Coaching Guide
Basketball tryout drills should allow coaches to observe how players respond to defenders and teammates. An uncontested shooting drill shows whether a player can make that shot, but not whether they recognize when to shoot, drive or pass during a possession.
Include small-sided games with different starting situations. Observe both players with the ball and teammates adjusting their spacing as the defense moves.
Use a small number of activities with clear starting positions, scoring and rotations. Demonstrate enough for players to begin, then allow several possessions before adding instructions.
During competitive games, record specific actions. A player might recognize help and find an open teammate, recover to contest a shot or move to prevent one defender from guarding two receivers.
Use different teammates and opponents where possible. This gives you more than one example of how a player responds to the situation.
In this shooting game, the defender starts in front of the rim and passes to the offense. The offense has one pass and a four-second clock to find a jump shot. Optional changes allow cutting or more complete attacking options.
Look at the opportunity a player uses, not only whether the shot goes in. Does the receiver have an open attempt? Does the defender make the teammate a better option? Keep observations tied to those visible situations.
Four offensive players start spaced around the perimeter. The defense passes the ball in to begin. On a stop or score, a new defense enters; the offense remains for one minute before roles change.
The repeated advantage gives coaches opportunities to observe how players find space, use an opening and support the ball-handler. You can also play full-court 4-on-4 with a third team rotating, bringing those interactions into wider play.
A player who jumps higher does not automatically secure more contested rebounds. A player who moves faster does not automatically recognize the most useful opening. Physical capabilities matter, but evaluate how they interact with the game situation.
Record concrete examples and vary opponents and teammates where possible. This makes your notes more informative than broad labels such as “good basketball IQ,” while acknowledging that a short tryout samples only some of the situations a player can encounter.
Article
Why isolated tests say little about how a player performs in games.
Read article: NBA Combine Testing: Why It Fails to Evaluate TalentArticle
Judging a player’s solutions by whether they work against a defender.
Read article: Functional Solutions in 1-on-1 Player Development
Podcast
EP8
A conversation with Dr. Alex Lascu on how skill develops.
Listen to episode: How Do Basketball Players Develop Skill?$39 USD
Everything you need to run organized tryouts — session plans plus a player evaluation form and a parent presentation template.
