Basketball tryout checklist
From two weeks out to the drive home. Tick it off as you go, or print it.
Most tryouts are decided in two hours or less, often with forty players competing for a dozen spots. Coaches cannot fully judge skill in that time. What they can see is who sprints back, who talks, who listens the first time and who recovers from a mistake. Those are things a player can prepare for.
There are three versions of this checklist. The player list is written for the kid trying out. The parent list covers the logistics before the session and the conversation after it. The first tryout list assumes no experience at all.
Your ticks are saved in this browser only, and each list keeps its own progress. Not sure which age group you are trying out for? The Age-Group Calculator will tell you.
For the player
Written for the kid trying out. Read the gym section twice. That is the part coaches are actually grading.
Two weeks out
0 of 6 doneThe night before
0 of 14 doneMorning of
0 of 5 doneIn the gym
0 of 8 doneCoaches cutting forty kids to twelve cannot properly assess skill in two hours. They can assess effort and coachability.
After
0 of 5 doneNothing is saved to a server. Your ticks stay in this browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should my child bring to a basketball tryout?
Broken in basketball shoes, a shirt and shorts with a spare shirt, socks, a full water bottle, a snack, a mouthguard, any tape or braces they normally wear, and the signed medical and consent forms. Most clubs do not expect a team jersey. Ask the club ahead of time what it provides so nothing is missing at the door.
What do coaches look for at basketball tryouts?
With dozens of players and only a couple of hours, coaches cannot fully judge skill, so they watch effort and coachability. Sprinting back on defence, talking on the court, being first in drill lines, listening when a drill is explained, and how a player responds in the seconds after a mistake. Skill matters, but hustle and attitude are what most players can control on the day.
How should a player prepare for basketball tryouts?
Start about two weeks out. Confirm the date, the gym and the registration deadline, break in the tryout shoes, and spend a short time each day on ball handling and shooting to sharpen what they already have rather than rebuild it. Add some running so fitness is not the limit in the first drill. The night before, pack the bag, eat a normal dinner and get a full night of sleep.
What should we do if my child gets cut?
Give it a day, then ask the coach for one or two specific things to work on. Ask whether the club runs a second team or a development program, and look at house league or a skills program so there is still a season to play. Selection at younger ages is heavily influenced by birth month and growth, so a cut this year says very little about next year.
How long do basketball tryouts last?
A single session usually runs 90 minutes to two hours: warm up, skill drills, then scrimmages. Many clubs hold two or three sessions over a week or two before deciding, so put every date in the calendar and arrange rides for the whole block rather than just the first night.