about every 19 made passes, 1 or 2is stollen, but anyway tryouts nxt week im pumped. Sorry if im bugging yall to much haha hey if you want me to i can like explain the "situation" the school and us are in, which doubles my chance of making the team, but once again thanks and it just feels better to get someone else to tell youn your can make it

Don't worry about the size of your school, you can only play vs the guys they put on the floor against you.... and you can only try to do the best you can.... pretty simple.

I know a "little" bit about the game - I coached Bball for 42+ years and 16 as the head varsity coach.. Doesn't mean I know it all.... but I taught what I believed in and in a way that would give my players the best chance for them to be successful.

Don't worry about making mistakes.... baseball players make millions hitting .275 of .300.... which means they make mistakes 70% of the time....... just remember, their are 5 guys out on the court who are trying to stop your team too..... so stop worrying about messing up..... just play the darn game to the best of your ability!! the key is to execute your coaches game plan and philosophy, everybody has to be on the same page.

It doesn't sound like you are hurting for confidence.... and your dad has given you some good advice - pay attention LOL

I don't know if you read the thread between Ben and I, which seemed to go on forever .... I think he was 12 or 13 when we started talking.... you will see that I will get sarcastic from time to time.... and another kid in high school said to me.... " Now I know where the "SAR" in SARCASTIC came from.... pretty funny.

Good luck during tryouts.

haha SAR. and yeah i'll listen to my dad, i read like that entire convo and i turned 14 Oct 2 so we were basically in the same position now but thanks a lot, this has really helped hey like before i haate bragging but well its my "dad" and well im proud of him, after his 8th grade season at 6"1 inch pg he played the last 6 games on hist highschool varsity team, which was th 60's so i guess you could do that... as a junior he had a lot of college invites for football, basketball, and baseball, and he was amazing in ALL 3, but mostl basketball, he had a summer camp invite that yr to the bulls, like the same yr that jordan was a rookie, so he COULDVE played with him, but he went to Vietnam and got sat at 19 but stayed in for 20+ yrs and never "played" ball again, but hey, i was addopted and here i am, to fulfill his legacy, and thanks about that good luck part, ill be sure to tell yall each day how it goes, okay

6'1 as freshman!! I hated guys like that... I was 13 and only 4/ 11... fat chance I had.

You should be proud of your dad , he has done a lot for you. God Bless him for going over to that hell hole to protect the USA and help those people.

Again, good luck, give it your best shot..... leave it all on the floor.

haha me two, and thanks and well don't think that im spoiled and stuff bc im adopted hes hard on me and i work my but off before i can play ball and i have to have straight A's to play, even tho he barley managed a C+ haha, but yeah im thankful

I don't think you are spoiled... at least not too much LOL

Just do the best you can, thats all anyone can ask of you. Set some goals for yourself.... both academically and athletically. That way it gives you something to shoot for.

Yeah, well talk to ya tomorrow but ill be sure to tell you how i do wednesday - friday nxt week

bye the way what was you # in basketball? i love 13 haha

I was a better baseball / fast pitch 12 inch player than I was a basketball player. #24 I know, for you it was #13 on your roster and #1 in your heart. ( One of my younger players fed me that line )

I didn't develop a jump shot until I was a junior in high school... 15-16 when I started growing. I wasn't a great player but I could shoot.