Here
are some extra Travel tryout camp tips for young
players, boys and girls 7-12 years of age.
Players who are trying out for Rep. Travel Teams
this spring or fall in the Novice/Mite, Atom/Squirt
or Pee Wee age categories.
These
tips will help young players and their parents
understand what to expect at the tryout session so
their child will be prepared and have their best
chance for making the Travel/Rep team this season.
Travel, Representative, Competitive, “AAA”, “AA”,
“A” or All Star Programs
No
matter what this is called in your local
Association, these are the first travel hockey
programs
to hold tryouts. The “AAA” Team followed by “AA”,
“A”, “B” and “C” programs in that order.
Some
are held in the spring in large cities, but many are
still held in the fall in smaller towns.
Many
Hockey Associations now charge a travel tryout fee
to help pay for the ice time during these tryouts.
If
the player makes the travel team there is usually an
additional fee to help pay for extra practice ice,
or games
during the season and possibly to help with
tournament entry fees.
The
local Hockey Association has selected the Travel or
Rep Coaches and the players are anxious to don their
skates to demonstrate their hockey skills and
ability at the tryout camp.
The
coaches and selection committee members will
evaluate their hockey skills using a number of
specific drills and scrimmages over a 3 or 4
practice period, then choose the best 12 to 15 or so
players to make up their Travel or Rep. Team.
Many
parents get nervous wondering if their child will be
picked. A lot is at stake for both player and
parents.
92%
of the players who make the Travel team deserve to
be there. Your child will confirm this if asked.
It’s
the final 8% or 1 - 2 selections that are sometimes
controversial that upset some parents and players.
It is
rare for everyone to agree on, or select the same
12-15 players.
The
Head Coach usually has the final say as to who makes
the team based on his/her selection criteria.
Tips
for Players trying out for Rep Travel Teams
If
players really want to make the Rep/Travel All Star
Team this year, they must strive to be in the top 6
forwards,
the top
3 defencemen or the best goaltender as the 14th
and 15th
picks are sometimes unexpected.
The best
way to make the team is to leave a positive lasting
impression on the selection committee & Head Coach.
This
impression will be based on your execution of every
single drill and every scrimmage shift at the tryout
camp.
You
must come to tryout camp in excellent shape and
demonstrate you can skate hard and fast for a good
period of time without tiring.
Start
doing aerobic and anaerobic exercises now by running
short and long distances on alternating days.
Do
some biking to get your legs and
breathing/wind/stamina conditioned for the big
challenge ahead.
Don’t
leave this too late or your slowness; tiredness and
lack of aerobic and anaerobic conditioning will be
evident to those evaluating you.
The
camp will usually consist of a number of specific
skill drills followed by a scrimmage to see who can
play in game like situations.
When
on the ice, execute every drill to the best of your
ability and give a 110% effort on every shift of the
scrimmage.
Get
involved in the play and don’t just play on the
outside perimeter of the rink where getting hit is
rare.
Show
the evaluators you are prepared to go to the net for
a rebound, get your nose dirty in front of the net
fighting for a loose puck and will be first to go
into the corners and come out with the puck.
Win
the 1 on 1 battles for the puck and finish your
check every time the puck is in your area.
Show
everyone you play like an tiger, not like a
pussycat.
Coaches pick players who show a lot of spunk and
skill.
As
well, Skating speed & agility, Puckhandling &
Stickhandling, Passing & Receiving, Shooting &
Scoring
and Checking – i.e.Forechecking, Backchecking,
Stickchecking and Bodychecking if allowed, will be
highly monitored and desired by the selection
committee and coaches.
Make
them remember your name or sweater number by your
fine execution of these hockey skills.
Other
personal qualities they will be looking for include
teamwork, overall hard work at both ends of the ice,
leadership, team chemistry, hockey intelligence, a
positive winning attitude, motivation & dedication.
Winning is still very important at the Rep/Travel
Team level as your Team could miss the playoffs if
you lose too many league games.
It’s
really up to you if you want to make the club or
not, and how hard you are prepared to work for it.
Remember nothing worthwhile in life comes easy; it
takes hard work to become both a successful player
and a winning team.
John Shorey
Author- “Hockey Made Easy”
jshorey@hockeymadeeasy.com
