What Are Things To Do In A Basketball Tryout?

When running a basketball tryout for the first time, you know what type of skill you're looking for in order to create a well-rounded team, but you may be unsure of how to draw that talent out of team hopefuls. By creating a tryout that incorporates testing for all of the major components of basketball, you can ensure that every player has fair chance to showcase those capabilities. As the coach, it's your responsibility to build a successful team based upon what you see during the tryout period.

Conditioning

One of the first attributes you'll need to see from your players is good muscle conditioning and endurance, which indicate a player's overall stamina and athletic ability. Some conditioning tests could be a five- to 10-minute run, a suicide drill or simply running laps around the gym. Keep in mind that players' endurance may be impaired after a summer of not playing, so encourage hopefuls to practice their runs and build endurance before the tryouts, if possible.

Skills Stations

The basic skills for basketball should be tested to determine which players are the most proficient. By setting up skills stations around the room, you can make the most from your space and get through the skills section of the tryout easily and quickly. The basic skills you'll want to test include dribbling, shooting and passing, along with any other skills you deem appropriate. Set up stations under each basket for shooting and then cones for dribbling up and down the court. Players can team up in pairs to demonstrate the various types of passes.

Drills

Drills allow you to see which players can string several skills together for the most proficiency. Perhaps one player is a good shooter but has trouble when shooting is paired with dribbling. Create drills that combine the skills the players have practiced to simulate more realistic situations. For instance, you may try a two-on-one drill in which one player dribbles down the court and shoots while being guarded by two other players. This drill allows you to gauge both the defensive and offensive skill potential for the team.

Scrimmage

The tryout should end in a scrimmage between players. Observing a scrimmage gives you a better idea of how certain players react in a simulated game play environment. Split the group into fourths and then set up half-court games between two teams on each side of the court. Spend time watching each scrimmage to get a grasp on which athletes play well in a team setting and which are less than sportsmanlike. This part of the tryout should give you a more well-rounded opinion of the players who will do well on the team.