Read This Before Your Tryouts…
The Best Players Don't Try to Be Perfect at Tryouts
Stop Trying to Impress
For many players, tryouts are the most stressful week of the year. Every mistake feels bigger than it really is. One missed pass, one turnover, or one lost battle can feel like the difference between making the team and getting cut. That pressure causes a lot of players to change the way they play. Instead of making confident decisions, they play cautiously. Instead of trusting their instincts, they overthink every touch of the puck. Instead of competing freely, they become afraid to make mistakes. Ironically, that's usually when mistakes happen.
You Don't Need a Perfect Tryout
One of the biggest misconceptions about tryouts is that coaches expect perfection. They don't. Coaches understand that players are nervous, and they know mistakes are part of the game. What they're really evaluating is how you respond to those mistakes. Do you stop skating after a turnover? Do you hang your head after missing a scoring chance? Or do you immediately get back into the play and compete for the next puck? Resilience stands out just as much as skill. A player who can recover quickly and stay engaged often leaves a stronger impression than one who lets a single mistake affect the rest of their practice.
Focus on Winning Your Next Shift
One of the easiest ways to manage nerves is to shrink your focus. Don't think about making the team. Don't think about the final roster. Don't even think about the rest of the practice. Instead, focus on your next shift. Win the next race. Win the next puck battle. Make the next smart play. Communicate in the next drill. When you stack small wins instead of chasing one big moment, your game becomes more consistent, and consistency is exactly what coaches are looking for.
Trust the Work You've Already Done
By the time tryouts arrive, there isn't much you can improve in a few days. The work has already been done. Your skating, your conditioning, your puck skills, and your habits were built throughout the offseason. Tryouts aren't the time to reinvent yourself—they're the time to trust the player you've spent months becoming. Confidence isn't pretending you're ready. Confidence is knowing you've prepared.
Be the Player Coaches Can Trust
Every coach appreciates skill, but every coach values trust. Can they rely on you to compete every shift? Can they trust your effort when you're tired? Can they count on your body language after something doesn't go your way? The players who make teams aren't always the most talented players at tryouts. More often than not, they're the players coaches know they can rely on when the season gets difficult. Talent may get you noticed, but trust is what earns you a spot.
One Final Thought
As you head into tryouts this year, remember this: you don't need to be perfect. You don't need to score every game, and you don't need to make the highlight reel. Play with confidence. Compete with purpose. Trust your preparation. The goal isn't to become a different player for three days. The goal is to be the best version of the player you've already worked so hard to become.
Check out our fall/winter programming
Winter programming is now available.
Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, prepare for the second half of the season, or continue your development in a high-performance environment, there's a program built for every stage of your game.
Explore our Winter Programming to learn more about each offering, schedules, and registration details—and find the program that's right for you.