Tryouts are coming up for multiple sports, but what should you do to calm the nerves?

I asked multiple people in the athletic program at Lincoln what they like to do and what their mindsets are before tryouts. Marlo Pavcovich (10) is doing boys’ soccer in the spring, and he said he’s not scared for tryouts. 

“It’s not as bad as you think it will be– work hard, and there are a lot of spots, so don’t worry,” he said. 

Sadie Wylie (10), who has been on varsity for the Lincoln Women’s Soccer Team since freshman year, shared this advice: “During tryouts, genuinely be nice to everyone trying out and help the coaches with setting up the cones or something if they ask you to, because it’s something that they will notice.”

Natalie Kelly (10) is doing soccer and basketball for Lincoln. She has been a varsity demon since her freshman year so she knows what she’s talking about! 

She shared with me that she’s excited for the season but nervous they’re going to have to run a lot. When asked what she does to get in the right mindset before tryouts, she said, “I would probably say work really hard at tryouts but also still be a team player and show good leadership”. 

The students really have the best tips for what to do before tryouts for school team, especially the seniors since they have been through it for four years. Nicole Pumpalov and Elise Costa, who are both seniors and have experience, shared that there are “multiple days of tryouts so give it your all, and it’s a good opportunity to meet who you’ll be playing with, so make some friends.”

Overall, try to take the stress out of tryouts— and more fun you have, the better off you will be.