The honest answer: skill first, then the tiebreakers
Let’s not pretend. If a coach needs a setter and you can’t set a hittable ball, hustle won’t save the spot. Skill at your position, at the level of that team, is the first filter. That’s why the real work happens in the weeks before, covered in our guide on how to prepare for tryouts.
But most tryouts aren’t decided at the top or the bottom of the list. They’re decided in the middle, where five players are close. That’s where coaches lean on what they can see in every drill: effort, coachability, communication and how you handle a bad rep.
Coaching groups say this out loud. Positive Coaching Alliance tells school coaches to go beyond athletic skill and create situations that show “what kind of teammate will they be? How will they respond after a bad call, or after being subbed out of a game?” A USA Hockey tryout guide from the same group puts it this way: coaches look for athletes with the potential to improve, and how players handle mistakes “may be even more important.”
What you control and what you don’t
Part of the honest answer is uncomfortable. Some of the decision has nothing to do with your tryout. Knowing which part is yours keeps your head in the right place.
| You can’t control | You can control |
|---|---|
| How many spots open at your position | Sprinting to every line and every drill |
| Returning players the coach already knows | Talking: calling the ball, the screen, the cut |
| Your height or birth month | How the next rep looks after a correction |
| Who else showed up this year | Your body language in the three seconds after a mistake |
| The coach’s system | Arriving early, ready, with the right gear |
Everything in the right column is a skill you can practice. That’s the good news. It’s also why the what can athletes control question matters more in tryout week than any other week of the year.
The intangibles coaches write down
Coaches call them intangibles, but they’re very tangible on a clipboard. Here’s what each one looks like from the sideline, and what quietly costs you.
| Trait | What it looks like | What hurts you |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | Sprinting between drills, chasing loose balls, first in line | Jogging to water, coasting on reps you think don’t count |
| Coachability | Eye contact, a nod, and the next rep changes | Explaining why you did it your way |
| Response to mistakes | Back in ready position fast, eyes up | Head down, hands on hips, glaring at a teammate |
| Communication | Calling the ball, naming the screen, loud on defense | Silent scrimmage, even if you’re good |
| Competitiveness | Wanting the ball late, battling in 1v1s | Disappearing when the drill gets hard |
| Teammate | Picking up a partner after their miss, sharing the ball | Hunting your own stats in scrimmage |
The fastest way to show coachability: when a coach corrects you, repeat the cue back in a few words (“Elbow up, got it”), then make the very next rep look different. Even if it isn’t perfect yet, the coach saw you take it in.
What coaches look for, sport by sport
The intangibles travel. The skills change. Here’s where coaches usually look first in six common tryouts, plus the one behavior that stands out in each.
| Sport | Skills coaches check first | The tell they watch | Prep guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soccer | First touch, passing under pressure, scanning before receiving | Winning the ball back right after losing it | Soccer tryouts |
| Volleyball | Serve receive, serving in, footwork to the ball | Calling the ball and resetting after a shank | Volleyball tryouts |
| Basketball | Handling with both hands, defensive stance, finishing | Sprinting back after a miss or turnover | Basketball tryouts |
| Baseball | Throwing accuracy, fielding footwork, bat path, running | The next ground ball after an error | Baseball tryouts |
| Softball | Glove work, throws to bases, pitchers throwing strikes | Energy and talk in the field between pitches | Softball tryouts |
| Football | Stance and start, effort to the whistle, position drills | Finishing reps and getting back to the line fast | Football tryouts |
The three seconds after a mistake
Every player makes mistakes at tryouts. Coaches know that. The mistake goes in the notes for a second. What you do next can stay there all week. Practice a reset before tryouts so it runs on its own.
- 01
Notice (1 second)
“That’s a miss.” Catch the replay before it starts. Don’t look at the coach or the clipboard.
- 02
Name (1 second)
Say your cue: “Next ball,” “Sprint back,” or “Win it back.” Pair it with a physical signal like a clap or a glove tap.
- 03
Return (1 second)
Ready position, eyes up, voice on. Your next action should be the loudest thing in the gym.
More on this in how to reset after a mistake and, if nerves are the bigger issue, how to calm tryout nerves.
Tryout day checklist: what to wear, bring and do
- 01
Wear what lets coaches see you
Plain, fitted practice gear. Shoes, cleats and shin guards you’ve already broken in. No brand-new gear on day one. Tie your hair back and leave the jewelry home.
- 02
Bring the basics
Full water bottle, a snack, any required forms, a glove or ball if your sport needs one, and a spare pair of socks or laces.
- 03
Arrive 20 minutes early
Warm up on your own before anyone tells you to. Coaches notice who’s already moving.
- 04
Pick three things to show
For example: sprint every transition, talk on every rep, reset fast after misses. Write them on your hand or in your phone.
- 05
Ask one good question
If there’s a natural moment: “Coach, what’s one thing I can work on?” Then work on it in the next drill.
- 06
Close well
Help pick up balls or cones. Thank the coach on your way out. It takes ten seconds.
For coaches: make the intangibles visible
Practice the parts you control
Skill takes months. A fast reset, a loud voice and a coachable next rep can be practiced this week, in a few minutes a day, so they show up when the clipboard is out.
That’s what reset is built for. It’s the mental training app for athletes: short reps, three steps. Notice. Name. Return. Try a 2-minute reset, or join the waitlist.
Frequently asked questions
Do coaches already know who they’re picking before tryouts?
Often they know returning players well, and that can fill some spots. The open spots are usually decided on what coaches see during tryouts, which is why effort and response to mistakes matter.
What should I wear to tryouts?
Plain, fitted practice clothes and broken-in shoes or cleats. Bring any required safety gear, water and a snack. Skip brand-new gear and anything that distracts.
Does one bad drill ruin a tryout?
Rarely. Coaches expect mistakes. A quick reset and a strong next rep can leave a better impression than a clean drill with a bad attitude.
How do I show coachability at tryouts?
Look at the coach when they talk, repeat the cue back in a few words, and make your very next rep look different. Don’t explain or argue.
Should I talk to the coach at tryouts?
Yes, briefly. Introduce yourself, ask one useful question if there’s a moment, and thank them at the end. Keep it short and respectful.