Pre-Season Training and Cuts

So, even though I had played a full season at Medway Park last year, it was still compulsory to partake in the trials for the next step up, which was the under 16s. All throughout the summer I was fairly confident that I could make it, but that didn't give me and excuse to stop working.
 During the summer, I was introduced to our new coach, Ben, who was from France, and like all typical Frenchmen, claims it to be the best place in the world...right. While his accent isn't the easiest to understand, he's a thoroughly nice chap and a very good coach,which made me look forward to the potentially great season we are about to have.
 Before my training with Ben, I never valued the fast-break as a legitimate way of scoring, but now, after numerous drills, I am aware of the usefulness of it. In fact, it could possibly be our main way of attack, despite most of our talents coming from Kent, which not to generalise, is typically not the place where one would find the most athletic in the country.
 But with a lack of athleticism (which we don't actually have), can be made up by skill and organisation. For example, I never realised how crucial spacing is for a full-court and half-court offence; it really is a thing of beauty once perfected.
 At the end of the summer, the team was picked, and three people were cut. One was pretty obvious: a guy who was particularly special and didn't play for anyone last year. But there was a shock: the other two were players in the squad last year; one was tall but not that great apparently, but the other was a great shooter and it was surprising to see him go.
 After this event is was clear how much Ben was stressing about using the fast break and keeping up the tempo, as neither one of them were very fit and 'couldn't keep up the intensity. This reminded me of when an Australian man came and told us about a 14 year old, 6'9" tall player he had turned away because he 'wasn't fit enough'. I find it likely he was just being hyperbolic and probably just making us 'weak' Brits feel bad.
 The moral of this story is run. Just run. Oh, and be good. That's important, too.