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"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
Rogers Hornsby

1. Understand that a tryout is not a social event. You are there to take someone's job.

2. Dress like a ball player. Wear baseball pants, cleats and a hat. You will get major deductions if you show up in baggy jeans and the latest skater boy apparel. Wearing your hat backward or sideways is a major mistake.
3. When you arrive, place your equipment away from everyone else's. Run, preferably by yourself, to get warm. Stretch away from everyone else in the outfield. Coaches will notice that this is a serious, disciplined, knowledgeable ball player. 
4. Throw sufficiently to be completely warm. There may be a lengthy wait while waiting to perform at your position. Be sure to keep throwing if necessary to stay loose and warm.
5. Many think that hustling and trying to aggressively make plays is the way to impress coaches. Understand that it is early season and your game is not in midseason form. When it comes time to show your defensive skills you will be much better taking it slow and smooth, focusing on proper mechanics. Get your feet under you and focus on making an accurate throw. The odds are if you try too hard, rush it and throw it as hard as you can, you will boot it and throw it into the stands.
6. When hitting, take a pitch to get a feel for the timing of the pitch. Be selective and only swing at pitches that you can expect to hit with a high degree of success. Here again it is early season so your stroke is not in midseason form. Don't over swing but just swing smoothly and try to hit line drives and hard ground balls. 
7. Daddies, stay away from the coaches. Lobbying will not help. There are two notations experienced coaches make. DIAs ( Dad Is an Ass) are to be avoided. 

Good Luck. It's going to be a great season.

Begin the following series of exercise using no more than 1 - 2 lb weights. Perform each exercise slowly on each arm. Begin with a set of 10 and work up to 15 repetitions. When you can do a set without difficulty, try two-or three sets. Weight is not the issue here you are trying to become more flexible while building lean flexible muscles. Do these exercises 3-5 times a week.

Shoulder Flexion:

1. Stand or sit with your arm at your side, palm toward your thigh.
2. Keeping your elbow straight, raise your arm, leading with your thumb.
3. Continue slowly until you arm is overhead.
4. Return slowly to the starting position and repeat.

Shoulder Abduction:

1. Stand with your arms at your sides. 
2. Lift your arms to shoulder height, keeping elbows straight
3. Lower your arms slowly to starting position and repeat.
4. To increase efficiency and decrease the risk of injury, work to 70^o elevation.

Shoulder Elevation:

1. Stand with arms at your side. Keeping your elbows straight, turn your arms in so that your thumbs are pointing downward.
2. Bring your arms forward, slightly in front of you body.
3. Raise your arms to 70^o keeping your elbows extended and thumbs point toward the floor.
4. Slowly lower your arms to starting position and repeat.

Horizontal Abduction:

1. Stand next to a table or bench, leaning forward from the hips, with your arm perpendicular to the floor.
2. Lift your arm up and to the side, keeping your elbow straight. Continue lifting until your arm is parallel to the floor. Make sure you don't lift your hand higher than your shoulder.
3. Return slowly t the starting position. Begin the next repetition right away to avoid unnecessary traction on your shoulder.

You may also do this exercise while on your stomach, on the edge of a table or workout bench.

Shoulder Extension:

1. Stand next to a table or bench. Lean forward from the hips, using the arm closest to the bench for balance. Allow the other arm to hang perpendicular to the floor. 
2. Holding a weight, lift your arm backward until it is level with your trunk. Keep your elbow straight and arm close to your trunk.
3. Return slowly to the starting position. Begin the next repetition right away to avoid unnecessary traction on your shoulder.

You may also do this exercise while on your stomach, on the edge of a table or workout bench. with your arm hanging over the edge.

There is no better way to get a stronger arm than to throw. Long Toss is still considered one of the best ways to strengthen your arm. So make sure you are gradually building up your arm during every practice by throwing. Don't rely only on exercising your way there.