How to Evaluate Soccer Players at a Tryout

A soccer coach is often faced with the very tough task of choosing a small group of players out of a large pool. Sometimes this has to be done in a very short period of time. Deciding who to put on the team is the most important decision a coach will make all season long. Here are some tools for coaches to use in order to evaluate players at a soccer tryout.

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut down on “Drills”: In a normal team practice you'll do a lot of drills and conditioning that focus on one specific skill or situation. This is great for refining players' ability, but not so good for evaluating players. Keep it very simple at tryouts and make sure the players are doing things that let them broadcast their strengths and weaknesses.

    • 2

      Small-sided games: Set aside a large chunk of time for four-on-four or five-on-five on small fields. There is no better way to gauge a players decision-making, foot skills, passing and vision all in one situation.This is especially effective in finding out what “style” of players you have.

    • 3

      Keepaway: Keepaway gives you a lot of the same looks that a small sided game does, except you can put players into more specific situations. You can do even-team keepaway or you can do five-on-two or four-on-ones. Those uneven team games help you look at the players that are outnumbered as well as the one touch passing of the players on the larger team.If you do an even-sided keepaway game, you can make the game one-touch, two-touch or have the player make a move and then pass the ball. Either way, you really get to see how the player plays in a possession-style game.

    • 4

      Finishing: You will need specific drills for is shooting. Shooting can be very different from other skills. That is to say, some of your best all-around players may not be able to score at all and some of your best finishers may not have the skills it takes to make the team in other areas. Make sure you set aside a little time for finishing drills.