Online Volleyball Blog

“I don’t want excuses, I want performance.” -Anonymous

With the girls club season coming up and the boys just getting started, each athlete should be preparing for tryouts. Often, there are as many 20-30 athletes competing for just 10 spots on a team. So what can one do to get noticed?

First things first:
*Wear a bright colored t-shirt. Most people wear black, white, or
navy blue. Try wearing a bright color, such as orange, bright pink,
yellow or red. And make sure the shirt doesn’t have another club’s logo on it.
*Stretch out your back by hanging on something without touching the
floor before being measured. It can be as simple as the end of
bleachers or a door jam. By hanging on that, your body stretches. It
should add 1/2-1″ in height.
*Wear anything that is abnormal (i.e. headband, armband, wristband).
*Arrive at least 15 minutes early to fill out the necessary paperwork.
*Bring plenty of water.
*Don’t experiment with new foods or energy drinks prior to tryouts.
You don’t want to be sick or feeling under the weather.
*Don’t eat anything too heavy before tryouts. Try a light salad or fruit.
* Ask players who know the coaches so you will be prepared for their style.

On the court:
*Hustle all the time. When it’s time to get water, run over to your
water bottle. Coaches love hustle.
*Be loud in your praise of others. It will get you attention from
coaches and other athletes.
*Don’t back-talk.
*Listen and talk with the coaches; assess how their style is (i.e.
quiet, a screamer, a drill sergeant) and if it suits you.
*Don’t whine.
*Look at the coach when they are talking. It shows them that you’re
paying attention.
*Don’t make excuses.
*Try to pepper and warm-up with the best person possible, even if you
don’t know them. It shows initiative and a drive to make oneself better.
*Encourage those around you.
*Branch out to people you don’t know. Coached not only want someone
who can play, but also someone who has a good attitude and is willing
to adjust for the good of the team.
*Be the first one to volunteer in drill demonstrations.

After the try-out:
*Thank the coach for the try-out.
*Tell them (if it’s true) that their club is your desired club and
you really want to play for them.

Beyond these tips, I can only wish you the best of luck!

And remember, hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

Kenzie Aries