Here's a very simple, easy-to-follow list of the things you need to do to impress coaches in try-outs and in practices:
1) Solid Fundamentals:
This is the most important thing coaches look for. They don't want you to be fancy, they don't want to see awesome moves. They just want to see if you can dribble with both hands, if your shooting form looks normal, if you pass the ball right, if you keep your head up when you dribble, if you move around without the ball, and so on...
2) Tough Defense:
The tougher, more intense defense you can play, the better. Defense doesn't mean that you get steals and block shots...it simply means to stay in front of your man, prevent easy shots, and challenge shots. The goal is to give the offensive player trouble and to make them work hard.
3) Boxing Out:
Even more important than getting the rebound is putting a body on your man and boxing them out. Coaches notice this! Don't think that just the player who gets the rebound gets noticed. A real coach sees all the people who boxed out their man.
So, you should always put a body on your man and learn proper boxing out techniques.
4) Good passing:
Players who move the ball around, deliver the pass in the right spot, not too fast and not too slow, are valuable to the coaches. Remember, the coach is looking at you as a team player, not as an individual. Good passing shows that you're a team player.
5) Avoid turnovers:
Protect the ball as if your life depends on it.
There is nothing more hated in the game of basketball than silly turnovers. Whether you're dribbling or passing, make sure that you don't turn the ball over. Play conservative. Its better not to mess up the 1st couple of times a coach sees you play.
