How to Stand Out at Basketball Tryouts

• By Grant Young

Standing out at a basketball tryout goes beyond just showing up. It's about having a basketball tryout plan that starts well before the day arrives. From improving your drills to mastering the fundamentals of basketball (such as scoring and defense techniques) preparation is key to showcasing your skills. This planning not only involves honing your physical ability but also mastering basketball’s mental aspect to elevate your tryout performance.

Committing to a basketball tryout plan means diving deep into drills that sharpen your shooting form, dribbling finesse, and overall evaluation rubric for a standout tryout. A positive attitude towards teamwork and sportsmanship also plays a crucial role in standing out and becoming a valued player.

So let’s get into how you can stand out at a basketball tryout!

Preparing Physically and Mentally

Your basketball tryout plan should require both physical and mental preparation. Here's how you can ensure you're ready to shine on the court:

Physical Preparation:

Conditioning: Begin with cardiovascular training to boost your strength and conditioning. It’s tough to perform well when you’re constantly winded.

Skill Development: Dedicate time to shooting every day and practicing dribbling drills. At the end of this article, we’ll provide you with a great shooting drill that is sure to improve your long-range skills.

Mental Preparation:

Visualization and Mindfulness: Engage in visualization techniques to strengthen your mental game. Imagine yourself succeeding in your basketball tryout, and making your preferred team. This helps manage anxiety and improves focus.

Positive Self-talk: Regularly practice positive self-talk and read positive affirmations. This builds confidence, which is essential for facing the pressures of tryouts.

Nutrition and Rest:

Healthy Eating: Consume foods that provide quick energy, like oatmeal and bananas. Drink a lot of water as well!

Adequate Sleep: Get at least eight hours of sleep before your tryout, to ensure optimal energy and alertness.

By doing all of these things, you’re setting yourself up for success before stepping on the tryout court.

Mastering the Fundamentals

Remember: it's not just about having the ball in your hands. It's about making every touch count. Here's how you can elevate your fundamentals:

Ball Control Techniques:

o   Focus on dribbling with both hands, so you can navigate the court under pressure.

o   Incorporate passing drills that mimic game scenarios.

o   Set daily shooting goals, aiming for consistency from various spots on the court.

Strategic Play and Coachability:

Engage in game-speed scenarios to understand the flow and transitions of a real match.

Show your willingness to learn by focusing on coach feedback.

Compete against stronger opponents to challenge and improve your skills.

By using these strategies for your basketball tryout plan, you're not just preparing—you're improving. It's the details that coaches notice, so demonstrate your understanding of the game, and your ability to execute their feedback, and display your desire to improve every day.

Showing Coachable Behavior and a Positive Attitude

In the heart of every standout basketball player is an enthusiasm to learn and adapt. This is what being coachable is all about—but this trait isn't just about nodding along to what the coach says. It's about actively engaging with feedback to elevate your game. Here's how you can showcase this invaluable attribute:

Active Listening and Engagement:

Maintain eye contact and nod to show you're absorbing your coach’s every word.

Ask questions if you're unsure, showing you want to get it right.

Apply the feedback immediately in drills or scrimmages.

Positive Attitude and Body Language:

Keep a positive attitude, even when drills don’t go your way. A smile can go a long way.

Avoid negative body language, like slouching or eye-rolling. Coaches notice these small details.

Celebrate teammates' successes openly. High-fives and encouraging words contribute to a positive team atmosphere.

Examples of Coachability in Action:

Arrive 15 minutes early to tryouts and start warming up right away.

Be the player who dives for loose balls, communicates on the court, and always looks to improve.

Lead by example in both practice and game situations.

Embracing these aspects of coachability not only makes you a better player but also a more attractive prospect to coaches who are looking for team players who add to the team dynamic.

Communicating and Being a Team Player

In basketball, communication and being a team player are pivotal. Here's how you can elevate your presence on the court:

Effective Communication Techniques:

Be Loud and Clear: Ensure your voice can be heard across the court. Use specific terms for actions to avoid confusion.

Timing is Key: Communicate early enough so that teammates can react.

Stay Positive: Focus on constructive feedback rather than blame. Encourage and uplift your teammates.

Non-Verbal Cues:

Eye Contact and Hand Signals: Use these when the gym gets noisy. They're quick, effective ways to communicate.

Team Bonding: Engage in activities that build rapport. Building friendships makes for a better team–and better tryout performance.

You don’t need any basketball skills to utilize your voice. Coaches need leaders, and this is your way to showcase that you’re an asset for fostering unity and driving your team toward success.

Conclusion

Basketball tryouts can be stressful. But by preparing both physically and mentally, mastering fundamentals, and showcasing coachable behavior and communication, athletes can significantly enhance their visibility and impact during tryouts. These strategies will guide you toward a standout performance that captures the attention of coaches and teammates alike.

And last (but certainly not least), don’t forget to have fun! That’s why you’re playing basketball in the first place. Think of the tryout as another fun opportunity to play with your friends and show off the skills you’ve worked hard to acquire.

Now go out there and show the world what you’ve got!

Steph Curry Shooting Series

If you’re looking for a drill to improve your shooting ability before your basketball tryout, give this Steph Curry shooting series (from breakthroughbasketball.com's Joe Haefner) a try. Steph Curry actually practices this drill series on a regular basis! And if it works for the greatest shooter of all time, it will surely work for you, too.

All you’ll need is a hoop, a ball, and a teammate, coach, or parent to work with you. Here’s how the Steph Curry Shooting Series works:

1. Spot Up / Quick Release

The first shot starts from the wing or the corner.

You simply catch the ball, step towards the basket, and shoot it as quickly as possible.

2. Shoot Off The Dribble

This is the same as the first shot, except you add a long, explosive dribble to the basket then shoot.

3. Cut To Ball - Corner To Wing Cut

Next, you work on shooting off a cut from the corner to the wing. In a game situation, this could be a straight cut or a curl cut off a screen.

4. Flare or Fade Cut - Wing to Corner Cut

This is another game-like shot where you execute a flare or fade cut. This can be done off dribble penetration, a down screen, or a flare screen.

5. Fast Break Shooting

The final shot reflects a shot you will get off of the fast break.

Perhaps start this drill series shooting the same shot 10 times in a row, then move to the next drill. Then, once you’ve completed those 50 shots, go back and add 3-5 more shots in each drill, at a different position on the floor. You’ll rarely shoot the same shot twice in a row in a game, after all.

That’s all there is to it! If you try this set of drills every day for a week, you are sure to impress your coaches during any basketball tryout.