First Day of Tryouts

So we had our first day of tryouts at Seneca tonight ... we didn't have as many as we usually do the first night as only about 45 or so showed up but a bunch did call and email saying that they couldn't make the first one but will be there for the second one ... so could get up to about 60ish players by the end of tryouts ... That being said there are only 15 spots open so lots of tough choices a head of us coaches over the course of tryouts ...

Going into the tryouts we had an idea of what we were going to do to see what talent we have, who can play, who can shoot, who shouldn't be in the gym and most of who has basketball IQ ... I have seen players that can hit anything and everything in practice or tryouts but as soon as they get into a real game ... nothing they couldn't even spell their name if you asked them ... they just freeze with this blank look like they are a 3 year old lost in a mall ...

So started off the tryouts nice and easy with a nice jog around the double gym while conducting various stretches like high knees, butt kickers, lunges, squats, backward runs, defensive shuffles ... after a 20 minutes dynamic warm-up I had two of the players lead the stretches ... I like that as it gives a couple of the players an opportunity to show leadership ... once they had completed the stretching I had them do something I call 15, 10, 5s that is when they do 15 push-ups flip 15 sit-ups flip 10 push-ups flip 10 sit-ups etc.

So we bring in the group in an introduced ourselves and began the tryouts ...

We began by splitting them up into 6 even groups and sent them to the 6 baskets around the gym ... we then showed them a couple of sequences that we wanted them to perform an allowed them to practice them withing their groups ... from there we went live to a 3 on 3 game where they could only use the things we taught to score and drive ... no on ball or off ball screens were allowed ... we wanted to see a) if they would use what we taught and b) would they be able to see a play develop before it developed ...

So looking back at the first tryout I am liking the dynamics of the team they group of guys that have come out thus far show that they have the IQ to play the system we want to run ... they are athletic and so far show the passion that we are looing for ...

I look forward to the next tryout and seeing what they can bring as we bring a bit more basketball to them and challenge their minds ...

Next tryout is Friday ... unfortunately I will miss this tryout due to work but will be at Monday's ... so until then ...

Coach Hopps