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Confessions Of A Junior Hockey Coach – Picking The Right Tryout Camps

The confusion has already begun for the 2015 season.  I already talk to many player and parent who are getting the “pre draft”, “import” and “open” camp team tryout emails.

What do it say when you get these email?  Are team legitimately interested in you as the player?  Or are they looking to have a camp and see as many player as possible?

Parent are asking “is this a fundraiser camp”?  Remember this, ever camp you will ever go to is a “fundraiser” in one way or another.  Team need income to operate, pay for ice, pay for referee, and all the other thing they do.

So lose the attitude in regard to paying for camp.  If you are not smart enough to pick the right camp and continue to be cut, then it is you fault not the team fault.  Or perhaps you are looking at the wrong level of play.

So what do you do with the email invitation?  First of all do not believe the team has a serious interest in you.  If they have the serious interest, they will call you on the phone, or make personal contact through a personal email asking you to call them.

Unless you are a dominating player in one way or another on you current team, do not believe that each invitation is a real opportunity.  If you are the top end player in you age group, or playing in an older age group, you will hear from the team personally.

The most important thing to do is to use common sense.  Many of you throw it out the window, and confuse your hope with actual team interest.

If this is a top end team, and you just the average player?  Why attend the camp?  Seriously, if you a forward who only score a point every third game or so, why do you think you can go to highest scoring team in a league when you see all top six of the current player can come back next year?

I know it is confusing.  I know each tryout can be made to look very good for the opportunity.  But you must remember, opportunity always have the cost that come with it.

Be smart with you time and you money.  Why do what everyone else do?  Why think that because it work for one person that it will work for you?  Why go to camps with three of you friend who all play the same position only to compete against them?

The time for the camp selection is very important.  If you do not know how to do it, or what to do, hire an adviser who do, at the minimum he will save you a lot of time and money this Spring and Summer.

Coach

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