Top tips for tryouts

[icewilley]

Please post your top tips to help players (indicate goalie vs. skater if necessary). I'd like to put together a top 10 list to post.

I'll start with:

1) Play in skates that fit.
If they don't fit properly, your game will suffer. (ALL)

[Slapshot*67]

Dont eat fast food prior to tryouts

[slow feet no hands guy]

2) Have a closed tryout. Only players and coaches allowed, no parents.
Parents only make the kids nervous not to mention the parents getting nervous themselves. Let the kids tryout and do their best and let the chips fall where they may!

[RLStars]

stay hydrated

[havefun09]

lay it all out on the line. dig in the corners and block shots

[Blade Side Down]

Don't be a Cherry picker

[waylon]

Work your Tail off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
________
Honda C71, C76, C72, C77 Dream

[Icemen11]

Make sure that you know the drill before you do it. I have seen a kid mess up every single drill he has done, even when he goes last. My fellow Icemen know what I am talking about.

[xIcemen1x]

Hahaha yeah... Can u say Dobesh???

[rbkman87]

dont get nervous and do ur best

[gopherhockey33]

do stuff in the off season to get ready for tryouts

[Sudden Death]

Be first in line for each drill. The graders always are looking at the first guy. Then make sure you do a great job.

[SLP/SW Coach]

1. Be on Time - Stretch prior to getting on the ice.

2. Listen!!! - when the instructor is talking about the next drill or how to do something. Do NOT be talking to your buddies, concentrate!

3. Be Physical (PW & Bant) - it is not necessarily the big hits, but the physical play to "beat a man" or "fighting in the corner."

4. Do NOT be afraid to make a mistake - it is OK to fall or lose the puck during drills, as long as your are going ALL OUT.

5. Move the puck - during scrimmage sessions, do not be a puck hog, be a solid playmaker. This does get noticed.

6. Be in proper position - trust me, Coaches see this, and score based on it as well.

7. Play both ends of the ice - you need to work even harder in the D-Zone and backchecking than in the O-zone. DO NOT BE A CHERRY-PICKER


There has been some good things said in the above posts as well.
I hope that these help you too!!!

[shoot to thrill]

A simple thing but one I see parents and players forget a lot...

Prepare your gear bag which includes getting your skates sharpened, making sure you have all your equipment (mouthguard, stick tape etc.) and get there early for check in.

There is nothing worse than seeing a player scrambling just before the tryout to find a mouthguard or having dull blades. Their confidence gets shattered and they become flustered before they even set foot on the ice.

[Charliedog]

My question is this: Do you bring a drink with you to the bench so you can stayed hydrated and skate well? If you do, you will look like a wimp. If you don't you will skate like a wimp.

Year after year I watch these kids dying out there without anything to drink. They don't want to bring their water to the ice because nobody else does.

[icewilley]

Bring your water. If it helps you make the team you want to be on, who cares what it looks like? Besides, I think it would look like you were properly prepared. I'd also suggest bringing 2 sticks to the bench as well!