Volleyball Tryout Evaluation Form

This free volleyball evaluation form covers passing, setting, attacking, serving, blocking, and court awareness. Use the rating scale definitions below to anchor each score to specific, observable behaviors (what a "3" looks like versus a "4") so your entire coaching staff scores the same way. Download the form as a printable image or copy the table directly into Excel, Google Sheets, or Word.

Sometimes you need speed over depth. When running large open tryouts or quick assessment camps, a checklist format works faster than numeric ratings. Mark which skills each player demonstrates, then count totals.

According to Junior Volleyball Association data from 75,000+ evaluations(opens in new tab), serving is tested at 89% of club tryouts, with passing and setting close behind at 87%. The checklist below covers these priority skills plus blocking and court awareness.

When to Use a Checklist vs. Rating Scale

Use a checklist when you're screening large numbers quickly, 50+ players in under two hours. Each skill gets a simple yes/no: can this player maintain a consistent platform angle? Does she call "mine" on every ball? Count the checks at the end.

Switch to the full rating scale when you need to differentiate between good and great. A player who "digs hard-driven balls and passes accurately from any position" rates higher than one who simply "targets the setter area." That distinction matters when filling the last roster spot.

Download this checklist as a printable image or copy it into Excel, Google Sheets, or Word for digital use.

Middle school volleyball tryouts sit between youth recreation and high school competition. Players are 11 to 14 years old, still growing physically, and often trying organized volleyball for the first time. Your evaluation needs to balance current ability with development potential.

What to Prioritize at the Middle School Level

Focus on fundamental movement and coachability. Can the player get into a low, balanced ready position? Does she move her feet to the ball rather than reaching? Does she listen during instruction and apply corrections immediately? These indicators predict growth better than raw skill at this age.

Serving consistency matters more than power. A player who gets 8 out of 10 serves over the net with placement control is more valuable to a middle school team than one who can blast a jump serve but lands only 3 out of 10.

Adapting Your Form for Middle School

Use the simple three-category form from the high school section below, or create a modified version that weights character and hustle equally with physical skills. Middle school coaches often find that a combined score of "Skills + Attitude" produces better teams than pure talent selection.

Keep tryout sessions shorter and more varied. Middle school attention spans are limited, and players perform better when stations rotate every 10 to 15 minutes. Add a brief scrimmage at the end to see how players handle game situations, including rotation awareness and communication under pressure.

High school tryouts carry different stakes than club ball. You're often evaluating players you'll see every day in the hallways, and roster decisions affect school culture beyond the gym. NFHS guidelines(opens in new tab) emphasize ball control and consistent officiating, which should influence how you evaluate players who play at the edge of legal contact.

Varsity vs. JV vs. Freshman Decisions

Varsity selection prioritizes players who can execute under pressure right now. Technical proficiency matters more than potential. A player with reliable serve receive and consistent attacking will contribute immediately even if her ceiling is lower than a raw athlete still learning the game.

JV and freshman teams can afford to prioritize development. Look for coachability, athletic potential, and players who respond well to correction. A tall setter who's still learning timing might struggle at varsity but could develop into a program cornerstone with two years of JV experience.

Evaluating Intangibles

High school volleyball rewards communication more than most sports. Watch which players talk between rallies, who organizes the defense, and who goes quiet when things get hard. A vocal player who keeps teammates engaged adds value that doesn't show up in skill ratings.

Character evaluation becomes critical when you're building a team that practices together daily for three months. The most talented player on the court isn't worth a roster spot if she creates drama that poisons team chemistry.

Save this quick form as a printable image or copy it into Excel, Google Sheets, or Word for digital scoring.

What you prioritize in a 12-year-old should differ from what matters in a high school senior. Young players are still developing coordination, strength, and volleyball-specific movement patterns. Evaluate trajectory as much as current ability.

12U: Foundation Skills and Attitude

At 12U, look for players who track the ball well and move their feet before contact. Polished technique matters less than willingness to try. Does she chase down balls? Does she call "mine" without being reminded? Does she recover quickly from errors?

Athletic potential shows in movement quality. Watch how players change direction, how they approach the net, how quickly they transition from defense to offense. Raw athletes who move well often develop faster than technically sound players with limited athleticism.

14U: Adding Technical Expectations

By 14U (typically the end of middle school), players should demonstrate consistent platform angles and proper attacking approaches. Serve receive becomes a true differentiator. Can she pass accurately under game pressure? Setting decisions should show volleyball IQ: does she recognize a free ball opportunity? Does she dump when the block isn't set?

Position specialization starts to matter. Identify potential setters by their hand position and court vision. Watch for libero candidates who dig everything and talk constantly. Future middles need explosive first steps and quick arm swings.

Recommended Evaluation Priority by Age

Primary = highest weight in your evaluation. Green highlights the top priority for each age group. Adjust based on your program's goals and competitive level.

Volleyball positions demand distinct skill sets. A great libero needs different abilities than a dominant outside hitter. Use position-specific evaluation when you've identified candidates for specialized roles. Understanding how each position functions within the 5-1 rotation helps you evaluate players in the context of your offensive system.

Setter Evaluation

Setters run the offense. Evaluate ball distribution: can she put hittable balls to all positions? Watch court vision: does she check blockers before the pass arrives? Assess tempo control: can she speed up the offense when the pass is perfect and slow it down when out of system?

Leadership matters more for setters than any other position. The best setters make hitters confident with their ball placement and their composure. Watch how setter candidates interact with hitters after bad sets and after kills.

Libero Evaluation

Liberos touch more balls than anyone else on the court. Serve receive accuracy is non-negotiable. A libero who can't pass consistently makes your entire offense struggle. Defensive coverage should extend across the back row; great liberos get to balls that look impossible.

Communication separates good liberos from great ones. Watch who organizes the defense, who calls the ball first, who directs traffic during rotations. A vocal libero with average passing might outperform a quiet one with stronger platform skills.

Hitter Evaluation (Outside, Middle, Opposite)

Outside hitters need consistency in serve receive and versatile attacking. They'll take swings from out of system balls and must convert when the pass is perfect. Look for players who can hit line and cross-court, adjust to different set heights, and tool the block when blocked straight up.

Middle blockers require explosive first steps and quick arm swings for slide attacks. Blocking timing matters more than height. A 5'10" blocker who reads the setter beats a 6'2" blocker who jumps late. Evaluate lateral movement along the net as much as vertical jump.

Download this position-specific form as a printable image or copy the table into Excel, Google Sheets, or Word for digital scoring.

A solid volleyball tryout plan tests every skill without burning daylight. Set up stations that rotate smoothly, assign evaluators to specific skills, and build in scrimmage time to see how players perform under game conditions.

Before Tryouts

Align your evaluation team on what each rating means. What separates a "4" passer from a "3" in your system? When everyone shares the same standards, your data becomes comparable across evaluators. Print enough forms for every station and bring backup pens.

Set up stations before players arrive. Test the ball cart positions, check net heights, and walk through the rotation schedule. Confusion during tryouts wastes time and frustrates everyone.

During Tryouts

Station-based evaluation works well for skill assessment. One evaluator watches passing, another tracks attacking. Each evaluator sees every player on that specific skill, creating consistency that multiple evaluators covering everything cannot match.

Scrimmage time reveals what stations can't: how players perform under pressure, who communicates, who hides. Watch body language after errors. Notice which players organize the defense between points. These observations matter as much as skill ratings.

After Tryouts

Lay all score sheets side by side and compare across evaluators. Players who rated consistently high are clear picks. Focus discussion time on borderline cases, especially where one evaluator rated a player noticeably higher or lower than the rest. Tools like Striveon speed up this analysis by digitizing your evaluation process and calculating weighted scores automatically. See how Striveon's digital evaluation tools simplify tryout decisions.

Provide feedback to players who ask. Specific criteria give them clear paths forward. "Your platform is consistent but you're late calling the ball" helps more than "work on your passing." Learn how Striveon helps track athlete development beyond tryouts.

Sample Station Schedule

Example schedule for evaluating 60 players in under 2.5 hours with 4 evaluators and 3 courts. Station times total 2 hours 20 minutes, leaving transition time between rotations.