High school basketball is a competitive and thrilling sport that features skilled players and talented athletes. Prior to the start of the season, there might be two or three openings for the high school team every season. Players must demonstrate their talent, athleticism and desire very quickly in the tryout process if they want to make the team.
Ball Handling
Coaches need to see who can handle the ball and who struggles in that area. While the point guard has to be an expert ball handler because he has to bring the ball up court and make plays on nearly every possession, all players have to be confident when handling the ball. Coaches will ask players to start off at the baseline and dribble to the near free-throw line and back, midcourt and back, the far free-throw line and back and the endline and back. Coaches will time each player and assess whether the candidate handled it smoothly or made errors.
Shooting
Prepare for tryouts by developing a consistent jump shot. Not every player can become a dominant scorer, but good players need to hit the open shot. At the tryout, the coach will often ask each player to take three to five shots from five spots on the floor. On many occasions, those spots will be the right baseline, the right wing, the top of the key, the left wing and the left baseline. Each will be about 18 feet from the hoop. Players will be assessed on shooting form and accuracy.
Conditioning
Candidates for the high school basketball team have to come to tryouts in shape. Coaches will have players run interval sprints to determine their overall condition. At the start of tryouts, players will line up at the baseline and sprint to the near free-throw line and back, midcourt and back and the endline and back. The coaches will give each player a one-minute break and repeat the drill. Players who are not in shape will have a difficult time finishing the sprints at top speed and most likely will fail to make the team.
Scrimmage
You will be judged on your talent, athletic ability, skill set and determination by the work you do in tryouts. However, the most important judgments will be made on how well you play when you scrimmage against other players who are trying out for the team. In most cases, the players who perform the best in scrimmages will make the team they are trying out to make.
Member Comments