Alright, so I had these basketball tryouts the other day, and man, was I nervous. I mean, making a good impression on the coaches is everything, right? So I did a little digging beforehand, trying to figure out what I should say and do to stand out. Here’s how it went down.
First off, I knew I had to show up ready to roll. No messing around with my phone or blasting music in my headphones. Coaches want to see who’s serious, who’s there to ball, you know? So, I made sure to get to the gym early. Like, really early. While everyone else was still tying their shoes or scrolling through Instagram, I was already on the court.
I started with some basic ball-handling drills, just to get a feel for the rock. Then, I moved into my shooting routine. Nothing fancy, just some shots close to the basket, gradually moving further out. I wasn’t trying to show off or anything, just getting my body warmed up and my mind focused.
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Be the first one in everything.
When the coaches finally arrived, I made sure to be the first one to greet them. I walked right up, looked them in the eye, and gave them a firm handshake. Introduced myself, told them I was excited for the opportunity, the whole nine yards. I think it made a good first impression, showing them I was eager and respectful.
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Listen and pay attention.
Throughout the tryouts, I kept my ears open. Whenever a coach was talking, I was listening. No daydreaming, no chatting with the other guys. I wanted to absorb every bit of instruction they were giving out. It’s not rocket science, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t pay attention. Also I tried to follow every word they said.
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Play with all your heart.
During the drills and scrimmages, I just played my game. I didn’t try to do anything crazy or outside of my skill set. I focused on what I do well: playing tough defense, setting solid screens, and making the extra pass. I hustled like crazy, too. First one down the court, first one to dive for a loose ball, first one to high-five a teammate. I wanted the coaches to see that I was a team player, someone who would give it their all every single possession.
Honestly, I don’t know if I made the team or not. It’s tough competition out there. But I do know that I did everything I could to show the coaches what I’m all about. I was prepared, I was focused, and I played with passion. And at the end of the day, that’s all you can really do. I kept my head up, shook the coaches’ hands again, and thanked them for their time. We’ll see what happens, but I’m proud of how I handled myself, no matter the outcome.
