Tryout Stand Out: How To Stand Out At Camp And Make The Team
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc., YCS
The majority of young players will be participating in skill-based training camps this summer. However, a select number will be heading off to high-performance tryout camps over the course of the next few months.
These camps are usually by invitation only or at least require a player to go through an application process in order to be selected. Players will be trying to impress scouts and coaches in order to make their regional, provincial or national all-star team. The stakes are high and the competition is fierce.
How To Stand Out From The Crowd and Make The Team
These tryout camps are less about learning and more about performance. While players will certainly be able to learn a lot while being surrounded by talented players and knowledgeable coaches, players must capitalize on their opportunity to stand out and separate themselves from the crowd.
At these high-performance camps, players must focus on showcasing their strengths. If you are a prolific goal scorer, then you had better bury the puck at camp. If you are a great two-way centre, then you should be the best back-checker on the ice. If you are a solid stay-at-home defenseman, then you had better make great breakout passes throughout camp.
Be the Best At Whatever You Do Best
The problem most young players run into in high-performance camp settings is that they get so wrapped up in worrying about their weaknesses, they forget to showcase their strengths.
The bad news is that if you have a glaring weakness, the evaluators are going to be able to find it. You can't hide a weak wrist shot or poor passing skills for long.
The good news is that every player who has ever played the game has weaknesses!!!
Not everyone is a natural goal scorer, a great two-way player or great at controlling the breakout. And while every coach would love to have a team full of players who can execute every skill and strategy perfectly, they also know that it is a completely unrealistic vision for a team.
The key to impressing the scouts and coaches is to be the best on the ice at whatever it is that you do best. If the coach is looking for someone who has that strength (and trust me, they are), then you are going to be the one they remember. Instead of comparing yourself to everyone else on the ice and worrying about your weaknesses, focus on what you do best - and do it the best to of your ability.
Make them notice you for your strengths and not for your short-comings.
About The Author
Kim McCullough, M.Sc., YCS is a highly sought-after expert in the development of aspiring hockey players and has played at the highest level of women's hockey in the world for the last decade. Kim's player development website gives coaches and parents of aspiring young players access to programs, articles and advice on how to help their players take their game to the next level. To learn more about how to have your best camp and your best season ever, visit: http://www.besthockeyseasonever.com
© The Young Athlete 2008
