| The majority of young players will be participating in | | | | Be the Best At Whatever You Do Best |
| skill-based training camps this summer. However, a | | | | The problem most young players run into in |
| select number will be heading off to high-performance | | | | high-performance camp settings is that they get so |
| tryout camps over the course of the next few | | | | wrapped up in worrying about their weaknesses, they |
| months. | | | | forget to showcase their strengths. |
| These camps are usually by invitation only or at least | | | | The bad news is that if you have a glaring weakness, |
| require a player to go through an application process in | | | | the evaluators are going to be able to find it. You can't |
| order to be selected. Players will be trying to impress | | | | hide a weak wrist shot or poor passing skills for long. |
| scouts and coaches in order to make their regional, | | | | The good news is that every player who has ever |
| provincial or national all-star team. The stakes are high | | | | played the game has weaknesses!!! |
| and the competition is fierce. | | | | Not everyone is a natural goal scorer, a great |
| How To Stand Out From The Crowd and Make The | | | | two-way player or great at controlling the breakout. |
| Team | | | | And while every coach would love to have a team full |
| These tryout camps are less about learning and more | | | | of players who can execute every skill and strategy |
| about performance. While players will certainly be able | | | | perfectly, they also know that it is a completely |
| to learn a lot while being surrounded by talented | | | | unrealistic vision for a team. |
| players and knowledgeable coaches, players must | | | | The key to impressing the scouts and coaches is to |
| capitalize on their opportunity to stand out and | | | | be the best on the ice at whatever it is that you do |
| separate themselves from the crowd. | | | | best. If the coach is looking for someone who has that |
| At these high-performance camps, players must focus | | | | strength (and trust me, they are), then you are going to |
| on showcasing their strengths. If you are a prolific goal | | | | be the one they remember. Instead of comparing |
| scorer, then you had better bury the puck at camp. If | | | | yourself to everyone else on the ice and worrying |
| you are a great two-way centre, then you should be | | | | about your weaknesses, focus on what you do best - |
| the best back-checker on the ice. If you are a solid | | | | and do it the best to of your ability. |
| stay-at-home defenseman, then you had better make | | | | Make them notice you for your strengths and not for |
| great breakout passes throughout camp. | | | | your short-comings. |