The Mental Side of Tryouts: Confidence, Preparation & Handling Nerves
- Champions Hockey
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
When it comes to tryouts, most of us immediately think about skating speed, shooting accuracy, or how many passes you can connect. The physical tools matter, but too often we forget one of the biggest separators at evaluation time: the mental game.
Confidence Over Comparison
Confidence doesn’t mean pretending you’re the best player on the ice, it means trusting the work you’ve put in and playing your game. The worst thing an athlete can do is compare themselves to every other player in the room. Focus on your own shifts, your own effort, and the details you can control.
Preparation Isn’t Just Physical
Yes, showing up in shape is important. But preparation also means:
Getting a good night’s sleep before each skate
Eating well and staying hydrated
Coming to the rink with the right mindset (ready to compete, but calm enough to think clearly)
A simple routine, stretch, music, visualization, can go a long way in making the unfamiliar feel familiar.
Nerves Are Normal
Feeling nervous doesn’t mean you’re unprepared. It means you care. The key is learning to manage those nerves so they fuel you instead of freeze you. Focus on the first shift, first pass, first play. Once you get moving, the game tends to settle down.
Control What You Can
You can’t control which team needs a left winger, how many defense spots are open, if you shoot right or left, or what the evaluators are writing on their clipboards. You can control:
Hustle
Body language (this is a BIG one)
Communication with teammates
Attitude when things don’t go your way
Coaches notice those things as much as they notice a hard slapshot.
How Parents & Guardians Can Help
Tryouts aren’t just stressful for athletes, parents feel it too. The best way to support your player is to keep things simple. Encourage them to focus on effort over outcome, remind them that nerves are normal, and avoid rehashing every shift on the drive home. Sometimes the most helpful words are: “I love watching you play.” Keeping the pressure low allows your athlete to stay confident and enjoy the game.
Tryouts are stressful, but they’re also an opportunity. The athletes who stand out aren’t always the ones with the hardest shot, they’re the ones who play with confidence, prepare properly, and show resilience. Don’t ignore the mental side. It could be the difference between blending in and standing out.
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