Volleyball Tryout Evaluation Form

Sixty players. Four evaluators. Three courts. Two hours. Every volleyball coach knows this math—and the chaos that follows when you don't have a system for tracking who can pass, who can hit, and who disappears when the score gets tight.

This page gives you free printable evaluation forms designed for volleyball. Download as PDF, copy to Excel, or print directly. You'll find rating rubrics for all six core skills, position-specific forms for setters and liberos, and a skills assessment checklist for quick evaluations.

Free Printable Volleyball Evaluation Form

Rate each player 1-5 across six skill categories. The rating scale definitions below describe specific, observable behaviors—what a "3" looks like versus a "4"—so every evaluator scores consistently.

Skill Evaluation Table

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Passing	○	○	○	○	○
Setting	○	○	○	○	○
Attacking	○	○	○	○	○
Serving	○	○	○	○	○
Blocking	○	○	○	○	○
Court Awareness	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 30

Rating Scale Definitions

Watch for these specific behaviors when scoring. A player who "moves feet to ball before contact" earns higher marks than one with a "planted" stance.

Skill	1 (Needs Work)	2 (Below Avg)	3 (Average)	4 (Above Avg)	5 (Excellent)
Passing	Misses platform. Feet planted. Ball flies unpredictably.	Inconsistent platform angle. Late to ball. Passes too high or low.	Clean platform on routine balls. Moves feet to position. Targets setter area.	Reads trajectory early. Absorbs hard serves. Controls height and direction.	Digs hard-driven balls. Passes accurately from any position. Creates offensive options.
Setting	Catches or throws ball. Hands apart. Inconsistent ball placement.	Sets too tight or too far off net. Late decisions. Double-contact calls.	Clean hand position. Sets hittable balls. Knows basic offensive sets.	Quick hands. Places ball accurately. Reads blockers before setting.	Runs full offense. Disguises sets. Makes hitters better with ball placement.
Attacking	No approach. Arm swing timing off. Hits into net or out of bounds.	Inconsistent approach. Limited shot selection. Predictable timing.	Four-step approach. Swings with power. Hits over block on good sets.	Adjusts to different sets. Uses line and angle. Attacks with purpose.	Tools the block. Changes speed mid-swing. Scores in transition.
Serving	Serves into net often. No consistency in toss. Can't place the ball.	Gets serve over but floaty. No placement strategy. Misses under pressure.	Consistent serve. Can target zones. Rarely misses in games.	Float serve with movement. Jump serve developing. Forces opponent errors.	Multiple serve types. Aces regularly. Serves tactically to weak passers.
Blocking	Hands don't penetrate. Eyes on hitter, not ball. Wrong timing.	Late to outside. Pulls hands back. Doesn't seal the net.	Gets hands over. Reads setter. Closes double-block consistently.	Presses over net. Takes away angles. Channels hitters to defense.	Stuffs cross-court attacks. Solo blocks effectively. Runs slide blocking.
Court Awareness	Stands in wrong position. Doesn't call ball. Confused in rotation.	Knows basic rotation. Forgets to cover. Late calling the ball.	Covers hitters. Communicates with teammates. Understands front/back row.	Anticipates plays. Directs teammates. Adjusts to opponent patterns.	Reads setter before contact. Organizes defense. Makes plays others miss.

Volleyball Skills Assessment Checklist

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.

PASSING

☐ Maintains consistent platform angle
☐ Moves feet to ball before contact
☐ Absorbs power on hard-driven balls
☐ Passes to target area consistently
☐ Communicates "mine" on every ball

SETTING

☐ Clean hand contact (no spin)
☐ Sets appropriate height for hitters
☐ Faces target on delivery
☐ Makes quick decisions under pressure
☐ Can back-set accurately

ATTACKING

☐ Uses proper four-step approach
☐ Times jump to setter's release
☐ Generates arm speed at contact
☐ Can hit line and cross-court
☐ Adjusts approach to off-speed sets

SERVING

☐ Consistent toss placement
☐ Contacts ball at highest reach point
☐ Can serve to all six zones
☐ Maintains composure after errors
☐ Has at least one reliable serve type

BLOCKING

☐ Proper ready position at net
☐ Times jump with setter release
☐ Penetrates hands over net
☐ Seals middle on double blocks
☐ Lands balanced and ready to transition

COURT AWARENESS

☐ Knows all six rotation positions
☐ Calls ball early and loud
☐ Covers hitters after attacks
☐ Understands front row vs back row rules
☐ Communicates with teammates continuously

Total Skills Demonstrated: _______ / 30

High School Volleyball Tryout Evaluation

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.

Use this quick form when you need to make fast cuts or evaluate large groups.

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Passing	○	○	○	○	○
Attacking	○	○	○	○	○
Attitude	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 15

Youth Volleyball Tryout Evaluation

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. Perfect 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, players should demonstrate consistent platform angles and proper attacking approaches. Serve receive becomes a 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 Weighting by Age

Age Group	Physical Skills	Volleyball IQ	Character
12U	25%	30%	45%
14U	35%	35%	30%
16U-18U	45%	35%	20%
High School Varsity	50%	30%	20%

Green highlights show the highest priority for each age group. Character matters most at younger ages; physical skills dominate at varsity level.

Position-Specific Volleyball Evaluation

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.

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 superior 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.

Setter Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Ball Distribution	○	○	○	○	○
Court Vision	○	○	○	○	○
Tempo Control	○	○	○	○	○
Decision Making	○	○	○	○	○
Leadership	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Setter Total	_______ / 25

Libero Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Serve Receive	○	○	○	○	○
Defense	○	○	○	○	○
Platform Control	○	○	○	○	○
Court Coverage	○	○	○	○	○
Communication	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Libero Total	_______ / 25

Volleyball Tryout Drills and Schedule

Running efficient tryouts means testing 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

Compile scores and look for patterns. Which players scored consistently across evaluators? Where did your team disagree? Disagreements often highlight players worth discussing further. Tools like Striveon can 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 2.5 hours with 4 evaluators and 3 courts.

Station	Duration	Players/Group	Skills Tested
Check-in & Warm-up	15 min	All	Registration, dynamic stretching
Passing Station	20 min	6 at a time	Serve receive, platform control
Setting Station	15 min	3 at a time	Hand position, ball placement
Hitting Lines	30 min	4 at a time	Approach, arm swing, timing
Serving	15 min	6 at a time	Consistency, placement, variety
6v6 Scrimmage	45 min	12 at a time	Game sense, rotation, communication