Tryouts – what’s the big deal?

Inevitably as young athletes develop they will eventually have to go through a tryout process; whether it is for a school, college, club, or a provincial/national team. The main objective of the tryout is to select the “best” athletes for the team. The selection committee is usually comprised of the coaching staff of the team and a neutral expert in the sport e.g. scout or technical director.

 

Due to time and resource constraints the tryouts are usually conducted over two or three sessions. During these two to three days the athletes will be placed in a variety of situations simulating competition. In most cases the coaching staff will also pre-scout the athletes prior to tryouts, which is typically conducted during the last competitive season or competition.

 

I am a believer that young elite athletes need to be identified at a young age and placed into an environment that will provide an appropriate challenge, while maintaining enjoyment, to foster continued development. Developmental teams and/or young select teams are one way to achieve this environment.

 

It is human nature for athletes to be nervous before/during the tryouts, and the best way to overcome these nerves is to practice competing in similar environments. Tryouts not only identify athletes with the physical maturity (ability) but also mental and emotional maturity for them to cope with a more challenging environment.

 

It is normal, and healthy, for the athletes to be disappointed if they were not selected at tryouts. These athletes, and the parents, need to understand that it was the coaching staff’s SUBJECTIVE opinion that they were not ready to be part of that particular select team. All athletes mature and develop and different rates, there are countless examples of this in sporting world no better than Michael Jordan not making his high school basketball team.

 

I advise athletes that make the select teams not to take it for granted and continue to train hard and stay “grounded”. The athletes that do not get selected can use the experience as added incentive/motivation to develop their ability. Lastly I advise the parents to provide positive support and keep their son/daughter focused on the things that are in their control e.g. the selections are out of their control but their training habits are not.

Craig Dalrymple

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