What do evaluators look for in hockey tryouts

Session 2 should consist of some skating and skill drills, but the concentration should be on how they handle competition. A heavy focus on battle drills and a lengthy scrimmage should help you give you some clarifications on how your roster is shaping up. If you are coaching at an advanced level it may be good to go over a defensive zone coverage a forechecking system in the locker room before the second session so you can see how well they listen and understand the game.

This can expose some details that you may not otherwise notice. The goal of the second session should be to plan your roster out and determine which players are on the bubble. This is crucial to have this figured out going into the third session. You need to have your full attention on the bubble players for the third session, so make sure that you have these players identifies by the end of Session 2.

For session 3 I recommend having all of your top ranked players on the ice with all of the bubble players. We will get into the best way to evaluate players in a later segment of our tryout blog, but this is the session where you should be looking and listening for the little things that the players are doing.

This is the time to have your complete focus on how they perform in game situations and how they handle adversity. Unless you still have some questions about goaltending, this session should only consist of a scrimmage and battle drills if necessary.

They should be playing their hearts out and you should give them the motivation so they give it everything they have. As the scrimmage goes on you need to start making some decisions. Try to narrow things down as much as possible. If you have your final roster figured out, I would have them scrimmage the entire time, but if you still have trouble inking the final roster, I recommend leaving a good 10 or 15 minutes for some battle drills.

This should help you in making the final decisions that are always so tough. At the end of your last session you should feel comfortable with your final roster. The best skaters usually win the all important races to loose pucks and can maneuver in and out of tight situations. If you have the time to work on and improve in just one area of the game before tryouts skating would top the list.

Fundamentals Hockey consists of several other fundamentals such as giving and receiving passes, puck control, stickhandling and checking. These areas should also be practised as often as possible until you can master them all while skating at top speed. You can't just rely on your skill without putting in any effort. You may have made the team last year and enjoyed a fine season, but you can't rest on your laurels. Whatever you achieved the previous season won't guarantee a spot on the squad this year.

You need to prove your worth each time you take the ice. There may be several newcomers trying out this year and they'll be giving it their all to make the team which is why you can't just show up and go through the motions. Be sure to treat the other players in the tryout with respect and help them as much as possible. It's also important to listen closely to instructions to show the evaluators that you're eager to learn and are coachable.

Play Both Ends Everybody likes to score goals, but don't forget a hockey rink consists of of three different zones. It's important to show you're capable of and eager to take care of your own end and the neutral zone as much as you are the offensive zone. All areas of the ice are important so don't slack off when it comes to your defensive responsibilities.

If you play your position well you'll have a good chance of making the right choice when you have the puck and will provide your teammates a passing outlet. Be sure to get plenty of rest before the evaluation and have all of your equipment ready before heading to the rink.

The last thing you want to do is get to the dressing room and realize you've left your skates at home. We all know that coaches seek out players who perform well on the ice. They want goalies who act as brick walls, blocking every shot that comes at them, forwards who apply pressure, keep control of the puck, know when they have opportunities to shoot and pass, and so on.

However, there are plenty of other on-ice and off-ice skills that coaches desire in their future minor hockey team members. On-ice skills are ones that relate directly to the game of hockey, and off-ice skills are more about demeanor and attitude. Dexterity is a crucial trait for any position in hockey. Dexterity is the amount of skill a player has in performing tasks with their hands, which is obviously important in hockey.

Being able to anticipate situations early is also an important part of hockey sense. However, when the situation calls for it, a player who can turn on the burners and demonstrate speed and strength will surely be a stand-out.

Having intensity will allow you to get to the puck faster, get in line to block more shots and intercept more passes, and can ultimately mean the difference between a win and a loss. Coaches will notice when a player makes hard passes, and the best time to demonstrate it is during the tryout scrimmages. Another important skill that can be demonstrated during the tryout scrimmages is positional play. Coaches look for players who stick to covering the area that they need to, based on their assigned position.

That shows them that player has great game knowledge and awareness, and that they will be dependable during a real game when they are given a position to play.