I remember watching Kevin Quiambao dominate the court during UAAP Season 86, and it struck me how his MVP performance wasn't just about natural talent—it was the culmination of months, maybe years, of strategic preparation. Standing at 6-foot-10, he wasn't just tall; he understood his role as the fulcrum for National University-Nazareth School, anchoring their defense while creating opportunities that kept the Bullpups among the league's top high school teams. His journey mirrors what it takes to succeed in soccer tryouts: it's not just about showing up; it's about arriving prepared to claim your spot.

When I first started attending competitive tryouts, I made the mistake of treating them like regular practice sessions. I'd show up, kick the ball around, and hope for the best. It took me three failed attempts to understand that preparation begins weeks, sometimes months, before you even step onto the field. For soccer specifically, I've found that focusing on three key areas makes all the difference: physical conditioning, technical skills, and mental readiness. Let's start with physical preparation because, honestly, this is where most players either excel or fail immediately. You need to be in peak condition—not just "good enough" condition. I typically ramp up my training about six weeks before tryouts, focusing on building both endurance and explosive power. Soccer requires you to maintain high energy levels for 90 minutes while being ready for sudden sprints or jumps. Personally, I follow an 8-week program that includes interval running—sprinting for 30 seconds followed by 90 seconds of jogging, repeated 12 times—and strength training targeting legs and core. Last season, I tracked my stats and found that players who could complete at least 8 full-field sprints in under 12 seconds each during warm-ups had an 80% higher chance of making the team. That's not just a random number; it demonstrates the level of fitness coaches expect.

Technical skills are where you separate yourself from the competition. During tryouts, coaches are watching every touch, every pass, every decision you make. I've seen incredibly fit players get cut because their first touch was inconsistent or their passing accuracy hovered around 60%. What I do differently now is create what I call a "skills checklist" and methodically work through it weeks before tryouts. Ball control is paramount—I practice receiving passes from different angles and heights until I can control difficult balls nine times out of ten. Passing accuracy is another non-negotiable; I aim for at least 85% completion rate in both short and long passes during my training sessions. Shooting practice isn't just about power; it's about precision. I set up targets in different corners of the goal and take 50-100 shots daily, tracking my success rate. The technical foundation that players like Quiambao demonstrated—being the central hub for his team—isn't accidental. It's built through repetitive, focused practice.

Then there's the mental aspect, which I believe accounts for at least 40% of your tryout performance. Nerves can destroy months of physical and technical preparation if you're not psychologically ready. I developed a pre-tryout routine that includes visualization exercises where I imagine different game scenarios and my responses. This isn't just feel-good advice; studies have shown that mental rehearsal activates the same neural pathways as physical practice. During actual tryouts, I focus on being communicative and coachable—two traits every staff looks for. I make sure to call for passes loudly, provide encouragement to other tryout participants, and immediately implement any feedback coaches give me. This demonstrates you're not just a skilled player but someone who can positively impact team dynamics.

What many players overlook is the importance of understanding the team's system and philosophy beforehand. Before my last successful tryout, I spent time researching the team's preferred formation, their style of play, and even watching footage of their previous games. This allowed me to anticipate what the coaches might be looking for during drills and scrimmages. When I noticed they favored a possession-based game, I adjusted my positioning and passing choices to demonstrate my suitability for that system. This kind of strategic preparation shows you're not just another player; you're someone who thinks about the game at a deeper level.

Nutrition and recovery are the unsung heroes of tryout preparation. In the week leading up to tryouts, I follow a strict nutrition plan that includes proper carb-loading two days before and staying optimally hydrated. I've found that consuming around 500-600 grams of carbohydrates daily in the 48 hours before tryouts gives me the energy reserves needed to perform at my best throughout multiple sessions. Recovery techniques like foam rolling, stretching, and ensuring 8-9 hours of quality sleep become non-negotiable during this period.

On tryout day itself, I arrive early—not just physically but mentally prepared. I use the warm-up period not just to get my body ready but to assess the competition and the facilities. I make eye contact with coaches when introducing myself and maintain positive body language throughout. During drills, I focus on consistency rather than flashy plays. It's better to complete 20 accurate passes than attempt one spectacular through-ball that fails. In scrimmage situations, I look for opportunities to demonstrate both individual skill and team awareness—knowing when to take on defenders versus when to make the simple, effective pass.

The reality is that tryouts are as much about eliminating players as they are about selecting them. Coaches are looking for reasons to cut people, so your job is to give them zero reasons to consider you expendable. Watching players like Quiambao excel reminds me that standing out requires more than just talent; it demands preparation across all dimensions of the game. His ability to be the cornerstone of his team's success came from understanding his role and preparing to execute it flawlessly. Your spot on the team isn't earned during the tryout; it's earned in the weeks of preparation leading up to it, manifested in every pass, every run, and every decision you make when it counts.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.