You have successfully been recruited and your first college practices are about to begin. You may feel nervous, worried, unsure of what to expect, or have many other feelings or questions. One thing is for certain: you want to make your impact and presence felt from the get go, but how? Here are some of our best tips and tricks that will help you get more attention from your coaches every single practice.
Related: How Student-Athletes Can Make a Good Impression On Recruiters
- Be Vocal
From the beginning of practice until the end of practice, you want to make sure that you are having your voice heard. When utilizing your voice, we mean it more in a way to talk to your teammates during live action. Let them know you have their back, or that somebody is cutting behind them. When your team brings it in and breaks it down for the day, be the one to lead the chant. Every coach wants a vocal player on their team that they believe can serve as a “leader” or a captain.
- Active Listening
Coaches always are able to tell the difference between those who are actively listening to what they have to say and those who are spacing out. Whenever one of your coaches is speaking, be sure to give them your undivided attention. Maintain eye contact with them or the gestures they are doing. Always respond with “yes coach” to tips or pointers that they give you personally as well! It seems like a simple thing, but if you really do this, your coaches will notice.
- Give 110% Effort (Be Different/Stand Out)
You have probably heard the infamous Allen Iverson interview where he says, “We're talking about practice.” Don't be this way. Iverson may have gotten away with it, but he was competing at the highest level in the NBA and had already made a name for himself. You want to treat practices with the same mentality and competitiveness that you would bring to a game. Similarly to listening, coaches will notice if an athlete is just going through the motions during practice. Be the player on the team that hustles during practice.
- Be Early/Stay Late
The concept of being early to practice and staying late is pretty self explanatory, but it will go a long way with your coaches. By doing this, you are showing them that you are dedicated to getting better and putting the necessary effort and time in to do so. By being one of the first players into practice and one of the last to leave, your coaches will gain an increased respect for you and the work you are putting in.
All in all, there are many things that you can do during practice to better impress your coaches. Anything that separates you from your teammates will catch the attention of your staff. Practice may get tedious, especially if it's every day, but believe us when we say that these little things matter!
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* Originally published on May 17, 2022, by Ashton Grenon
