Dadabhoy

So as most people here know, I was gone this weekend to the team Canada U19 selection camp. As anyone, I was excitied. How wouldn't be? Being able to tryout for your country in the sport you love. So anyways.

Tryouts began at 9a.m. and ended around 4:30 on day one. I got there around 8:30. Once I got there, I needed to check in and get a number. I was number 61 on the yellow team. So I walked onto the field (which was turf by the way) and I began to get paded up. I saw that there were many people there. About 100 and only 23 would make it. After I got paded up, I looked to see how many goalies were there. I saw about 6 in the begining. So I knew I would have to fight my way to get on the team. 9:00 came and the selection committiee called us in. They began to tell us what they were looking for from each person and that we should give our best. After the quick speech and introductions of the committie members, our trainers had us do a lap and begin some streches.

After 10-15 minutes of streches, we began to do some drills. The goalies were taken to the other field to be warmed up while the players did their stuff. At this point, I saw we had 8-9 goalies. I knew that this would be tough. So we were warmed up with a variety of shots. After each goalie was warmed up (about 4-5 per goalie), we were taken back to the main field to do some more drills. We began to do oddman situations. We used both nets so the coaches could see us play more. The goalies switched throughout the entire drill so each could be seen.

We did this drill for approximatley 20-30 minutes. This allowed the coaches to see what everyone had. After this drill, we went with our teams. There were 5 - yellow, blue, black, red, and green. Each team had about 16-18 players with 2 goalies on each team. We were finally going to play some games. The games lasted about 20 minutes. Each goalie would play 10 minutes so the coaches could see how well he could control his defence and how well he could play. I started off slow. I had not played field for a while and I was not used to the speed of the shots. But I was not the worse goalie there. So I could still improve.

We played 2 games before it was time for lunch. But before lunch, we did a cool down which consisted of a lap and a few streches. Lunch was about 1 hour and 20 minutes. People who had brought their cars went out to eat. Others brought their lunch with them and ate it there. I was one who brought it with me. After eating, we would just shoot around on the nets waiting for the games to start again.

After lunch had passed, we did another warmup which consisted of a lap and streches yet again. We did some quick drills to get back into form and we split into teams again to start playing. This time, the games were 30 minutes each. By the third game I played that day, I was back into form. I had gotten used to the shot level and I was able to control my defence. But I was playing on a strong yellow team. So when I switched at half with the other goalie, the coach came up to me and told me that I was now going to be playing for the black team. So I tought, o well, I want some more shots and the black team as not as strong.

So I waited around for the black team to come to the field. They only had 2 games left and by that time, I was tired. The coach gave me a pinnie (number 58) and told me to get into the pipes. So I went in. I played for 10 minutes as there were 3 goalies on that team. I let in 3 goals and I was not happy with my performance. I knew I had to step it up. The next game, I played another 10 minutes and again, letting in 3 goals. Not happy there. But that was the last game and I knew I had to come back the next day hungrier. After the game ended, We did another cool down (guess what we did). We were dismissed after that and we all left. After playing all day, I was so tired. And being out in the sun, my skin had become so dark. But I was not worried about that. I was more worried about my play.


So I come back on day two. It began at the normal time of 9:00 and ended around 2:30. I knew I had to leave an impression with the coaches. After getting paded up, we began our normal routine of a warmup. After that, the goalies were taken to be warmed up. This time, there was only 8 goalies. It seemed that one of them had just given up. But I did not care. I knew I had to keep going.

So after warmups, we did some drills. This time, we did one vs one and two vs two. I switched between two other goalies during this drill. After the drill, we went back into our teams to play our game. We were off our first game so we sat on the bleachers and watched the team were about to play. It was very hot so we took off our gear and drank lots of water.

After their game, it was our turn. I was starting it up so I got into the pipes. I had let in 2 goals this time but I was not happy. I should have had atleast one of them but I let it slip past me. I knew I had to play better. So our game ended and it was time for lunch. Before breaking we did a cool down.

During lunch, we did the same thing. Ate our lunch and just fooled around.

After lunch ended, we were only going to play 3 games. Each game was going to be 30 minutes. I was going to be going in at half for the game as I started the first. The goalie played amazing only letting in 1 or 2 goals. I knew that he was on of my biggest compitions. I was put in at half and my mindset was "save everything or go home". I got into a rythm quick and I was able to make some big saves and letting only 1 get psat me. Overall, I was happy with my performance.

I was going to start the second game. I still had the same mindset. I knew I had to impress the coaches in the last game of tryouts. I continued my streak and I was able to let only one in while making some good clears which lead to goals. I came out at half happy with my performance. I was told I played great in the last few games by a few coaches. I was happy with my self. I knew I had put my self back into the goalie race.

The game ended and we began to do some cool down streches. After the streches, the coaches gave some closing remarks and that was the end of camp. By the end, there were only 7 goalies left. With about 5 of them in the race for 2 spots. We all left everything out ther with no regrets. Now we wait and see. We will find out by next week or the week after.

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