Texas Hurricanes: Make Your HS Team

Making The High School Team


The biggest tip we can give on how to make the high school team is that you take the time to promote yourself. When we say promote yourself, we don't mean with mailings and statistics to your future coach, on how you have done in the past. We mean make the coach know who you are before try-outs begin. Do more than is expected in the off-season, ask the coach’s advice on how you can get better, ask for his advice on camps and clinics that you can attend. Show a wllingness to get better on your own and you will most certainly get an opportunity to make the team.


Here are some more tips that will help you:

Play as much baseball as you can prior to entering high school ... try to play against
the better competition.

Persistence is more important than talent.

There is a reason that the word STUDENT comes first in student/athletes.

Respect the game as much as you want to be respected.

Look the part. Pants (clean), jersey (always tucked in) and hat (always worn correctly -
not backwards).

NEVER wear shorts to baseball practice or a tryout.

Practice hard because you play the way you practice.

Hustle!!!  Catch the coaches eye with your hustle, your attitude, your desire, etc. It doesn't take any talent to hustle.

Be a student of baseball. Learn the game - Study the history of baseball.

Help your team win whether you play or not.

Keep a daily diary of what you do at practice and keep notes of your observations. This will help you see the progress you have made.

Never argue with an umpire.

Wear a jersey from the summer team that you play on to your tryout -- if possible with your name on the back of your shirt.

Agree to let your coaches train you.

Be a great bunter -- work at it.

Don't cut class.

Maintain the grades that keep you eligible.

Set high standards along with knowing the steps to attain them.

Don't tell people what you are worth, prove it to them.

Your girlfriend is not more important than your career.

Your parents love you, but they don't know more than your coach about baseball.

Don't let anyone make an excuse for you.

Maintain eye contact with all adults when they talk to you. Practice on your friends.

It is your coach's opinion of you that counts. He makes out the lineup. Fail to understand this point and you will soon be out of the game.

Life is not always fair. Regardless of what some people want you to think.

Be passionate about your teammates.

Love the game.

Players are not the only people in the game. There are coaches, trainers, announcers, umpires, broadcasters and writers. All of these jobs are honorable professions.

The only thing that coaches owe you is HONESTY.

Body language screams. It never whispers.

Throw, throw, throw ..... Most kids don't throw enough these days, therefore, their arms are not strong. There are two things that all coaches look for: Running speed and arm strength. We think that we can teach the rest, so throw and run.

Balance makes champions. If you focus on hitting and ignore the defensive part of your game you will never be a complete player.

Baseball reveals character it doesn't build it.

Character means doing the right thing when nobody's watching.

Be as diligent on defense as you are on offense.

Defense wins more games than offense.

Pitching sets the tone.

Games are lost - not won. Mistakes lead to losses.

Work on your game every day of the year. The guy who beat you out for the starting job did and so did the team that always beats you.

Who you are today is a result of who you were in the past. Fill your past with smart work and good deeds and you will maximize your potential.

You don't have to be a great athlete to be a good baseball player.

Be the first to volunteer to help get equipment out or put away.

Be the first to hustle to each station or position.

Always pay attention and ask questions.

Respond to the coaches with respect. Use “yes, sir” and “no, sir”.

Do not respond to instruction with "I know". If you knew, then why didn't you do it right the first time?

Do not be afraid to get dirty. Laying out for balls and sliding impresses coaches.

Attend any camps that the high school coach puts on.

Have all of your paperwork done on time: physicals, insurance forms, parental permission, etc.

Be 15 minutes early to every work-out.

Make sure that you have good grades -- Coaches do check grades.

Never miss any work-outs. If an emergency comes occurs and you are unable to make a practice, make sure and call your coach ahead of time and not after the fact.

Take great care of your equipment. Hang your bag or put it neatly away do not leave your stuff laying around


Show off your talent to your current coach and your future coach by doing the following
(ALL THE TIME):

When you jog to warm up - finish first.
When you stretch - do it best.
When you play catch - throw to a target and hit it every time.
When you play catch - catch the ball or block the bad throw and keep it in front of you every time.
When you are doing a drill - do it perfect, every time.
Go hard all the time. Never walk on a baseball field.
As a batter/runner - run to first as though it matters that you are safe.
If you get a base on balls – sprint to first.
Know the situation on defense and do the right thing.