Good morning,
Tryouts start soon for many programs. We've been getting questions all month about how to prepare, what coaches look for and how to stand out when it matters.
So we asked our FCL college athletes for some tips and put down some of our own thoughts. It’s a short read and highlights some very tactical takeaways.
We’re continuing to up the content output as well. This week we've also got Nate Kabiri's D1 shooting workout, a Coaches Corner newsletter on embodied perception, and Deemer teaching women's drills in the BIC community.
Let’s get into it. Happy Friday ☕️,
Matt & Deemer
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📺 YouTube: Princeton’s Nate Kabiri D1 Shooting Workout
📧 Coaches Corner: Embodied Perception & CLA
🎥 Coach Community: Deemer Class Teaches BIC Women’s Drills
🎥 Coach Community: Matt Dunn’s Guide to Designing Base Defense
🎧 Stop Drilling Moves, Start Drilling Decisions with Gold Medal Shot Selection
✅ Showing up ready to go for HS tryouts
Tryouts are coming up for many. You've been working all off-season, and now it comes down to three days on the field.
Our staff has coached tryouts. Our college athletes have survived them. Here's some tips that could help you out.
I/ Trust your preparation
You can't get in better shape between now and Monday. You can't rebuild your stick skills in 48 hours.
But you’ve been training, and that work counts. Walk on the field knowing that the work you’ve been putting in should give you confidence.
“Trust the work you’ve put in, don’t overthink everything, and let the game come to you.”
FCL Athlete Luke Miller
II/ Have two sticks you trust
Your stick breaks day one. Your backup stick is taped weird and throws like a shovel. Uh-oh.
Bring two sticks you trust.
III/ Coachability goes a long way
Listen to what the coach asks. Try it on the next rep.
When you screw up (you will), chase after the ball. Don’t quit on the drill. Play through the whistle.
“Push yourself when you feel like you don’t want to, be coachable, give it your all in every rep!”
FCL Athlete Eliza Osburn
IV/ Show resilience through body language
Never slam your stick, blame a teammate, sulk after a missed shot, and never go palms up.
Celebrate your teammate's goals. Make the extra pass and give them the fist bump.
Energy spreads. Make yours worth catching.
“Something you cannot teach is heart and grit in the game, so bring the energy. Coaches want to see someone that is focused, and brings high positive energy.”
V/ Play to your strengths, you have them!
Know what you're good at. Then do that thing relentlessly. If you dodge well, initiate in 2v2s. Don't hide.
If you're a lockdown defender, guard the best attacker.
“When you are going into your tryouts, show and play to your strengths!”
FCL Athlete Mileena Cotter
VI/ Be elite WITHOUT the ball
You might not always get a chance to carry or cover the ball.
Offensively…
Be great without the ball. Cut with gravity. Set great picks on and off ball. Look for opportunities to slip a pick, fade to the backside, seal a defender, or get a teammate open.
Work before receiving the ball. Catch the ball in space so that you can immediately run into your dodge.
Be a good outlet; get to a spot where your teammate can see you and there’s a clear passing lane.
Defensively…
Be an off-ball All-American.
Look for opportunities to double and collapse into the crease. Anticipate the rotations.
Be the loudest player on the field. Use the names of your teammates. Call out slides and picks.
Utilize non-verbal communication. Point to the man your teammate must recover to.
VII/ Compete, compete, compete
If your competitive spirit lacks, none of the above will save you. If your competitive spirit separates you, there is always a chance.
There is no magic bullet or instruction manual to making a team.
Coaches want to see heart, hustle, and toughness. They want players who take pride in their program.
Be confident in the player you are.
FCL Athlete Jack Speidell
“Play confident, and if you make a mistake, move on fast and focus on the next play.”
Coach Class and Coach Dunn
📺 Princeton’s Nate Kabiri D1 Shooting Workout
FCL Athlete Nate Kabiri walks through his shooting workout in our latest YouTube video.
The Princeton junior attacker is one of the craftiest players in the nation, and he presents a few of his favorite shooting drills but also advice for younger players and rapid fire Q & A’s at the end!
✅ Want to see more workouts from our FCL Athletes? Check out our YouTube page for offensive and defensive workouts!
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