Tryouts allow coaches to evaluate players to determine if they would be a good fit for the team. Youth tryouts serve two purposes: to identify players with strong skills who are ready to contribute to the team and to find players with potential that can be coached and developed for later success. Youth tryouts should include drills that allow players to demonstrate their basic fundamentals as well as team scrimmages to help coaches identify players who understand how to play the game.
Step 1
Give each player a name tag so that they can be easily identified. Have the players write their name on masking tape with a black marker and tape it to the front of their shorts. You and your assistants can then quickly determine a player's name without having to stop the action to ask.
Step 2
Explain your rules, policies and goals for both the tryouts and the season. Players should know what is expected of them during the tryouts, as well as the season, so they can know that they were evaluated fairly.
Step 3
Run the players through basic fundamental drills, such as shooting right-handed and left-handed layups, dribbling between cones, full-court passing drills such as the three-man weave, shooting drills and defensive slides. Jot down a quick note about each player's ability to help you determine cuts at the end of the tryout.
Step 4
Divide the players into teams and let them scrimmage. Split the teams up as equally as possible in terms of what you've observed, and pit players who will most likely play the same position against each other. Record observations about particular players and discuss them with your assistants to help in the team selection. Be on the lookout for players with potential. They may struggle at times, but they show flashes of ability. These will be the players who blossom into your best players down the road.
Step 5
Meet with each player individually to tell him whether he made the team or not. If possible, have players enter and exit from different doors so that those who have been cut do not have to go back and face their peers. If you have to announce the team publicly, speak equally graciously of the players who do not make the team as those who do. If a player does not make the team, give him information about what he can do next time to possibly make the squad. Be prepared with practice and game schedules for those players that do make the team.
Tips and Warnings
- Stretch your tryout out over a couple of days in case a player was sick or had a bad day of practice. Have all of your assistant coaches at tryouts to help with the team selection. Be sure to keep documented records of player performance in case a parent or player questions your selection process.
Things You'll Need
- Jerseys
- Traffic cones
- Masking tape
- Black marker
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