Tips and Tricks to Help You Make Any Sports Team

Tryouts can be one of the most stressful experiences any athlete can undertake. With coaches scrutinizing your every move as you try and prove your worth, it is very easy to fall victim to the pressure of tryouts. As such, with sports such as track and baseball having upcoming tryouts, here are a few tips that can improve your chances of making the school team — at any skill level.

1: Show up early.

For starters, going to tryouts early shows coaches you have an eagerness to be on the team and potentially more motivation to show up on time throughout the season (especially in comparison to the kid that shows up right as the tryout starts). This also gives you time to stretch, drink water, or do whatever is necessary to best prepare yourself.

2: Look good, play good.

The second you show up to baseball tryouts wearing khaki shorts and a polo T-shirt, you have essentially eliminated any chance you may have had of making the team. So seriously, wear the correct clothing for your particular sport. Bringing all the proper equipment also goes hand-in-hand with this tip. Make sure you have any gear that the coaches recommend having for the tryout.

3: Visualize.

A tactic becoming much more common with the professionals is to visualize an entire game the night before, imagining making the right play, throwing the right pitch, running with the right mechanics, etc. Many scientists and psychologists have determined that doing this can reduce stress and improve physical performance.

4: Eat right and sleep tight.

As with many of these tips, eating correctly and getting proper sleep in the days leading up to an important event like a tryout is obvious, yet so few athletes choose to do it. Eat a meal with plenty of carbs and protein the night before, and don’t fill yourself with junk in the hours leading up to your tryout. The last thing you want to do is puke in front of your coach. (I’ve seen it happen before. They don’t find it funny.) While school does make finding time for sleep difficult, it is recommended that teenagers get 9-10 hours of sleep each night, so if possible, try to get a good night’s rest.

5: Hustle.

Another obvious but so insanely overlooked tip, hustling is by far the easiest way to get on a coaches radar. While your peers may mock you for running to each station or being the first one to come back after getting water, coaches will notice athletes who give 110% in their effort. Very often, coaches choose the player with less talent but a great work ethic over the one with some talent and no work ethic because the prior is easier to coach and wants to improve.

By keeping these tips in mind, you should have no trouble performing at your highest capability and impressing your coaches. Good luck out there!