TRYOUTS ARE STRESSFUL ENOUGH WITHOUT HAVING TO THINK ABOUT YOUR GEAR. BUT WHAT YOU WEAR ACTUALLY MATTERS — NOT BECAUSE COACHES ARE JUDGING YOUR OUTFIT, BUT BECAUSE THE WRONG CLOTHES CAN SLOW YOU DOWN, DISTRACT YOU, AND MAKE YOU FEEL LESS CONFIDENT WHEN YOU NEED TO FEEL LOCKED IN.
HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT TO WEAR TO BASKETBALL TRYOUTS, BROKEN DOWN BY PIECE.
THE SHIRT — GO COMPRESSION OR LIGHTWEIGHT BLEND
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION. YOU'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING, CUTTING, DEFENDING, AND SHOOTING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT HANDLES SWEAT FAST AND DOESN'T RESTRICT YOUR ARMS OVERHEAD.
AVOID 100% COTTON. IT ABSORBS SWEAT AND HOLDS IT — BY THE END OF THE FIRST DRILL YOU'LL BE WEARING A WET, HEAVY SHIRT THAT CLINGS TO YOU. NOT THE IMPRESSION YOU WANT TO MAKE.
LOOK FOR A COMPRESSION SHIRT OR A LIGHTWEIGHT COTTON-POLYESTER-SPANDEX BLEND. THESE MOVE MOISTURE AWAY FROM YOUR SKIN, DRY FAST, AND STRETCH WITH YOU SO YOU'RE NEVER FIGHTING YOUR SHIRT ON A JUMP SHOT.
FIT MATTERS TOO. COMPRESSION IS FINE — IT KEEPS YOU FEELING TIGHT AND WARM. RELAXED IS ALSO FINE — IT GIVES YOU FULL RANGE OF MOTION. JUST AVOID ANYTHING SO BAGGY IT GETS GRABBED OR SO TIGHT IT RESTRICTS MOVEMENT.
THE SHORTS — FUNCTIONAL OVER FASHIONABLE
ATHLETIC SHORTS WITH AN ELASTIC WAISTBAND AND AT LEAST 9-INCH INSEAM. YOU WANT FULL FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR DEFENSIVE SLIDES AND EXPLOSIVE CUTS. POCKETS ARE FINE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL.
AVOID JEANS, JOGGERS WITH NO STRETCH, OR ANYTHING WITH A ZIPPER OR BUTTON — SAFETY AND MOBILITY BOTH SUFFER.
THE SHOES — THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
WEAR PROPER BASKETBALL SHOES. NOT RUNNING SHOES, NOT CROSS-TRAINERS, NOT LIFESTYLE SNEAKERS. BASKETBALL SHOES ARE BUILT FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT AND ANKLE SUPPORT ON HARDWOOD. RUNNING SHOES HAVE CUSHIONING DESIGNED FOR FORWARD MOTION — THEY CAN ACTUALLY DESTABILIZE YOU ON CUTS AND PIVOTS.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE BASKETBALL SHOES, WEAR THE MOST SUPPORTIVE ATHLETIC SHOES YOU OWN. BUT MAKE IT A PRIORITY.
THE SOCKS — DON'T OVERLOOK THESE
CREW-LENGTH ATHLETIC SOCKS. THEY PROTECT YOUR ANKLES FROM SHOE FRICTION DURING EXTENDED RUNNING AND REDUCE THE CHANCE OF BLISTERS. ANKLE SOCKS DURING A TWO-HOUR TRYOUT IS ASKING FOR PROBLEMS.
WHAT TO BRING EXTRA
PACK A SECOND SHIRT. IF YOU SWEAT HEAVILY THROUGH THE FIRST HALF, BEING ABLE TO CHANGE AT A BREAK SHOWS PREPARATION AND KEEPS YOU COMFORTABLE AND FOCUSED FOR THE SECOND HALF.
A TOWEL, WATER BOTTLE, AND A LIGHT LAYER FOR WARMING UP BEFORE TRYOUTS START ROUND OUT YOUR KIT.
THE MINDSET ABOUT GEAR
COACHES NOTICE PREPARATION. SHOWING UP IN PROPER ATHLETIC GEAR — NOT STREET CLOTHES, NOT RANDOM SHORTS AND A RANDOM TEE — SIGNALS THAT YOU TAKE THE GAME SERIOUSLY. IT WON'T MAKE UP FOR LACK OF SKILL, BUT IT REMOVES ANY REASON TO BE OVERLOOKED FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
AT HOOPLETE, OUR PERFORMANCE CORE COLLECTION IS BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS — LIGHTWEIGHT COMPRESSION SHIRTS AND RELAXED PERFORMANCE TEES DESIGNED FOR ATHLETES WHO NEED FULL RANGE OF MOTION AND FAST MOISTURE MANAGEMENT. SHOW UP READY.