{"id":8327,"date":"2017-07-26T19:30:34","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T19:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/?p=8327"},"modified":"2025-06-09T08:09:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T12:09:49","slug":"how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Perform Your Best at Tryouts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/staying-confident.jpg\" alt=\"Staying Confident in Sports\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/staying-confident.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/staying-confident-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tryouts_What_Stops_Athletes_From_Playing_Their_Best\"><\/span>Tryouts: What Stops Athletes From Playing Their Best<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Article Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#Tryouts_What_Stops_Athletes_From_Playing_Their_Best\" >Tryouts: What Stops Athletes From Playing Their Best<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#Athletes_that_have_difficulty_performing_to_their_potential_are_usually_focused_on_three_things\" >Athletes that have difficulty performing to their potential are usually focused on three things:<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#1_Trying_to_impress_the_coaching_staff\" >1. Trying to impress the coaching staff.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#2_Keeping_up_with_the_other_athletes_trying_out_for_the_team\" >2. Keeping up with the other athletes trying out for the team.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#3_Worrying_about_making_the_team\" >3. Worrying about making the team.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#How_to_Perform_Well_in_Tryouts_or_Qualifying\" >How to Perform Well in Tryouts or Qualifying:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\" >Related Sports Psychology Articles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/#The_Focused_Athlete\" >The Focused Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Tryouts or qualify can be an <strong>anxious<\/strong> time for many athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you are trying out or qualifying for a traveling team, select team, high school team or college team, you need to be on top of your game to have the best chance of earning a spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, some athletes get in their own way and perform well below their usual level of play. The culprit that causes athletes to under perform in tryouts is a <strong>misplaced focus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Athletes_that_have_difficulty_performing_to_their_potential_are_usually_focused_on_three_things\"><\/span>Athletes that have difficulty performing to their potential are usually focused on three things:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Trying_to_impress_the_coaching_staff\"><\/span>1. Trying to impress the coaching staff.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>When you look to impress the coaching staff, most of the time, you feel you need to be <strong>perfect<\/strong>&#8230; make the perfect pass, hit the perfect landing, make the perfect throw, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you seek <strong>perfection,<\/strong> you heap more pressure upon yourself, try harder, and, in some cases, force your game. The coaching staff is not looking for you to be perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The coaches are assessing your potential, how well you perform under stressful conditions and how you rebound from mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Keeping_up_with_the_other_athletes_trying_out_for_the_team\"><\/span>2. Keeping up with the other athletes trying out for the team.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Making comparisons to other athletes is a <strong>confidence-killer<\/strong> and a performance destroyer. Worrying about how you are performing in <strong>comparison<\/strong> to others takes the <strong>focus<\/strong> off your game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It really doesn\u2019t matter how other athletes are performing. That&#8217;s something you cannot control. The things within your control are how you are performing, your level of effort, and your response to errors or missteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Worrying_about_making_the_team\"><\/span>3. Worrying about making the team.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Worrying about the future prevents you from performing <strong>freely<\/strong> and <strong>confidently<\/strong> in the present moment. Of course you want to tell others you made the team, but you cannot perform your best in the moment when you fear getting cut in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your best chance to have a successful tryout is to stay focused on your game and give maximum effort no matter what happens during the course of the tryout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Here&#8217;s and example from the pro ranks that applies to any sport&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mike Vecchione is a hockey player from Union College who signed with the Philadelphia Flyers last March and is trying to make the team this upcoming season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a rookie, Vecchione knows that making the Flyers is a numbers game. There will be many talented players vying for a limited number of spots on the team. No matter the level of competition, Vecchione is determined to stay <strong>focused<\/strong> on himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VECCHIONE<\/strong>: <em>&#8220;If I worry about everything everyone else is doing, I will lose track of what I am doing. You have to worry about what you can control, and I have been pretty good at doing that. I think that is a big reason why I am sitting here.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be the best <strong>YOU<\/strong> at tryouts, <strong>YOU<\/strong> must focus on <strong>YOU!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Perform_Well_in_Tryouts_or_Qualifying\"><\/span>How to Perform Well in Tryouts or Qualifying:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Concentrate on what YOU are doing in the here-and-now. Focus on one shift, routine, pitch, drill or shot at a time. As soon as it is done, don\u2019t judge it, let it go and focus on to the next one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try not to approach the tryout of qualifying with the need to be perfect or standout. Play within yourself &#8211; use the skills you have that day and don&#8217;t press or worrying about making mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-focused-athlete-cd-program\/\"><strong>A good start is to grab a copy of The Focused Athlete audio and workbook program to help you focus on the process instead of outcome&#8230;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-979ef383-5bc7-43ee-b8f9-249663ca1a6c\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\"><\/span>Related Sports Psychology Articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-05642731-8752-4dbf-9c18-5cc4d276e821\" class=\"wp-block-list has-normal-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-refocus-after-making-mistakes\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-mentally-prepare-for-tryouts\/\"><strong>How to Mentally Prepare For Tryouts<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/refocus-quickly-when-distracted\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/evaluating-performance-and-maintaining-confidence\/\"><strong>Evaluating Performance and Maintaining Confidence<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-prevent-mental-mistakes-during-competition\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/mental-toughness-tips-for-athletes\/\"><strong>Mental Toughness Tips\u00a0for Athletes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-5726d13f-f715-4ca4-8813-2f8a9ebd8bc3\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-281f5afb-980b-4c71-9aa0-11d606b5f7c9\"><strong>Download a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/mental-toughness-report-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free sports psychology report<\/a>&nbsp;to improve your mental game!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-94138e75-d591-4645-bb1d-212cf57a8841\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sport-psychology-training-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our one-on-one mental game coaching.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Focused_Athlete\"><\/span>The Focused Athlete <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/focused-athlete-teams-small.jpg\" alt=\"The Focused Athlete Audio and Workbook Program\" class=\"wp-image-19343\" style=\"width:215px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s probably no secret that you have many opportunities<strong> to become distracted<\/strong> in sports. Athletes are bombarded with both internal and external distractions everyday in practice and competition. <strong>Focused athletes<\/strong> are able to get the most from their skills because they are more efficient with practice and more concentrated in competition. Athletes who lack focus <strong>let distractions run wild through their mind and don\u2019t know how to adjust or refocus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Focused Athlete was developed for any level coach, parent, or junior to professional athlete who wants to improve performance and gain a competitive edge. It does not matter if you are a fledgling junior athlete; or a seasoned professional, plagued with distractions; or you just wanting to learn how to improve concentration\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Focused Athlete\u201d is a complete system to teach you how to focus like a champion and harness the power of a zone focus every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course in practice and games!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-769fef19\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-68fab510 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-focused-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-3043572a gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-focused-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tryouts: What Stops Athletes From Playing Their Best Tryouts or qualify can be an anxious time for many athletes. Whether you are trying out or qualifying for a traveling team, select team, high school team or college team, you need to be on top of your game to have the best chance of earning a spot. Unfortunately, some &#8230; <a title=\"How to Perform Your Best at Tryouts\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-perform-your-best-at-tryouts\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How to Perform Your Best at Tryouts\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[1077],"class_list":["post-8327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-tryouts-in-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.5.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tryouts or qualify can be an anxious time for many athletes... 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