By Ross Forman
The emotions before, during and after tryouts can be, at times, as gut-wrenching as an overtime state championship game.
Sometimes you win, your team grabs that last goal and you celebrate the championship.
Sometimes you lose, but in this case, it may just be not making the team you wanted to skate on.
Almost every athlete in every sport has been cut from a team at least once in their career.
Even Michael Jordan.
Yep, the basketball legend did not make his high school’s varsity team as a sophomore; he had to play on its JV team.
“People are so caught up in what team they are playing on, especially at the younger age-divisions, such as 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, but ultimately it means nothing. If you are looking to play post-high school, when you get to the 16U and 18U age-level, no one is asking what team you played on as an 8U or 10U, etc.,” said Chad Green, hockey director for the Huskies Hockey Club.
“Youth hockey is about life lessons; you are building your athletic/hockey career and life lessons. It’s like building a house. Do you put the roof on first or establish the foundation first? That’s what hockey is all about.”
When the rosters are posted, there always are disappointed players – for any number of reasons. Maybe they now won’t be playing with their friends. Maybe they thought they should be on the “better” team.
Everyone’s path in hockey is different. So, too, are the paths that fall out from tryouts. Green has multiple points a player can build off, and none are age-specific or team specific.
First, one of the hardest things for players – and their parents – to do is simply accept the decision that has been made. “There’s nothing wrong with being disappointed or upset. But there’s a reason that decision was made, good bad or indifferent,” Green said.
Second, the decision is not personal and does not make you less of a person or an athlete. Players need to remember that, just because you did not make Team 1, Team 2 did want you.
Third, players must understand and embrace their feelings, which no doubt will include anger, disappointment, and other emotions. And there are plenty of reasons beyond just making a team, that players will have for being angry and disappointed.
Green suggests that players (or parents) talk to coaches if they are upset not making a certain team. Don’t necessarily have that conversation minutes after the teams are announced. Let the emotions calm a bit, so maybe it’s a few days later. And, Green suggested, that conversation does not have to be with the coach who did not take you for his team, but rather, perhaps with the coach who did take you. Why did Coach 2 want you? Talking to Coach 1, no matter what is said, players and parents don’t usually understand what the reason or explanation is/was. Other options include talking to the hockey director or tryout coordinator.
Another point Green stressed is re-assessing your goals. Are you doing the things needed to make a top team, if that’s one of your goals? Are you doing things away from the rink to make you a better on-ice player, such as stickhandling, running, etc.
Also, create a plan of action – what am I going to do right now? How can I be the best player on Team 2? Be a leader, be confident, be focused, be driven – turn what you view as a negative into a positive.
“Ultimately, getting cut, not making the team that you wanted to make does not define you as an athlete or a person. Rejection is part of life,” Green said. “Whether it’s personal, academic, professional or on the ice, rejection is a life lesson. It’s not easy, not pleasant, but that’s part of the maturity process, that’s part of hockey. Rejection builds character.”
Getting cut from a team certainly carries solid motivation. Players want to show a coach who did not select him or her for their team that the coach made a mistake. That can push the player to get better. Coaches/Hockey Directors, though, need to give feedback for specific improvements whether it is stick work, skating, compete level, etc.
Consistency is important before and during tryouts, as then coaches know what they will get from a player after teams are announced. Coachability and effort also weigh heavily during tryouts.
“Coaches often make (roster) decisions to put a player in the best position to succeed, and that may include cutting a player,” Green said. “Some kids cannot be the ‘last kid to make a team.’ That can do more harm than good for some players, as opposed to being one of the top players on the second team. Just because you’re on the top team, but only play two or three shifts per game, that’s not a lot of fun and perhaps not truly beneficial for the player’s best position to succeed.