5 Tips To Make Your High School Basketball team

My experience with basketball has taken me on an amazing journey but I would say that the most significant parts of the journey were during highschool. If you aspire to play basketball (or any other sport) at the next level an important piece is playing for your high school team. In this article I will offer some tips to help you on the road to making your high school basketball team and continuing your experience in basketball.

Take these tips and apply them to your experience as you deem appropriate. These tips may or may not work for you but you may be able to incorporate them into your strategy. No matter what always make your education a top priority!

1. Approach your coaches

This cannot be understated! This is probably the best way to show interest in your school’s basketball program. Locate the coach, ask about the program, and show initiative. This can be the first step in building a lasting relationship with the coach and solidifying your reputation as a valuable asset to the team. Your first interaction with the coaching staff should be long before your team’s formal tryouts. 

2. Build your skills

The number of talented players at the high school level is vast. At the high school level having a well developed skill set can set you apart from your peers and catch your coach’s eye. Its not all about dribbling, shooting, and being a highlight reel. Coaches want to see a well rounded and unselfish player with basketball IQ. Many players develop these skills before high school but if you have made it to high school already you can make time to practice these skills. Find your way into the gym, train as much as you can, study the game, and play at every opportunity. Added bonus: you never know who is watching/talking about, so stay consistent and focused and give them good things to say. 

3. Participate in any team sanctioned training

A common misconception about many basketball teams is that team members are picked when the team holds a try out. TRYOUTS DO NOT HAPPEN WHEN TRYOUTS ARE HELD! Your tryouts are ongoing and they factor in many facets of yourself as a person. Most tryouts are held as a formality when in fact the team has already been decided on. Your tryouts start when you decide you want to be a student at a certain school and even before. My advice, in a addition to being a good student, is to go to any and all team training (conditioning sessions, weight sessions, film sessions, study sessions Etc.) This will show the coaches how passionate you are and give you a better opportunity of making the team. 

4. PLAY PLAY PLAY

PLAY LOTS OF BASKETBALL. If the team is playing open gym or pick up, be there. Take initiative, ask when they play, and then show up ready to go. Use these opportunities to meet the team, show your skills, and build rapport. Do it as often as possible. This allows you to network. Take the chance to get contact info, make friends, and show your skills. Make yourself visible to the team and the coaches. You never know who is watching or talking about you.

5. Don’t Give Up

The above tips can be a lot to balance. In addition to academics, family, and any other obligations you may have. The demands of this sport can start to add up but usually as a student in high school you have the unique opportunity to pursue a passion and put everything into it. Every day may not be easy but it will be rewarding no matter how far you decide to take it. Basketball can take you to great places and everyone’s path is different. The most important thing you can do everyday is to try. When you give up that is when you lose so give yourself a chance to succeed.