My First Basketball Tryout Experience

My Basketball Tryout Experience

Hey again! Last month, I had my first-ever basketball tryout, which was also my first high school tryout. Before this, I hadn’t played much basketball apart from some playful games with friends or practicing in my yard. As I suspected, I didn’t make the team, but the experience taught me a lot; not just about the game, but about myself and the importance of preparation.

Most importantly this experience will help me shape my approach to my upcoming soccer tryouts. Whether you’re new to tryouts like me or looking to improve your skills, I hope these insights help you as much as they’re helping me.

1. Encourage Your Team, Talk a Lot, and Act Like a Leader

Showing the coach that you want to be on the team involves more than just your skills, it’s also about leadership. Encourage your teammates, communicate on the court, and demonstrate that you’re invested in helping the team succeed.

How I’ll use this for soccer tryouts: I plan to use my voice as much as possible to motivate my teammates and give constructive feedback. If someone makes a bad decision, I’ll step up to support and guide them.

2. Be Selfless

It’s tempting to focus on showing off your skills during tryouts, but teamwork is just as important. Instead of being selfish with the ball, focus on involving your teammates and creating opportunities for them. Show the coach that you can make smart decisions and play for the team.

How I’ll use this for soccer tryouts: I’ll aim to make smart passes, create openings for my teammates, and only showcase my individual skills when it’s necessary and appropriate.

3. Always Communicate with the Coach

Talking to the coach, even after practice, can make a big difference. Ask for feedback on how to improve and communicate openly about your availability. This shows the coach that you’re serious about being part of the team and committed to growth.

How I’ll use this for soccer tryouts: After every practice, I’ll ask the coach for specific feedback on how I performed and what I can work on. I’ll also make sure to notify the coach if I’m unable to attend any sessions.

These are the lessons I’ve taken away from my basketball tryouts and my plans for improvement as I prepare for soccer tryouts. My soccer tryouts are coming up in February, so stay tuned for another blog post about that experience. Thanks for reading and wish me luck!

That’s it for now—Yash out!