What basketball coaches actually watch
Here’s the uncomfortable part first. Some cuts are about roster math: a coach who already has six guards may keep a weaker forward over a stronger guard. You can’t control that. You can control everything in the table below, and that’s where this plan puts your time. For the full approach across sports, see how to prepare for tryouts.
| What they watch | What it looks like in the gym | How to show it |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | Sprinting between drills, diving for loose balls | Never walk. First to every line. |
| Defense | Low stance, quick slides, closing out under control | Stay in your stance the whole rep, even when tired. |
| Finishing | Layups off either foot, either hand | Use your off hand on purpose, even if you miss. |
| Ball handling | Keeping your head up under pressure | Simple moves you can do fast, not fancy ones you can’t. |
| Passing and IQ | Hitting the open player, moving without the ball | Make the extra pass in scrimmage. Cut after you pass. |
| Rebounding | Boxing out without being told | Find a body every shot, then go get it. |
| Communication | Calling screens, help, ball | Talk on every defensive possession. |
| Coachability | Applying a correction on the next rep | Eye contact, nod, then show the fix right away. |
| Response to mistakes | What happens in the two seconds after a miss | Sprint back. No head down, no arms out. |
Notice how much of that list has nothing to do with talent. Read more in what coaches look for at tryouts, and for the mental side of the sport, see mental training for basketball.
The four-week basketball tryout plan
Plan on four or five sessions a week of about 45 to 60 minutes, plus one day of live play (open gym, pickup or 1-on-1). If tryouts are sooner, start at the week that matches and skip ahead.
| Week | Skill focus | Conditioning | Mental rep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks out | Form shooting, two-ball handling, Mikan layups | Easy runs or bike, building up | Pick your cue words for after a miss |
| 3 weeks out | Game-speed layups both hands, lane slides, free throws | Intervals: sprint, walk back, repeat | Say your cue after every miss in practice |
| 2 weeks out | Common tryout drills: three-line layups, shell, closeouts | Full-court sprints and timed 17s | Visualize the first 10 minutes of tryouts |
| Final week | Sharpen, don’t add. Free throws tired. | Taper: shorter, sharper, then rest | Run the tryout-day script below once a day |
Keep a simple log: makes out of attempts for free throws and layups each session. Real numbers beat a feeling, and seeing them rise builds the kind of confidence that holds up when you’re nervous.
Six drills that match what tryouts test
- 01
Mikan layups both hands
Under the rim, alternate sides, right hand on the right, left hand on the left. 3 sets of 20 makes. Cue: “High off the glass.” Then add a dribble from the elbow, 10 each side, off the correct foot.
- 02
Weak-hand handle
Pound dribble, crossover, between the legs, then full-court with only your weak hand. 5 minutes a day, eyes on a spot on the wall. Cue: “Eyes up.”
- 03
Lane slides
Slide lane line to lane line, touching each line, for 30 seconds. Rest 30. Do 5 rounds. Hips low, feet never cross. Cue: “Sit and slide.”
- 04
Closeouts
Start under the rim, sprint to a cone at the wing, chop your feet for the last few steps, high hand up. 10 reps each wing. Cue: “Sprint, chop, hand up.”
- 05
Tired free throws
Sprint baseline to baseline twice, then shoot two. 10 rounds. Same routine every shot. This is the closest thing to the free throws you’ll shoot at the end of a tryout. Build your routine with this free-throw guide.
- 06
Box out and go
With a partner shooting, find them, make contact, hold for two seconds, then go get the ball. 15 reps. Cue: “Hit, then get.”
Get in shape for full-court running
Tryouts get decided late. In the last scrimmage, tired players stop sliding their feet and start reaching. Being the one still in a stance is a skill you can train.
- 01
Build a base first
In weeks four and three, 20 to 30 minutes of steady running or biking, two or three times a week.
- 02
Add basketball-shaped intervals
Sideline-to-sideline sprints (17s), full-court sprints with a walk back, and defensive slide intervals. Stop each set while your form is still good.
- 03
Taper the last two days
Light shooting and stretching only. You want fresh legs on day one, not sore ones.
If something hurts beyond normal soreness, tell a parent, coach or athletic trainer before tryouts. Playing through a real injury isn’t toughness, and it rarely helps your evaluation.
Tryout week, the night before and what to bring
| When | Do this |
|---|---|
| 3 days out | Last harder workout. Free throws tired. Confirm time, gym and forms (physical, waiver). |
| 2 days out | Light shooting, stretching. Pack your bag. |
| Night before | Normal dinner you know sits well. Screens off early. Run the script once. |
| Tryout morning | Breakfast you’re used to. Water through the day. No new shoes, no new foods. |
| At the gym | Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. Shoes on, warmed up before the first whistle. |
Sleep matters more than one extra workout. The CDC lists 8 to 10 hours a day for teens 13 to 17. Aim for that all week, not just the night before.
- 01
Basketball shoes
Broken in, clean soles, worn only indoors. Bring them in the bag and change at the gym.
- 02
What to wear
Plain athletic shorts and a T-shirt, or a reversible jersey. Skip the flashy gear. Let your game be what they remember.
- 03
Water bottle and a snack
A full bottle and something simple for between sessions, like a banana.
- 04
Extras
Socks, hair ties, any brace you already use, signed forms and a hoodie for the wait.
The mental side: your plan for the first miss
Everyone misses at tryouts. Coaches see a hundred missed jumpers. What they remember is the player who missed and sprinted back versus the one who stared at the rim. Decide now what you’ll do in those two seconds. If nerves are the bigger problem, start with tryout nerves.
Use the same idea between drills: one breath, one cue, back to the next job. That’s a short pre-game routine you can run in a crowded gym.
For parents, and what happens after
If the list goes up without your name, it stings. Give it a day, then ask the coach one specific question: “What two things should I work on to make it next year?” Then put them in your plan. Here’s more on what to do if you didn’t make the team.
Skills get you noticed. The next play after a miss gets you kept. reset is the mental training app for athletes, built to practice that moment. Try a 2-minute reset, or join the waitlist.
Frequently asked questions
What do coaches look for at basketball tryouts?
Effort, defense, finishing with both hands, ball handling under pressure, passing, rebounding, communication, coachability and how you respond to mistakes. Scoring helps, but it’s one piece of a longer list.
What should I wear to basketball tryouts?
Athletic shorts, a plain T-shirt or reversible jersey and broken-in basketball shoes you only wear indoors. Bring water, extra socks and any signed forms the program asks for.
How can I stand out at basketball tryouts if I’m not the best player?
Sprint everywhere, talk on defense, box out every shot, make the extra pass and get back on defense right after a miss. Those are visible every rep and fully in your control.
What should I do the night before basketball tryouts?
Eat a normal dinner, pack your bag, turn screens off early and go to bed on time. Skip hard workouts. Run through your tryout-day plan once, then rest.
How long before tryouts should I start preparing?
Four to six weeks gives you time to build conditioning and sharpen skills. If you have less, focus on layups both hands, defensive stance, free throws and sleep.