The fall season has given way to the winter activities and gyms around the city are filled with excited and nervous student athletes attempting to show their best "ball" in hopes of representing their school on the basketball team.  Shoes squeaking, sweat pouring, hair flowing, are all part of the scene during tryouts but so too are tears flowing and sleepless nights for coaches and players during selection week.  This same selection process plays itself out prior to the start of all activities, but basketball training camp is a great window to see what selection criteria are used to help coaches with some difficult decisons. There are many tips for tryouts all should keep in mind regardless of the sport to help your chances to make the team.

Head, heart and hustle are intangibles that every coach hopes for in all players, but if these variables are a strength in any one player, they will help an athlete move up the depth chart  and catch the eye of the coach at training camp.   There is no substitute for playing smart.  Sometimes playing smarter rather than harder can be a real asset for a team.  It helps with production on offense and specifically offensive efficiency and profiency, but can also help a team at the defense end as well.  Heart and hustle and pride are not variables that should come and go but be a part of the athlete's daily package.  They raise a team's level of play in games, but help to raise the level of  their teammates play in practice as well. Displaying head, heart and hustle at tryout time will help an athlete to have the coach overlook any weaknesses in an athlete's game. Talent is important, but some of the intangibles you display in your effort, which indicate you have pride in your own and the team's performance can help a team be successul.  Displaying these qualities can help you to be incomparable and set you above the rest of the training camp invitees.

Role players are an important factor in any list of things to look for in athletes.  In football, a coach can't have an entire team of quarterbacks; a volleyball team can't have an entire team of setters.  In basketball, a coach is looking for an assortment of individuals to help provide team depth, improve the strengths of the team, and to help exploit the weaknesses of the opposition. Players need to focus on displaying their strengths at training camp, exhibiting the strengths that can help a team be successful.  A desire to work on improving indiividual weaknesses is also respected by coaches. A team also can't have a collection of all first team starters.  Coaches also look for players who can accept a role and come to  practice looking to push the first teamers and have a desire to help the team reach collective goals by doing anything that will help in this regard.  Knowing your role and accepting it are welcomed attributes on any team.

Character counts.  Players and coaches spend a lot of time and effort in the long journey and  pursuit of realizing team goals. People want to spend time those who display a positive attitude and are committed to excellence.  Coaches are looking for behaviors which suggest athletes are selfless, disciplined, trusting, courageous, cooperative, accepting and supportive in nature, team oriented, dedicated, willing to sacrifice, hard working and leadership oriented. These traits coaches are hoping to see on display from the first bounce of the ball to the last shot of the season. Coaches recogize that players who care about their teammates, the team, high performance and excellence and those who share in contributing to the pursuit of collective goals are more likely to help a team achieve success.  Coaches also recognize that in addition to attempting to pursue team product goals, sport offers the opportunity to both reveal and build character.  Players who show a willingness to accept character development as part of the sport process are also attractive to coaches during the selection process.

Coaches are looking for the collection of individuals who can best come together during the course of the season to be a team force at the end of the year.   A contribution can be made from all members of the team and coaches will be lookng for the right ingredients and parts, and  individuals during selection week to create a team, sharing in the collective responsibility for the successes of the season.

Regardless of your sport of choice, keep these things in mind as you pursue your passion.