This Fall – want to have your best try-out yet? Read on!
This article is brought to you by English’s Paving – for all your asphalt needs this Fall!
Tip #1 – – – Leave the Poor Body Language @ Home
If you miss a pass, don’t slam your stick on the ice. If you turn it over, don’t look up at the sky and stop moving for 2-3 seconds. Go straight to the next action – whether it be back-checking, hustling to the loose puck, getting into a support position… go somewhere productive.
I remember a coach who played minor pro hockey (long-time NHL scout, too) said to me one time “AP, I was probably looking down at my phone or talking to another coach during a flow drill in practice – but I will definitely look up when I hear a stick bang off the ice (with a subsequent profanity attached) and ask who it was…. and make a note in my files”.
As a scout/coach – if someone gives you a bad pass and you consistently can’t pick it up – I’m looking at not just the player(s) who made the suspect passes, but also the player who can’t pick up the off-centre passes. Remember the old saying “You can’t make a bad pass to a strong player?” Times have changed, but having a great pass reception radius hasn’t.
Tip #2 – – – Hydrate
Want more nutrition tips? Click this link . Natasha will talk about the importance of hydration in the video, however, my two cents is pretty simple – it looks good to have a water bottle on the bench (makes you look prepared/dialed in), and helps you perform optimally. I know that there are lots of hydration options on the market right now – from ph-balanced waters to fancy electrolyte drinks – but in my opinion, the tried tested and true product is Gatorade . No bankruptcies, no ‘it says it’s in there but it actually isn’t’ allegations. “G” has so many delivery options to choose from – bottle form, packet/pouch form, instant mix, with about a half dozen sugar/electrolyte level choices. Don’t get it twisted – the lightning bolt is still it.
In September, the weather is still warm outside. Sometimes, there’s 2 ice highly-competitive sessions per day. When you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated – be sippin’ on some fuel all day long.
Tip #3 – – – Change Please
This is a tryout pandemic. Players often think ‘if I stay out longer, I’ll get seen longer’. It makes sense, in theory. But if you’re staying out for long periods of time, you’re not going to look good. You’re going to look slow at the end of shifts. You’re going to make poor decisions because you’re mentally tired. Long shifts take their toll later in games, especially if there’s multiple games in a day. Long shifts are a poor short and long term tryout investment.
Tip #4 – – – Use Your Voice
If you want the puck more in a tryout, call for it. Present a good target (stick down or hovering just above the ice), and be LOUD! If a player is looking at the puck (pretty common in tryouts) and hear someone yelling their voice, they’ll likely spot you and bam! You’ve got the puck. If it doesn’t come to you, find open ice. If it still doesn’t come to you, keep trying. DO NOT show bad body language during or after the sequence. Show leadership. Go tap the guy on the pads, give him or her a fist bump, something positive. Because there will come a day that you’re a rookie in training camp with superstars, and you don’t see them because it’s a little too fast for you right now… you’ll hope one of the team veterans comes over and gives you a little tap and some positive reinforcement.
I was the kid who exhibited poor body language in tryouts, until I went to Halifax Mooseheads camp and it was just too fast for me at the time. I was playing on a line with a Q vet Jon Labelle in practice, and I just couldn’t put it on him. Jon came over to me and gave me a tap and was super positive with me, which did wonders for my psyche. Be like Jon Labelle!
Want more tryout tips? Here’s an old video I did years ago on the topic
Until next time,
AP