To the kid who got cut from a team

To all my amazing athletes who had been another victim of tryouts,

I feel you. I know you are probably hurt and confused, and have a hundred questions running through your mind. What did I do wrong? Why did I get cut? Why does Coach only seem to be watching when I mess up? Why wasn't I good enough? I've made the team the last couple of years - why is this year different? Why didn't he/ she give me a chance? I've been there. I hadn't been cut for six years...until this year. I know how it feels, and I'm standing with you.

Being discouraged is only natural. You had your heart set on a goal, and somehow you fell short somewhere. Whether you are in middle school, high school, or even college...whether it's the first time you've been cut or you've been cut before... it hurts just the same. And I understand that. We all have different goals in life. Many kids participate in sports to have fun and make friends. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It really is a great way to be involved, stay active, and make new friends. But for some of us, myself included, sports mean a lot more than just another activity. They are a big part of who we are. They are an escape from troubles at school, domestic violence, and other issues in life. Being on the court, or the field, or the track, or the pool etc., is where we feel the most comfortable. Something I always say is, "Home is where basketball is." It is not just a game. It will never be just a game. Some of us even have dreams of playing professionally. (wink wink!)

So this one is for you, for every single student-athlete out there who can't imagine their life without sports in it... and who somehow got cut. I see you. I hear you. I know what it's like.

I am about to sound like a parent for a second, and I'm really not trying to. But... You are a star. You are an inspiration to many, whether you know it or not. You came so far and fought through many obstacles. You are a role model. You are good enough, whether your coach thinks so or not. Don't give up. Not yet.

Something many of us forget, and something I certainly forgot, is that coaches are human. They are not perfect! They miss things. They make mistakes. They lose their temper when they shouldn't. They pay attention to the wrong things sometimes. It's going to happen at one point. And at the end of the day, the coach's decision is just an opinion. That's all it is. An opinion. I know it might be hard to hear, but don't let one person's opinion define you.

And tryouts... Tryouts are by far not the best way to find out who's the best fit for the team. At my school, tryouts are just 2 hours. And just like the coaches are human, so are the players. It's possible to have a bad day on the day of tryouts and not perform as well as you would have otherwise. It's possible to be sick and not feel well on the day of tryouts and not perform as well as you would have otherwise. It is very possible to be nervous and have that anxiety prevent you from doing yopur best. So many things can happen. And just like an exam is not always an accurate reflection of your knowledge, neither are tryouts. Tryouts are not always an accurate reflection of your abilities.

My school hired a new basketball coach this year. He didn't know any of us. He didn't know the returning players. He didn't know the freshman players. We were all just another name to him. I've been playing for 10 years. I am a 5-time MVP of my local rec league. I have decent ball handling. I can pass. I had 89% field goal accuracy and 73% accuracy from the three-point line last year. I can dunk.. I'm not the best at it but I've done it in a game multiple times. I averaged 27 points, 9 assists, and 7 steals per game last year. I was 90% certain I was going to make varsity this year. I mean, how could I not? I'm obviously a good player. And then tryouts happened. I could have done a lot better but I didn't, due to outside factors like having my wisdom teeth surgery the day before and being tired because I couldn't sleep the night before tryouts, I was that nervous. I did alright... sort of. I wasn't a star but I didn't struggle too much. I didn't make the team. And, I'm going to be completely honest, it devastated me.

Moral of the story: good players get cut all the time! If you've been cut, that doesn't mean you aren't good enough. The coach thought you aren't good enough, but it's not a fact - it's an opinion. Getting cut doesn't necessarily mean the end of a dream. Take your time and recover, it won't be quick, it won't be easy - be patient with yourself. Take as much time as you need. But after that, go out and look for new opportunities. Transfer to a different school if you have to. Play for a local rec team. Try out for a travel team. Ask older players to help you improve your skills. Do what you have to do. It might seem like an end, but I promise you, it's not. It's never over until it's over.

I've been cut as a senior. I thought that was it. I thought it was the end. I thought I would never recover. What I found out is, college coaches understand that good players get cut! Chances are, they've been that player themselves! I reached out to many college coaches, I explained my situation, and a lot of them understood it a lot better than I thought they would. I wanted to play for UConn. I did not get a chance to play for UConn. I didn't get my first choice but I am going to a Division 1 school on a full-ride basketball scholarship. The tables have turned! I won in the end.

Don't take no for an answer. You will hear a lot of no's in life. Prove them wrong! Try different, try again. Whatever you do, don't give up. And if you ever need to talk, my PMs are open for you.

Keep fighting! It's never over!

Lots of love,

Emirson