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	Year after year, as our seasons draw to a close, and summer begins, for many of us, where we will play next year is a question that remains unanswered. For those of us who are unprotected, it will be up to us where we attempt to crack a team's line up. Be it Jr. A, Major Jr. or even Professional, our choices will affect our careers profoundly. This article is focused on helping you to make the best choices available to you. One of the biggest mistakes we make as players is to forget to ask questions. For those who have been there, you'll know what we're talking about. You're getting calls from coaches and teams. They all seem to love the way you play and they all seem to be offering you a position. We sort of randomly pick a team. Maybe it was because we like the town that the team is located in, or maybe it's because they called us four times instead of only twice. Whatever the reason, we often make our decisions based on feeling rather than fact. Perhaps the coach intimidates us, or maybe we're just caught up in the moment, and we're excited that the team seems to be interested in us. Regardless of why, we decide, and we go. Before we know it, we're at their camp. Once we're there, we find out that they have 17 veterans returning. The coach has only seen us play once and to top it all off, we're in a hotel rather than with our billets. Why did I come here? I had four teams to choose from, but I picked this one. Many a poor decision could have been avoided by simply Asking Questions! Questions to Ask Coach, how many times have you seen me play? Where do you see me fitting in on your team? How many veterans do you have returning? Will I be placed with my billets immediately? I know there is no such thing as a guaranteed spot, but if I play the way you expect me to play, do you see me making your team? The unfortunate reality in hockey is that you're not always told the truth. Coaches have a job to do and that is to get players to come to their teams. The unfortunate reality is that some times, they really don't have much of a plan for you once they've got you to camp. Maybe you're a project for next year or even worse, maybe they needed players to fill up camp for inter squad scrimmages. One undeniable fact in hockey is this, "There Are No Guaranteed Spots". For this reason, it's your responsibility to maximize your chances of making the team that you try out for. If someone guarantees you a spot, take it with a grain of salt. Make sure that you get a good feel for the coach so that you can be sure that they really are genuinely interested. By asking questions, you'll be able to get a better idea of whom you want to play for, and where you will be given the best opportunity. Once you've made an educated decision, the rest is up to you.
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