Soccer Tryout Evaluation Form

With over 3 million youth soccer players in the US alone, tryout day means evaluating dozens of hopeful athletes in limited time. A goalkeeper diving for saves needs different criteria than a midfielder threading passes through tight spaces. Both require age-appropriate standards that match their developmental stage.

Below you'll find evaluation forms built for soccer at every level. Print them directly, copy to Excel, or use as templates for your own system. Rating rubrics cover ball control, passing, defending, and tactical awareness, plus goalkeeper-specific criteria, position breakdowns, and a complete tryout drill schedule.

Free Printable Soccer Tryout Evaluation Form

Score players on a five-point scale across six core soccer skills. The rubric below describes what you should see at each level: precise behaviors that distinguish average from above-average. This keeps your evaluators calibrated throughout the session.

Skill Evaluation Table

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Ball Control	○	○	○	○	○
Dribbling	○	○	○	○	○
Passing	○	○	○	○	○
Shooting	○	○	○	○	○
Defending	○	○	○	○	○
Game Intelligence	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 30

Rating Scale Definitions

Watch for these specific behaviors when scoring. A player who "finds teammates in tight spaces" earns higher marks than one who only "attempts long balls."

Skill	1 (Needs Work)	2 (Below Avg)	3 (Average)	4 (Above Avg)	5 (Excellent)
Ball Control	Struggles to receive passes. First touch bounces away. Cannot shield under pressure.	Basic trapping. Loses ball when pressed. Limited ability to turn with the ball.	Solid first touch. Can receive and turn. Controls ball in traffic with some mistakes.	Clean first touch in all situations. Shields effectively. Turns away from pressure.	Exceptional control. Receives balls out of the air smoothly. Makes difficult balls look easy.
Dribbling	Cannot beat defenders. Ball gets away at speed. No weak foot ability.	Basic close control. Predictable moves. Loses ball against aggressive defenders.	Changes direction under control. Uses both feet. Can beat average defenders 1v1.	Creative with the ball. Multiple moves in arsenal. Protects ball while accelerating.	Beats defenders at will. Close control at full speed. Creates chances from nothing.
Passing	Inaccurate short passes. Cannot play long balls. Poor weight on passes.	Short passes work under no pressure. Long balls lack accuracy. Slow decision-making.	Accurate short and medium passes. Attempts long balls. Sees basic passing lanes.	Varied passing range. Accurate long balls. Finds teammates in tight spaces.	Elite vision. Plays through lines. Long-range accuracy. Creates goal-scoring chances.
Shooting	Misses target often. No power. Poor technique when striking the ball.	Hits target from close range. Inconsistent power. Shots easy to save.	Strikes ball cleanly. Accurate from edge of box. Can finish basic chances.	Powerful and accurate. Scores from distance. Finishes under pressure.	Clinical finisher. Scores with both feet. Long-range threat. Composure in front of goal.
Defending	Poor positioning. Easily beaten 1v1. No awareness of marking responsibilities.	Knows where to stand. Gets tight but commits too early. Ball-watches at times.	Stays goalside. Wins tackles fairly. Understands cover and balance.	Reads the game. Times tackles well. Organizes teammates. Wins aerial duels.	Dominant defender. Anticipates passes. Leads the back line. Rarely beaten.
Game Intelligence	Poor positioning. Doesn't understand formations. Makes wrong decisions repeatedly.	Knows basic position. Slow to react to game flow. Limited awareness of space.	Finds good positions. Makes decent decisions. Understands team shape.	Reads the game quickly. Exploits space. Makes smart runs off the ball.	Elite soccer IQ. Orchestrates play. Always in the right place. Sees plays before they happen.

Simple Soccer Evaluation Form

A detailed six-category form isn't always necessary. Smaller programs or recreational tryouts can use a simpler three-category version that fits their evaluation window.

When Three Categories Work Best

Rec soccer clubs with house league drafts benefit from keeping it simple. A three-category form covering Technical, Physical, and Tactical skills can effectively sort players when you have 100 kids and two hours.

Recreational clubs that run player drafts benefit from simple forms too. When your aim is parity across teams, not talent identification. Three categories give you enough data to distribute players fairly.

When Six Categories Matter

Travel teams, academy programs, and high school soccer benefit from comprehensive evaluation. When roster spots are competitive and player development is the focus, detailed assessment reveals which players will grow into their roles.

Detailed evaluation doubles as a development tool. Telling a player "your dribbling in tight spaces is strong, but you're slow to release the ball under pressure" gives them actionable feedback they can work on before next season.

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Technical	○	○	○	○	○
Physical	○	○	○	○	○
Tactical	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 15

Youth Soccer Tryout Evaluation Form

Youth soccer tryouts require age-appropriate evaluation criteria. The US Youth Soccer Player Development Model(opens in new tab) emphasizes that children develop at different rates, with puberty beginning anywhere from age 7 to 16. What you prioritize in a U10 player should differ from what matters in a high school freshman.

U8-U10: Focus on Ball Mastery and Enjoyment

At these ages, players are still developing basic motor skills and coordination. Prioritize ball mastery, willingness to try new skills, and enjoyment of the game over tactical understanding or positional play.

Look for players who are comfortable on the ball and eager to have it at their feet. A player who wants the ball in tight situations, even when they lose it, shows the mentality that develops into technical excellence.

U11-U12: Add Technical Precision and Game Awareness

Players at this level show more differentiation in skills. You can start evaluating passing accuracy, shooting technique, and basic tactical awareness like when to dribble versus when to pass.

Watch how players respond to pressure. Some look great in warm-ups but disappear when defenders close them down. Others raise their level when the game gets competitive. Once you've identified standout players, a strong player profile helps document their development trajectory.

U13-U14: Evaluate Tactical Understanding

By this age, players should understand positional responsibilities and team shape. Evaluate their ability to make decisions quickly, find space, and execute under pressure. Physical attributes start to matter more, but technical players who read the game well often outperform athletes who rely on size and speed.

Recommended Evaluation Weighting by Age

Age Group	Primary Focus	Secondary Focus	Also Consider
U8-U10	Ball Mastery (40%)	Fun/Effort (30%)	Basic Technique (30%)
U11-U12	Technical (35%)	Game Awareness (25%)	Physical (20%), Attitude (20%)
U13-U14	Tactical (30%)	Technical (30%)	Physical (25%), Mental (15%)
High School	Tactical (35%)	Physical (30%)	Technical (25%), Mental (10%)

Green highlights show the highest priority category for each age group. Ball mastery matters most at younger ages; tactical understanding becomes primary as players mature.

Soccer Position-Specific Evaluation

Soccer positions demand different skill sets. A goalkeeper needs shot-stopping reflexes and commanding communication. A midfielder needs vision and passing range. Use position-specific evaluation when you've identified candidates for specialized roles.

Goalkeeper Evaluation

Goalkeepers are unique: they're the only players who use their hands, and a single mistake can decide a match. Evaluate shot stopping first: can they react to close-range shots and get down quickly for low drives? Watch their positioning: do they cut down angles and command their box?

Distribution matters more in modern soccer. A goalkeeper who can start attacks with accurate throws or driven passes adds value beyond shot-stopping. Communication is essential because goalkeepers see the entire field and should organize the defense constantly.

Field Player Evaluation

Field players share core skills regardless of position. First touch separates good players from average ones. Watch if they can control difficult passes and set themselves for the next action in one motion.

Passing range reveals soccer intelligence. Can they play short combinations and switch the field with long balls? Defensive awareness matters for all positions: forwards who press intelligently and midfielders who track runners make the whole team better. Work rate (the willingness to run, recover, and compete for 90 minutes) often determines who makes the final roster.

Goalkeeper Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Shot Stopping	○	○	○	○	○
Distribution	○	○	○	○	○
Positioning	○	○	○	○	○
Communication	○	○	○	○	○
Bravery	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Goalkeeper Total	_______ / 25

Field Player Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
First Touch	○	○	○	○	○
Passing Range	○	○	○	○	○
Defensive Awareness	○	○	○	○	○
Off-Ball Movement	○	○	○	○	○
Work Rate	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Field Player Total	_______ / 25

Soccer Tryout Drills and Station Plan

Soccer tryouts demand organization. With technical skills, tactical awareness, and game performance to evaluate, you need a structure that keeps players active and evaluators focused. Build your schedule around small-sided games. They reveal more than isolated drills ever could.

Setting Up Rondo Grids and Calibrating Your Staff

Calibrate your staff before players arrive. Run through video clips or live demonstrations: "This first touch is a 3, this one is a 4." When evaluators see the same examples, they apply the same bar. SoccerHelp recommends(opens in new tab) looking for three easily observable skills: controlling the ball, working with teammates, and showing focus and hustle.

Set up your field before players arrive. Mark grids for rondos and small-sided games. Position cones for dribbling exercises. Chaos on tryout day undermines fair evaluation because evaluators end up watching setup instead of players.

Sample Tryout Drills

These drills reveal soccer skills that don't always show up in scrimmages. Each drill targets specific abilities you need to evaluate.

Drill	Duration	Purpose	What to Watch
Rondo (4v2)	8 min	Passing accuracy, first touch, quick decisions	Four players keep possession against two defenders in a small grid. Reveals who can handle pressure and find passing lanes.
1v1 to Goal	10 min	Dribbling, finishing, defensive 1v1	Attacker receives ball and tries to beat defender and score. Shows who can create chances and who can stop them.
3v2 Counter Attack	10 min	Decision-making at speed, finishing under pressure	Three attackers vs two defenders plus goalkeeper. Reveals who makes smart decisions in transition.
Positional Play Grid	12 min	Movement off the ball, spacing, combination play	Players rotate through positions while maintaining possession. Exposes understanding of team shape and timing of runs.

Running Small-Sided Games

Prioritize small-sided games over isolated drills. A player who looks sharp passing against cones might disappear when a defender closes them down. Games reveal who performs under pressure and who communicates with teammates. For game design principles that apply to tryouts, see our complete guide to small-sided games.

Assign specific evaluators to specific skills. One evaluator watches technical ability, another tracks tactical decisions. Each evaluator sees every player on their assigned criteria, creating consistency that multiple evaluators covering everything cannot match.

Comparing Scores and Making Roster Decisions

Review the data as a group. Players who earned similar marks from every evaluator are clear decisions; players with wide score variance deserve discussion. Disagreements often highlight players worth a second look: one evaluator may have noticed something others missed. Platforms like Striveon let you digitize evaluations and compare ratings across your staff, making it easier to spot both standouts and hidden gems.

Share specific observations with players or parents who request them. "You receive the ball well on your back foot but tend to look down when dribbling" gives a player something concrete to practice. Vague advice like "be more aware" doesn't. Digital evaluation tools let you track development from tryout to tryout, showing players their growth over time.

Sample Station Schedule

Example schedule for evaluating 40 players in 2 hours with 4 evaluators and 1 full field.

Station	Duration	Players/Group	Skills Tested
Check-in & Warm-up	15 min	All	Registration, dynamic stretching, ball familiarization
Technical Circuit	20 min	8 at a time	Passing accuracy, first touch, dribbling through cones
Shooting Stations	15 min	4 at a time	Finishing from edge of box, volleys, 1v1 with goalkeeper
Defending Drill	10 min	6 at a time	1v1 defending, pressing, recovery runs
Small-Sided Games (4v4)	20 min	8 at a time	Decision-making, positioning, teamwork
Full Scrimmage (7v7 or 11v11)	40 min	14-22 at a time	Game sense, communication, performance under pressure