By Aseel Barghuthi,
Amman Baccalaureate School,
Amman, Jordan.

So you're wearing your favorite hi-tops (the ones you've refused to throw out for several years now), you're geared up in your lucky T-shirt and your most comfy shorts. What more can you do to prepare for a basketball team tryout?

Every athlete, somewhere along the line, needed to try out for their sport. So, how did they make it? How did they succeed in proving themselves?

The basis of trying out is being skillful at what you're trying out for. But that's not all. You've gotta talk the talk, and walk the walk ... and here's how to do all that:

STEP ONE:
You know what you've got, your parents know what you've got, even your kid brother, who thinks he's NBA material, knows what you've got. Now you have to show those adults with clipboards what you've got. In other words, it's up to you, and you alone to prove yourself.

STEP TWO:
Before showing up at tryouts, try to find out as much as possible about the team, the coach, the stats. By figuring out what the team is lacking, and what it has a lot of, you know exactly what to work on before trying out. That way, you pose as a more valuable candidate.

STEP THREE:
Try to listen to some good upbeat music to pump yourself up. I always find that like listening to my fave beats before a game, does wonders to my morale. Recommended tunes:
Hinda Hicks ("Love and Basketball" soundtrack) - "Our Destiny"
Love Inc. - "You're a Superstar"
Fragma - "I Need a Miracle"

STEP FOUR:
Try to make friends with the girls trying out. That way you both can cheer each other on, and at the same time, it'll make you feel more comfortable seeing familiar faces on the court.

STEP FIVE:
Show the coach just how determined you are to be the best. Coaches aren't only analyzing your playing ability. They are also looking at your competitiveness, your attitude, and how hard you try. By showing the coach just how dedicated you are to your game, that'll motivate him/her to put you on the team.

STEP SIX:
Use the word "endurance" as your mantra (i.e. repeat the word in your head several times during heavy exercises). It'll encourage you to push harder, and strive for the maximum.

STEP SEVEN:
Keep in mind that being selfish during tryouts, and hogging the ball during scrimmages, isn't going to increase your credibility on the court. All it's going to do is make you look like a ballhog. Giving a nice pass is more important than taking that extra shot, because it'll exemplify your ability to play as part of a team.

STEP EIGHT:
Keep telling yourself that you CAN do it. If you walk into the court with a low confidence level, then chances are you won't make the team. You've got to walk in with your head held high, ready to play some real ball.

STEP NINE:
Don't let a missed layup or an airballed three get to you. Just keep on going, keep on trying. Brooding and dwelling on missed shots are going to bring down your game. Just let it go, and concentrate on your next shot as if it's your first.

STEP TEN:
Last, but not least, don't forget to smile. Nobody wants to recruit a player that's depressed and down on herself. Walk in with a big smile on your face--be proud to be the player that you are.

Until next time....

#68, Aseel

Aseel Barghuthi just recently graduated from the Amman Baccalaureate School in Amman-Jordan, and will be attending Duke University this fall. She has also lived in the United States (Athens, Georgia) and England. To contact Aseel with any comments or suggestions, e-mail her at aseel@index.com.jo

Hey, Check This Out:
In my next column, I'm gonna play big sister. Send in your basketball problems and queries, and I'll do my best to answer them all in my next column. But remember, the first 10 emails will get priority, so send in those problems, and I'll help you out, from one girlballer to another. E-mail info@gballmag.com. Put "Q for Aseel" in subject header.