How to make basketball tryouts

11 Tips for Basketball Tryouts (How to Stand Out and Get Selected)

The first day of basketball tryouts can be a nerve-wracking experience for players.

No matter how long you've been playing or how many tryouts you've attended, everyone gets those little butterflies in their stomach before walking into the gym.

Today, I'll try to calm your nerves a bit...

Below I've listed several things you can do to prepare for basketball tryouts.

Whether you’re a freshman trying to make your high school team, a youth player attempting to earn a spot on a travel team, or an athlete hoping to make an impression on an AAU coach...

The 11 tryout tips below can help you.

Possibly the single best thing you can do to improve your odds of getting selected is making sure your body is in good condition BEFORE tryouts begin.

Basketball tryouts always involve A LOT of running or transition play.

Some coaches even seek to find out which players can fight through fatigue.

You want to be able to focus on playing your best, not simply surviving the tryout.

If you arrive in peak shape, you'll have a big advantage over many of your peers.

It’s easy to feel nervous due to the stress of the tryout.

Try to fight off these nerves by trusting yourself and the work you have already done!

Preparation equals confidence.

Think about it…

If you have spent countless hours developing your shot, improving your ball handling, studying the game, and practicing against good competition, why wouldn’t you feel confident?

You deserve to make the team!

All you have to do is go out and prove it.

In many areas of life, it’s possible to make a good impression by simply showing up early.

(this is one of the many life lessons basketball will teach)

If your tryout is right after school, get ready quickly and get out to the court.

If your tryout is in the evening, ask your parents to can get you there well ahead of the start time.

While this probably won’t be the make or break factor on who makes the team, it gives you a chance to show the coaches you’re serious about making the team.

If you don’t already know the coach, make a point to introduce yourself to him or her.

When you take the court, begin working on your game immediately.

Coaches don’t want to see players messing around and shooting half court shots before practice.

Begin with form shooting or completing a ball-handling routine.

This is an aspect of the game that players often overlook.

Coaches place a huge premium on body language.

Understand that you're communicating your attitude not only with your words, but also with your eyes, reactions, and facial expressions.

Be sure to make eye contact and nod your head to show understanding.

Don’t pout or stop playing if you miss a shot or think you get fouled.

Your coaches WILL constantly be assessing these things.

If they think you're inattentive or easily rattled / frustrated, it will hurt your chances.

Communication is huge!

There are several ways to help your team, as well as your own chances of making the final roster, by focusing on communicating well.

First, the defensive end of the floor is a great place to constantly talk.

Does your coach give you specific verbals to use?

Maybe he or she wants you to communicate “BALL,” “GAP,” “DENY” or some other defensive phrases.

If your coach doesn’t specify, simply call out what you are doing throughout each defensive possession:

• “I got your help!”
• “I’ve got the ball!”
• “Force him left!”

A talking defender is usually an engaged defender.

Just as important, you can elevate the environment of the practice by offering reminders and encouragement to your teammates.

Basketball tryouts do pit players against one another as everyone is fighting to make the team...

But coaches want to keep players who are great teammates!

A player who is constantly encouraging those around her will have an advantage over someone who keeps to herself.

Make sure your coaches and teammates hear you!

Finally, you may be asked to learn some new plays, drills, or concepts during the tryout period.

If you don’t understand something, be sure to ask a coach.

This is important for two reasons:

(1) Asking a question to gain clarification is certainly better than messing up the drill.

(2) Asking questions show that you are engaged and that you want to learn more.

This is another form of communication.

Show support for your teammates by high-fiving and fist bumping as much as possible.

This is a simple way to show leadership and to enhance the practice environment.

Get touches when running to the end of a line or after a teammate makes a good play.

Challenge yourself to get one touch and to make two comments of encouragement each minute of your basketball tryouts (when a coach isn’t talking, of course).

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens once said:

“When considering the consequences of not doing the little things, you realize there are no little things.”

Coaches understand this, and smart players do as well.

Coaches want players on their team they can trust to do everything possible to help the team win.

Of course you can help yourself in tryouts by knocking down shots…

But everyone has the occasional poor shooting day.

So make sure you aren’t relying on having a good shooting day by finding other ways to make a great impression on the coaches.

• Take a charge
• Communicate loud
• Dive on a loose ball
• Listen with your eyes
• Battle hard for rebounds

This tip is crucial.

As a player, you must realize what you do AND do not do well.

All players will have strengths and weaknesses.

You’ll make the best impression on the coaches by focusing on what you do well.

For example:

If you’re not a great shooter, it doesn’t make sense to throw up a wild shot every time you touch the ball in hopes of draining a three-pointer.

That’s likely not the best way to show the coaching staff how you will help their team.

On the other hand…

If you excel at rebounding, challenge yourself to be the BEST rebounder in the gym.

(Who would possibly cut the best rebounder on the team?)

Or maybe you’re a quick and savvy defensive player...

Make an effort to pressure your opponent full court and disrupt your man every time he or she has the ball.

By the end of basketball tryouts, make sure the coaches know exactly what you do well.

You’ll have time to improve your areas of weakness throughout the season.

Transition is a tremendously important part of the game.

Players who sprint in offensive transition can accumulate easy baskets. And players who run hard in defensive transition can wipe out easy opportunities for the opponent.

Both are crucial to winning games, and both can make an impression on your coaches.

Doing this well comes down to a few factors.

The first goes back to tip number one…

Be in shape!

Next, try to develop a mindset of running hard.

You don’t have to be the quickest player in the gym to run hard.

Players who can read the play and take off immediately in transition have a huge advantage over those who “ball watch”.

Coaches often talk about the importance of the first three steps in the transition game.

When your team gets a defensive rebound, take off!

If your opponent rebounds the ball, sprint back and be ready to make a play!

Your coaches will notice.

Basketball coaches are inherently detail-oriented.

If a play calls for a player in the corner, they want him all the way in the corner.

If a screen is supposed to be set on the elbow, that’s where it needs to be.

Be sure to listen and do your best to execute the nuances of the game.

You can also show your attention to detail in how you execute the fundamentals.

For example:

Many coaches include a brief form shooting segment in their practice plans.

Don’t simply flip up the ball...

Get your feet set, snap your wrist, and hold your follow through!

Executing these details show that you are focused and trying to do your best.

Your team’s basketball tryout is a competition.

While it’s not productive to get caught up in comparing yourself to other potential players, you do need to be ready to compete hard.

The best way to compete is by simply doing YOUR best in every part of the tryout.

That’s all anyone can expect you to do!

If you play as hard as you can in every drill and scrimmage, you will put yourself in great position to not only make the team, but to excel and have a great season.

Coaches understand that the basketball tryouts process can be stressful for players.

Trust me, it can be stressful for us as well!

Coaches want to see players excel and show how they can help the team.

So relax!

Prepare yourself to the best of your ability, be confident, be a great teammate, focus, and do your best. If you do those things, you are bound to have a successful tryout.

Good luck!

8 Tryout Tips Guaranteed to Get You Noticed (And What To Avoid So You Don't Get Cut)

Do you know exactly what the coach is looking for in tryouts? Do you know everything you need to do?

You may think that you do, but its highly unlikely.

Actually, what you think would help with tryouts may be the exact reason you get cut from the team. Sad thing is that Ive seen players like you make these critical mistakes over and over and over again.

Ive been fortunate to conduct tryouts for youth clubs with over 400 kids. Ive also been part of high school varsity tryouts with 100 kids for a state championship caliber team at the high school level.

Im able to give you the critical tips that can help you make the team and avoid those mistakes that get you cut.

Like this article? Download it as a free PDF! (Download Now!)

1. Do what you do well.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to impress the coach by doing things that are outside your skill set. This often results in a disaster for you.

If you are a good rebounder, grab every rebound.

If you are a good shooter, shoot when you are open.

If you are a good finisher, attack the basket when a lane is open.

If you are a good ball handler, make the simple passes, the simple moves.

If you are not a good 3-point shooter, dont step out and shoot one during tryouts. Ive seen kids literally hit the side of the backboard trying to do this.

The coach will instantly think, Wow. This kid does not know a thing about shot selection. Maybe hes a low IQ kid.

Trust me... with the limited time that a coach can see you... this is not the impression you want to make. Even if you play great the rest of the time, the coach already has impression about you and thats hard to change.

Here is a good measure... can you make 7 out of 10 shots unguarded from a spot. Maybe 6 out of 10 for youth players. If not, dont take the shot at tryouts.

2. Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!

There is no excuse for any player on this one. You just have to commit and develop that mentality.

When the ball is on the floor, dive on the floor. Box out on every shot. Sprint on the fast break. Sprint to spots on the floor on defense.

Communicate on defense and offense. Be loud and do it often.

These are things that every player can do and every player should do.

This is why you see players who arent skilled make the team. Theyre willing to do the little things that make teams good or great.

3. Dont be just one of the guys in the crowd - Make a great first impression.

Here is a great way to make a first impression.

When the coach calls everybody in at the beginning of the first tryout...

Instead of walking out there or jogging out there like every other kid.

Sprint! Sprint directly to the coach and stand right in front of him. Stand tall and keep eye contact on the coach during the entire talk.

I guarantee youll have the coachs attention. Ive conducted tryouts. Ive been in rooms with coaches discussing who to cut. This makes a difference.

Your buddies may give you some crap, but youll be the one laughing when you make the team or get more playing time than them.

4. Avoid the amazing play mentality. Do something that makes you stand out in a positive way.

This is not what you think. This is not making an amazing play. Remember... do what you do well.

Flashy doesnt impress coaches. It may look cool on the playground, but thats why you dont see NBA guys doing streetball moves during games. Its flash. Its hype. Its not effective against good players.

You should do something with substance that coaches will notice in a positive way.

Earlier, I mentioned communicate on defense.

One time when I was conducting a tryout for 3rd to 8th graders, we were with the 4th grader session.

All of the sudden, across the gym, I hear a blaring yell Screen! Screen! Screen! It was from this little guy named Tommy.

Ten seconds later, I hear Tommy yell again, I got ball!

This continued the whole day. He communicated early. He communicated loud. He communicated often. (ELO Early Loud Often. Kevin Eastman would have been proud.)

There may have been 30 other kids communicating in the gym, but he is the only one I remembered. I didnt know him before the tryouts, but I sure know him now. Guess what... he made the first team.

5. Dont be shy Talk to the coaches before tryouts.

Too many make the big mistake of being too shy to talk to the coach. And this can make a huge difference with making the team.

Sometimes, this simple act will elevate you in the eyes of the coaches because they know that you care and youll do whatever it takes to help the team.

Be specific. Tell the coach that you really want to make the team. Ask them what they need on their team.

6. Be a great teammate Great attitude and sportsmanship

Every coach wants a player who is a great teammate and makes the players better around them.

You can do this by...

• Being a great practice player and challenging your teammates during practice to make the team better.

• By putting everybody in a better mood with your positive attitude. Lets face it... were all humans and its more enjoyable to have a little fun in life. Nobody wants to be around a person with a poor attitude.

• Display great sportsmanship. When a coach sees you helping players off the floor and playing hard but clean basketball, they know that they can count on you not to lose your cool and hurt your team in a negative way at an important time.

7. Get there early / warm up properly.

Getting there early shows the coach that you care and that he can depend on you to show up on time to practices and games.

Also, make sure to warm up prior to playing, so you are playing your best as soon as the whistle blows. First impressions are very important.

8. Who cares if you screw up Next play!

If you make a mistake... oh well, it happens. Everybody makes mistakes.

Always go on to the next play.

The best players react in a positive way to those mistakes and dont let them snowball into a bunch of mistakes.

There are no guarantees in life. However, if you use the tips mentioned above, you will dramatically increase your chances to make the team and earning more playing time.

If you are serious about becoming a better player, we offer Basketball Camps throughout the country during the spring, summer, and fall.

To check out the different camps, Click Here.

Recommended DVDs & eBook:

What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...

types, passing technique, how to catch the ball

04/03/2020 All sports Leave a comment 59,963 Views

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Basketball is a team sport. It follows from this that all team members must be involved in the game process and work as one single mechanism. One of the main skills in basketball is passing, which, by the way, many underestimate and spend little time in training on improving it.

When teaching catching and passing the ball in basketball, it is important that the coach/teacher focuses not only on the technique of performing the skill, but also on the mentality. It's just that some novice players believe that the pass should be done when they do not have the opportunity to throw into the ring, although this opinion is erroneous, because the transfer, especially done wisely, brings the team much closer to success.

When teaching the passing of players of the younger group, it is worth considering their physical and mental characteristics. Small basketball players usually do not have enough strength to perform an accurate technically correct pass. In addition, do not forget that the skill of a good pass is developed with experience, and at the initial stage they simply do not have it. Beginners will naturally have many mistakes when passing, especially when passing the ball with one hand, with a bounce, as well as passing in motion. But through trial and error, this technical skill can be gradually improved. A coach or physical education teacher should tell his students about this so that they do not get upset when nothing works out.

How many players are there in basketball? Positions of players and their meanings

What are the types of passes in basketball?

Basketball passing is a fundamental skill that players need to practice regularly. Teams that rely on the skill of individual team members will have a hard time scoring a lot of points against a well-defended opponent. In basketball, transmissions can be classified into:

• By air
• Hitting the floor

Also split gears:

• One handed
• Two-handed

But the main classification into species is the following type:

1. Transfer from chest with two hands
2. Bounce pass
3. From behind the head
4. Other types: side, bottom, hand-to-hand, shoulder pass, baseball pass, behind the back, concealed, in motion.

Below is a summary of each major type of pass, detailing how and when a particular pass is made. It’s worth clarifying right away that two hands are used to pass from the chest and from behind the head, so it’s best to start teaching beginner players from them.

Chest pass

This is the most common and most effective pass in basketball. It can be used in most different situations and places in the playground. To perform a chest pass, place your hands evenly on both sides of the ball and spread your fingers (thumbs pointing towards the chest). We hold the ball near the chest and in order to pass to the partner, fully extend the arms forward, thus pushing the playing projectile towards the partner. In this case, the palms of the hands turn around and look at each other with the outside, and the thumbs are pointing down (see the picture).

If the situation allows, try stepping one foot forward towards the partner you are about to pass to. Ideally, you need to throw the ball to your partner so that it hits just below the chest - in this case, it will be very convenient for the player to receive it.

Bouncing pass

To perform such a pass, you must do all the same actions as when passing from the chest, only you need to direct the ball to a partner with a hit on the floor. Also, if there is time, take a step forward and throw the ball at a distance of about 2/3 from the partner so that it flies above the knees to the waist area. Passing accuracy requires practice, as beginners often hit the ball in the wrong place and it does not fly accurately.

Do not forget that the transfer of the ball with a rebound is slower than from the chest through the air, which makes it possible for other basketball players to intercept. Therefore, such a delivery of the ball must be carried out with caution, calculating the time and place of the ball's flight.

Overhead pass

This type of pass is used in situations where a player is driven into a difficult position and there is nothing left to do but to give the ball to a partner in this way. To perform, you need to put your hands on the sides of the ball, spreading your fingers, then raise the ball behind your head and straighten your arms and take a step forward to the intended place of transfer to release the game projectile from your hands (if the situation does not allow you to put your foot forward, we pass without this action).

Other interesting passes

Baseball pass. This option is used in rare cases when it is necessary to quickly make a long pass, for example, from your own half of the court to someone else's. Passing is like throwing a baseball player on a shot. To make such a pass, you must first take the ball with both hands and place it near the shoulder near the ear. The body of the body is half deployed. Then, with one hand, make a pushing motion: the hand should follow the ball, stretching to its full length, and the last touch is made with the fingertips.

Hidden transmission. It can be used to confuse the opponent's defense and is especially effective when passing on the move while dribbling. Often such a pass is used by the point guard. It is extremely difficult and in most cases performed by professional basketball players. The pass is difficult to execute because the player needs to look in one direction while throwing the ball in another direction. The situation is complicated by the speed of the player's movement and the number of opponents nearby. You need to give such a pass according to the situation: with one hand, two, with a rebound or in another way.

Back pass. Such a ball pass in a basketball game will make the audience rise from their seats and thank its author with loud applause. There is a problem with this type of pass and not every player will be able to perform it qualitatively, especially it is not recommended to make such a pass for beginners. Often, a pass behind the back is performed at high speed, when two attackers go to one defender, and when the opponent goes to attack the one with the ball, he gives the game projectile to his partner. The picture below clearly shows how this ball pass is performed.

Free throw training

10 Basketball pass tips

Successful teams work hard on the court, using every player on the field to achieve the goal. There are 5 people in a basketball team and together they can play a combination at someone else's ring better than players working individually. It follows from this that the passing is an extremely important technical element in basketball and it needs to be trained and improved. Here are some tips for beginners to learn how to pass the ball well:

1. Take one small step towards the player you are passing the ball to. This will improve accuracy.
2. Pass as far away from the opponent's defender as possible to avoid an interception.
3. Deliver the ball to your partner above the waist and below the shoulders for a comfortable reception.
4. Make sure that at the last moment of farewell to the ball, it slips out of the fingers, and not out of the palms.
5. Keep track of the situation on the field, assessing the location of opponents on the court and your players.
6. When dribbling, look at the court, not at the ball.
7. When passing from the chest, be sure to rotate the wrist at the end.
8. Use maximum passing speed without sacrificing accuracy.
9. The passing of the ball must be both clear and precise, delivered neither too soft nor too hard. Make sure that the partner does not have difficulties in receiving.
10. A fake pass occurs when you are sure that the opponent will not intercept it and start a retaliatory attack.

Basketball Catching Tips

When a student first learns to play basketball, one of the elements they encounter at the very beginning is catching the ball. Basketball is a complex and dangerous sport. It will hurt if someone cannot catch a sharply thrown ball. Therefore, before a player is hit in the face or another part of the body, make sure that he has and sufficiently developed skills to catch the ball. Here are some tips for catching the ball in basketball:

1. Show the thrower where you want to get the ball by extending your arms above your waist with your fingers relaxed and apart.
2. Your eyes should be focused on the flight of the ball.
3. Do not start the next movement until you have the ball completely in your hands.
4. Move towards the ball instead of waiting for it to hit.
5. When catching, the first contact must be blocking - this is done with one hand slightly extended forward with fingers wide apart, and the second one catches the ball.
6. Move the ball to the center of the chest and keep it close to the body.
7. Never try to catch the ball with one hand. Only the best basketball players can perform such an action qualitatively.
8. Make sure your fingers are well relaxed before catching the game projectile. Bend your knees slightly to be able to move quickly in any direction after receiving the ball.
9. To successfully catch the ball, you need to open up well and not let the opponent interfere with you.
10. During the reception, do not be distracted by extraneous noises, sounds - this all prevents you from getting the ball exactly in your hands.

In conclusion, we would like to present to your attention the brief rules of basketball.

2020-04-03

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Basketball coaching hacks: how to score goals for beginners

Even if you are a novice basketball player, we will not give you a training plan, but we will tell you why the ball flies anywhere but into the ring and into your hands. It's all about technique: even with regular training and perseverance, novice adults and children often make simple mistakes. It's a shame, let's fix it. Below are 11 life hacks on how to hone your technique to increase the likelihood of a goal for your team.

Basketball Shot Rules for Beginners

1. Hands up

In pursuit of the attacker, raise your hands, even if you are standing with your back to the pass, and even more so if the ring is in front of you. Your raised hands will increase the chance of intercepting the ball from the opponent by 2 times. Don't overlook this little thing!

2. Make shield rolls

Even Tim Duncan did not neglect them! A square is drawn on the basketball backboard. If you are standing opposite the ring, then aim at the middle of the upper part of the square, if you are standing on the side, then at the corner. If you hit this square, then the ball is at 90% of cases will fall into the ring. The law of physics and no cheating!

3. Look at the ring, not the ball

Practice driving the ball with your hand, not your eyes, develop tactile control. Your eyes should be on the hoop while dribbling and be aware of the position of your body in relation to the hoop. Then you will be able to take the correct posture, and the throw will be effective.

4. Dribble with the balls of your fingers only

The palm should not touch the ball, only the pads of the fingers. Dribbling should become familiar to you, like an extension of your hand. Then you can change its trajectory at any time and you will have more chances to score goals. Practice with the ball constantly.

5. Throw with one hand

If you throw the ball with two hands, you reduce the chance of hitting the basket. All the efforts of the throw are in one hand (in the right for right-handers, in the left for left-handers). The other hand only holds the ball, the leading one holds it with the fingers, not the palm.

6. Do not jump when protecting the ring

Jumping is the main mistake of rookie defenders. To intercept the ball and block the shot, simply stick out your hands. When you are in a jump, the attacker will easily bypass you.

7.

Don't look back

When you dribble, don't look back, but dribble and aim for the ring, focus on shooting (or passing to another player on your team).

8. Bring the throw to automatism

Incorporate the most basic basketball techniques into your training plan and bring the shot to automatism. Throw first from a distance of half a meter from the ring, gradually increasing it. Learn to throw the ball so that it hits the hoop without touching the edge.

Throw the ball with all fives and jump

Throwing Rules:

• Head in the center of the body - if tilted, accuracy is lost.
• Look at the ring: mentally build a trajectory. If you are far away, the ball flies in a curved curve with a maximum height of 2 meters above the hoop.
• A strong hand is in front and throws, a weak hand is on the side and directs, only holding the ball. The elbow of the throwing hand must be in line with the ring.
• The ball must rest on the fingers without touching the palm. The fingers are as far apart as possible and grab the ball.
• Throwing arm bent 90 degrees, forearm perpendicular to the floor. If you bend less, then you get not a throw, but a throwing of the ball horizontally.

The main thing in the throw is the position of the body and its balance. Place your feet apart and parallel to each other: it is important to orient them in the middle of the basket. Then the direction of the body during the jump will coincide with the direction of the throw, and the ball will fly straight into the ring. When the feet are uneven, the ball flies in the wrong direction or does not reach (although the throw was normal).

Take a deep breath and release as you exhale.

How to hold the ball and shoot in basketball

How to throw correctly: straighten your arm, point your wrist up, and with your hand set the ball to rotate in the opposite direction from the flight. The ball should seem to "roll" off your fingers.

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