Skip to content

9 KEYS TO PREPARING FOR TRYOUTS – A PLAYERS PERSPECTIVE

By Enio Sacilotto,

It’s tryout time, and all eyes are on you: coaches, evaluators, parents, and fellow athletes. You are being evaluated to determine whether you will be selected for the team. Making the team has been your goal since the end of last season. As you enter the tryout stage, this can be a very stressful time for you.

The most important thing that you can teach yourself is to focus on the “controllables”; in other words, focus on the things that you have control over. You don’t need to stress about how many players are trying out, what the drills are, or what time of day the tryout session is taking place. You have no control over these things. In this article, we will give you nine tips to take control of the things that you can control. This will help you overcome stress, enabling you to perform at your best and giving you the best chance to make the team.

1. BE PREPARED: The most crucial step to take should have taken place at the end of last season or earlier this summer. You spent time setting your goal of making the team, asking and determining why you wanted to make the team, creating a plan, and working hard all summer to be physically and mentally ready for the tryout.
Then you have your short-term preparation leading up to the tryout date. Make sure you have all your equipment prepared, eat well, stay properly hydrated, and get the optimal amount of sleep. We have seen time and time again over the years that first impressions are crucial in the tryout process, so be prepared. Your first few sessions are critical, so be prepared!

2. WORK PAST YOUR COMFORT ZONE – In other words, push yourself to work as hard as you ever have. Coaches love players who work hard. We always tell players to be “comfortable being uncomfortable”. Having said this, make sure to remember that not only should you work hard, but also work smart! Do not try to do more than you are capable of doing. Play within your position and do your job only. Do not try to do your teammate’s job; you will then forget to do yours. All you can do is your best, given your capabilities.

3. DEALING WITH MISTAKES – Everyone makes mistakes; the best athletes in the world make mistakes. The difference is that the best athletes stay in the moment and quickly forget their mistakes. Yes, they are good at forgetting! Dwelling on mistakes will only make you more tense and nervous, putting you at risk of making more mistakes. Please take a few deep breaths, use your mind’s eye (visualization), crumble up the mistake and throw it in the fire. Take another deep breath, refocus, get back in the moment, and get back at it, stronger than ever!

4. FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND – Don’t worry about the coaches or the evaluators. Looking to them for approval is not going to get you on the team; your performance in the arena of play is what will get you on the team. Be in the first row in front of the coaching board, pay attention when drills are being explained, and be first in line. Pay attention to the details of the drills and execute to the best of your ability.

5. BE A LEADER – Some of us are more natural leaders than others, but we are all capable of leadership. You don’t even have to be the best player to be a leader. Be a leader during the tryout by encouraging other players, being positive with them, and being a team player. By showing passion and enthusiasm, you will stand out from the crowd. You would be surprised how much coaches look for leadership in their players. Yes, even during tryouts!

6. DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER PLAYERS – There is only one YOU, and you are special; we are all special. Use your energy to focus on your strengths and the task at hand. You have no control over competitors. No matter what you do, there are always going to be players who are better or worse than you are. By comparing yourself to others, you are only creating frustration and wasting energy.

7. BE GRATEFUL AND HUMBLE – An attitude of gratitude is altitude! Be humble and grateful for the opportunities you have in your life. Good health, a supportive family, and the chance to compete in a sport or activity you enjoy. All the great athletes are grateful and humble! Go on YouTube and listen to interviews with Wayne Gretzky, Paul Kariya, Sidney Crosby, Michael Jordan and Seth Curry. These guys are all grateful and humble. You can see it in their mannerisms and tone of voice. Gratitude goes a long way!

8. NOT MAKING THE TEAM IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD – If things do not work out, don’t worry, there are lots of teams you can play for. Michael Jordon did not make his high school basketball team, and Joe Sakic did not make his Midget team. They persevered and went on to become professional players. Do some research and make a plan B; there are lots of teams you can play for. Someone somewhere needs you and wants you on their team!

9. HAVE FUN – At the end of the day, we are in this world to learn, get better and enjoy the experiences of life, including sports. So hang loose and enjoy the ride!

When you master all nine tips, you will have a stress-free tryout and a remarkable opportunity to make the team. Lastly, as a bonus tip, take responsibility for your own choices. You cannot set goals for others, such as parents, friends, coaches or teachers. Your goal to try out and make a team has to come from your heart; you cannot do things to please others, DO IT FOR YOURSELF!!!

If you have any questions, you can reach me by email at enio@coachenio.com, phone at 604 255 4747, or visit my website at www.caochenio.com for free player, parent, and coaching resources. You can also learn about our specialized personal hockey camps.