Trying out for a competitive baseball team can be an incredibly stressful and pressure-filled experience. As a baseball player who has been through many tryouts myself and coached aspiring young players for over 20 years, I’ve learned that managing your nerves and emotions is just as important as showcasing your skills and talent.

The key to performing your best during tryouts is preparation – both physical and mental. Follow these 28 tips to keep your cool under pressure and give yourself the best chance to make the team.

Physical Preparation

1. Make Sure You’re in Shape

There’s no substitute for athletic conditioning when it comes to tryouts. Make sure you’ve trained hard in the weeks and months leading up to the big day – not just practicing baseball skills but also general strength, speed and agility drills. Trying out when you’re out of shape is a recipe for underperforming.

2. Get Plenty of Rest

In the days before tryouts, focus on getting good sleep and avoiding fatigue. Get to bed early the night before so you’re well-rested. Sleep is essential for both optimal physical and mental performance.

3. Eat Well

Fuel up with healthy, energizing foods and stay hydrated in the 24+ hours preceding tryouts. Get sufficient protein, carbs and fluids. Avoid junk food that can lead to crashes. Proper nutrition gives you the endurance to perform at your best throughout the entire tryout.

4. Loosen Up

Be sure to warm up thoroughly before your tryout session. Get your heart rate up and break a sweat with some light cardio. Then do dynamic stretching and warm up your throwing arm to get muscles and joints nice and loose. Being physically loose helps minimize injuries and improves flexibility and coordination.

5. Visualize Success

In the days and hours before tryouts, take some time to sit quietly and visualize yourself having a great tryout. See yourself confidently fielding hot ground balls, hitting line drives and making strong accurate throws. Visualization helps program the mind and body to perform at optimal levels.

Mental Preparation

6. Remember Why You Love Baseball

Tryouts can make the game feel like a chore when it should be fun. Before you step on the field, take a moment to connect with your passion. Remember the joy that baseball brings you, and play from that place. This helps combat nerves.

7. Be Present

Don’t get stuck dwelling on the past or worried about the future. Stay focused in the present moment throughout your tryout. Keep your head in each drill you’re doing and each pitch you see. Being fully mentally engaged helps you perform at your highest level.

8. Embrace the Nerves

Feeling nervous heading into tryouts is totally normal. The key is not resisting those nerves but rather embracing them. Let go of tension by taking deep breaths. Channel nervous energy into positive focus and determination. Nerves are a natural part of competition.

9. Stay Positive

Your inner dialogue can have a big impact on your tryout performance. Don’t allow negative self-talk to take root. If you make a mistake, let it go quickly. Keep your thoughts, attitude and body language upbeat. Positivity and confidence breed success.

10. Have a Pre-Tryout Routine

Establish a consistent routine that you go through before every tryout to get yourself psyched up and in the zone. This can involve listening to pump up music, visualization, reciting inspirational mantras, or just sitting quietly and breathing. Having a set pre-tryout routine gets you mentally prepared.

11. Get Pumped Up

Look for ways to boost your energy heading into tryouts. Listen to upbeat music on the way that gets you fired up. Do a motivational chant with teammates. Hyping yourself up physically and emotionally helps you take the field energetic and aggressive, ready to excel.

12. Focus on What’s In Your Control

During tryouts there are many factors you can’t control, like the evaluators opinions or other players performances. Keep your focus only on the things within your control- your effort, attitude, hustle, and readiness to compete. Don’t waste mental energy on uncontrollable external factors.

13. Expect Adversity

Understand that tryouts will have ups and downs. You may boot a ball or have a bad at-bat. Expect that there will be bumps in the road. Mentally preparing for adversity prevents discouragement and loss of confidence when it inevitably occurs. Staying even-keeled is key.

14. Have a Short Memory

When facing setbacks like errors or strikeouts, immediately forget them and move forward. Don’t let past miscues impact your performance on the very next play. Maintain your focus and confidence by having a short memory. One bad moment never defines a tryout.

At the Tryout

15. Introduce Yourself

Don’t be shy about introducing yourself to coaches and evaluators before the tryout begins. This plants yourself on their radar and gets conversations started. Be humble and communicate your passion for the game. Making a good first impression can be pivotal.

16. Be Coachable

How receptive you are to coaching during the tryout can be very important. Listen intently to instructions and feedback from coaches and do your best to immediately implement it. Coaches value players who are eager to learn and take direction well.

17. Hustle

Effort and urgency stand out in any tryout. Sprint on and off the field. Run hard out of the batter’s box. Hustle to backup plays in the field. Coaches notice and appreciate players who show hustle and play with high energy. Don’t get caught flat-footed.

18. Be Vocal

Communicate constantly during the tryout – with teammates and coaches. Talk players through drills. Provide encouragement. Ask clarifying questions. Speak up if you didn’t hear instructions. Being vocal shows leadership abilities and engagement.

19. Support Teammates

When other players are drilling or batting, be there to support them. Give high fives and words of encouragement. React positively when they make great plays. Evaluators notice how you interact and pull for others. Supporting teammates shows character.

20. Have Fun

Remember you started playing baseball because you loved it. Even though tryouts are high-pressure, find moments to enjoy yourself. Smile and laugh when appropriate. Baseball is still a game, even in competitive environments. Let your passion for the game shine through.

21. Make Adjustments

Pay attention to the feedback coaches give you during drills and scrimmages and be quick to apply adjustments. If your stance needs tweaking or your footwork is off, fix it right away. Evaluators want to see you take instruction and translate it into immediate improvement.

22. Don’t Try to Do Too Much

The pressure of tryouts can cause players to attempt to do more than they’re capable of. Don’t feel like you have to hit bombs or make spectacular diving catches. Focus on sound fundamental baseball. Rely on your abilities and training. Attempting to overdo it usually backfires.

23. Be Mindful of Body Language

Carrying yourself confidently and limiting negative body language is key during tryouts. Don’t hang your head or sulk after mistakes. No slumped shoulders or dragging feet. Evaluators notice posture, facial expressions and mannerisms. Keep your chin up and maintain positive body language.

After the Tryout

24. Be Gracious

If you feel the tryout went poorly, don’t make excuses or complain. Thank the evaluators sincerely for the opportunity. Handle any disappointment with class and maturity. Similarly, if you feel you did well, remain humble. Graciousness and maturity leave a lasting impression.

25. Reflect Positively

After tryouts, reflect on what went well and what you can improve, but keep perspective. Don’t obsess over mistakes. Focus on the successes. Tryouts are about demonstrating abilities, not perfection. Reflecting positively prevents discouragement.

26. Continue Improving Skill Sets

Keep working hard after tryouts to improve areas of your game that need it. Regardless if you make the team or not, the tryout likely revealed strengths and weaknesses. Address weaknesses through additional training. Continued skill development is key.

27. Learn From the Experience

Think about lessons the tryout process taught you that apply both on and off the field. Did you learn about dealing with nerves? The importance of full effort? How to accept feedback and make quick adjustments? Carry these lessons into other areas of your life.

28. Enjoy the Game

At the end of the day, remember that baseball is just a game that should be fun. If you ultimately don’t make the team you tried out for, don’t let it diminish your passion. Keep playing and enjoying the sport you love at whatever level you can. Focus on growth and having fun.

The Night Before: Setting Yourself Up for Success

The night before a big tryout can be one of the most nerve-wracking times. Thoughts race through your head about all the things that could go wrong. It’s natural to feel anxious. But you can take proactive steps the night before tryouts to set yourself up both mentally and physically to perform at your best when game time comes.

Here’s my personal routine I would follow the night before every varsity baseball tryout that really helped calm my mind and prepare my body:

Eat a filling, nutritious dinner with plenty of carbs for lasting energy. But finish eating 2-3 hours before bedtime so you don’t go to sleep with an overly full stomach. Personally I would eat a big plate of whole grain pasta with chicken and veggies.
Avoid screens/video games after dinner. The blue light can make it hard to fall asleep. Spend the evening relaxing, like reading or listening to music, to get your mind calm before bed.
Take a hot Epsom salt bath. The magnesium in the salts eases muscle soreness so you feel fresh. The hot water also relaxes both the mind and body to prepare for restful sleep.
Do light stretching before bed to help muscles feel loose. I’d stretch my legs, back, shoulders – all the areas that get used heavily in baseball. This also doubles as stress-relieving alone time.
Write down your tryout goals and affirmations in a notebook before bed. Seeing the goals and positive self-talk written out reinforces them mentally. I’d write things like “I am calm and confident” and “I’m going enjoy every moment on the field.”
Get in bed early to allow 9+ hours of sleep. Slumber is when the body repairs itself and consolidates skills learned in training. I noticed a huge difference in my tryout performances when I prioritized ample sleep.

Following an evening routine like this ensures you go into tryouts feeling rested, nourished, hydrated and primed for peak performance both physically and mentally.

Tryout Nutrition: Eating for Energy and Focus

The foods and fluids you consume leading up to and on the day of tryouts significantly impact energy levels, focus and athletic performance. Making smart nutritional choices can provide a real edge. Here are my top tryout eating tips:

Eat a carb-rich breakfast like oatmeal, whole grain cereal or banana pancakes. Carbs give steady energy to last through hours of drills. I’d eat oatmeal with berries and peanut butter about 2 hours before tryouts.
Hydrate well in the 24 hours before with water and coconut water. Proper hydration prevents muscle cramps. I’d drink half my body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water the day before tryouts.
Avoid fatty, greasy foods that can cause GI issues. Stick to easily digested fare. A cheeseburger and fries the night before tryouts often ended with me feeling sluggish in the field.
Bring snacks like protein bars, bananas, applesauce and trail mix to keep blood sugar stable. During multi-hour tryouts, I’d eat small snacks every 45-60 minutes to maintain energy and focus.
Stick to water and sports drinks during tryouts to stay hydrated in the heat. Soda and fruit juice lead to sugar crashes. I brought 2-3 bottles of water and sipped consistently even when I wasn’t thirsty.
Have a balanced meal no more than 2 hours before tryouts starts – carbs, protein and vegetables. Something like a turkey sandwich, fruit and yogurt provides sustained energy.
Avoid brand new foods/drinks before tryouts that may cause GI distress if your body reacts poorly. Stick to nutrition you know works for your body.

Paying close attention to what you fuel yourself with before and during tryouts can truly maximize your athletic performance by keeping you energized, properly hydrated, and focused.

Parent Involvement: The Dos and Don’ts

Parental support plays a huge role in a young baseball player’s tryout experience. But there’s a fine line between being helpful versus hurtful. Here are some dos and don’ts for baseball parents during the tryout process:

DO:

Help your child get proper rest, nutrition and hydration leading up to tryouts. Making sure basic needs are met enables peak performance.
Provide emotional support and encouragement if your child feels anxious. Remind them of all their preparation and to just have fun.
Ensure your child has proper equipment in good shape – gloves, cleats, bat, etc. Making sure gear is ready prevents unnecessary stress.
Get your child to tryouts early so they have plenty of time to get settled in and warm up. Rushed arrivals can be frazzling.
Let your child establish their own pre-tryout routine for getting prepared mentally/physically without interference.
Stay positive if your child makes mistakes. Remind them to shake it off quickly and focus on the next play.

DON’T:

Put added pressure on your child by overemphasizing how important the tryout is. This often psyches kids out.
Try to give your child last minute coaching or instruction right before the tryout starts. This can overload them mentally.
Critique your child’s performance immediately after tryouts. Feedback is better a few days later after emotions have settled.
Get visibly upset or complain if you feel the coaches made unfair selections. This embarrasses kids and strains relationships.
Take it personally if your child doesn’t make the team. Don’t tear down their self-esteem over not being selected.

The most helpful thing baseball parents can do is be a source of unconditional support – keeping criticism to a minimum, letting go of inflated expectations, and simply making sure your child feels loved win or lose.

Coping With Not Making the Team

Not being selected for a team you tried out for is always disappointing. Allowing that disappointment to turn into discouragement and negatively impact your passion for baseball is the wrong response though. Here are constructive ways I’ve learned to cope when I didn’t make the team:

Let yourself be upset briefly. Some sadness, frustration, even tears, are normal. Just don’t dwell there. Process the emotions quickly.
Take feedback from coaches constructively. If they provide tips like “work on foot speed” or “improve plate discipline” use those productively.
Reflect honestly on your tryout performance. Think about what went well and what needs improvement without beating yourself up over perceived failures.
Remember tryouts are just a snapshot. One bad day doesn’t mean you’re not a great player. Keep that in mind.
Focus on aspects of the tryout you did well on. If your fielding was solid but hitting needs work, derive confidence from the positives.
Ask the coach what skills they’d recommend working on to improve chances next time. Developing those areas makes you better.
Watch video of MLB players training. Seeing their work ethic and perseverance through adversity is inspirational.
Increase your training. Use the rejection as motivation to work even harder before the next tryout. Channel disappointment into determination.
Compete and have fun in other leagues, camps, tournaments. There are always alternative ways to play if one team doesn’t work out.
Talk with teammates who also didn’t make the team. Bond over shared experiences and provide mutual support.

Reacting in a constructive way to not making a team builds resilience. It’s a motivator for self-improvement, not a reason to lose your love for the game.

Final Thoughts About Baseball Tryouts

Navigating the pressure cooker of a competitive baseball tryout requires thorough preparation both physically and mentally. Follow these tips to ready your body, sharpen your mindset, and hone your emotional control ahead of your tryout. Mentally approach it with a laser focus on the present moment and the aspects you control. During the tryout give maximum effort, exhibit good character, and play within yourself. Finally, have the maturity to handle the aftermath, whatever the outcome, with grace and class.

Implementing these 25 tips will provide you the best chance to display your abilities under pressure and walk away knowing you left it all out there. Remember that at the end of the day, the reason you began to play baseball in the first place was because you enjoyed the sport.