Work out and condition your body for sports. If you have several months before high school tryouts, begin working out by stretching, running and preparing your body for the amount of time you'll be on the field or the court. For example, if you are trying out for the basketball team, run to increase your cardiovascular levels.
Eat nutritious meals and snacks daily. Be sure to watch the foods you are eating and fuel the body with foods that will give you energy and support your organ functions. For example, low-fat milk and cheese will provide the body with calcium which will protect the bones, and fruits, vegetables and whole grains such as oatmeal will provide healthy carbohydrates needed for energy. Maintaining a balanced diet will keep you pushing through your workouts and conditioning.
Practice the sport. Gather a few friends or family members and go out and practice the sport daily. If you are trying out for the baseball team, have someone pitch the ball to you while you practice your hitting, throw the ball to each other and catch balls that are thrown and hit.
Drink plenty of water. While conditioning and practicing your sport, you'll need to stay hydrated. Keep a bottle of water with you on the field or court and drink water when you get thirsty. One of the mistakes student athletes make is not drinking water when needed. This can cause cramping, fatigue, dizziness and in extreme temperatures, heat exhaustion.
Know the rules of the sport and watch others on television or in person play the game. In order to excel and make the team, you'll need to know the rules and how to play it. You may even find a book or instructional video helpful in learning the rules of your sport.
Rest the day before tryouts and remain positive. Get plenty of sleep before tryouts so you can be on top of your game. Research shows teens need 8 1/2 to 9 hours of sleep every night to do well on tests and in sports. Without enough sleep, you can lose concentration and have a slow response time which can negatively impact your ability to do well during tryouts.