Free Printable Basketball Tryout Evaluation Form
Make fair, consistent tryout decisions with a structured evaluation form. Rate players 1-5 across 8 key skills, note position fit, and document your recommendation. Print one form per player, per evaluator.
Tryouts are one of the hardest parts of coaching. You've got dozens of players on the court, limited gym time, and decisions that affect kids' seasons. A basketball tryout evaluation form gives you a consistent, fair way to assess every player on the same criteria so your decisions are based on data, not gut feel.
This free printable form lets you rate each player on a 1-5 scale across 8 key skills: shooting, ball handling, passing, defense, rebounding, court vision, athleticism, and attitude/coachability. It includes space for position preference, overall rating, a recommendation (varsity/JV/cut), and notes. Print one per player, per evaluator.
After tryouts, you'll use these forms to build your roster and decide which positions to assign. From there, your practice plans take over for the season. And once the team is set, get them suited up with custom basketball uniforms.
What This Form Includes
Everything you need to evaluate a basketball player during tryouts.
Player Information
- •Player name and tryout number
- •Age / Grade level
- •Position preference
- •Height (optional)
Skills Rated 1-5
- •Shooting (form, range, accuracy)
- •Ball Handling (control, both hands)
- •Passing (accuracy, vision, decisions)
- •Defense (footwork, effort, positioning)
More Skills Rated 1-5
- •Rebounding (boxing out, effort)
- •Court Vision (awareness, reads)
- •Athleticism (speed, agility, vertical)
- •Attitude / Coachability
Summary Section
- •Total score (out of 40)
- •Overall rating (1-5)
- •Recommendation (Varsity / JV / Cut)
- •Notes section for observations
Evaluation Form Preview
Here's what the printable form looks like. Print one copy per player, per evaluator.
BASKETBALL TRYOUT EVALUATION
Rating Scale
| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting Form, range, accuracy, consistency | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Ball Handling Control, both hands, under pressure | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Passing Accuracy, decision-making, vision | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Defense Footwork, effort, positioning, help D | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Rebounding Boxing out, aggressiveness, timing | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Court Vision Awareness, reads, anticipation | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Athleticism Speed, agility, vertical, strength | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Attitude / Coachability Effort, listening, teamwork, hustle | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
Position Recommendation
Notes / Observations
Free printable basketball tryout evaluation from Secondslide · go.secondslide.io/basketball-tryout-evaluation-form
How to Use This Evaluation Form
A structured approach to fair, consistent tryout evaluations.
Assign tryout numbers
Give every player a number to wear during tryouts (pinnies with numbers, tape on shirts, or stickers). This makes it easy for evaluators to identify players without knowing their names, which reduces bias. Write the number on each form as you start a new evaluation.
Score during drills and scrimmage
Rate each skill as you observe it during the tryout. Some skills show up in drills (shooting, ball handling), while others only emerge in scrimmage (court vision, defensive positioning). Don't wait until after tryouts to fill in scores. Rate in real time while the observations are fresh.
Use the notes column
Numbers alone don't tell the whole story. Write specific observations: "Great left hand but avoids going right." "First one to the floor for loose balls." "Shuts down when things go wrong." These notes are gold when you're comparing two players with similar scores.
Compare evaluators and make decisions
After the final tryout session, gather all evaluator forms and total the scores. Rank players by combined score. Identify the clear keeps, clear cuts, and the borderline group. Discuss the borderline players as a coaching staff, using the notes to break ties. The form makes this conversation focused and productive.
When to Use It
Tryouts aren't the only time an evaluation form comes in handy.
- Preseason tryouts for selecting the team and making varsity/JV decisions
- Mid-season evaluations to document player development and justify lineup changes
- Player development meetings to show athletes (and parents) specific areas of strength and improvement
- Transfer or new player evaluations when a player joins the program mid-year
- Camp evaluations for basketball camps where you're assessing many players across multiple sessions
The form structure works at any level. For youth basketball, you might weigh attitude/coachability more heavily than shooting skill. For high school varsity, the balance shifts toward basketball-specific skills and game IQ. Adjust what matters most for your program.
Once you've built your roster, transition into season mode with our practice plan template and game stat sheet.
Tips for Coaches
Run better tryouts and make better decisions with these strategies.
Communicate criteria upfront
Before tryouts start, tell players and parents what you're evaluating. "We're looking at shooting, ball handling, passing, defense, rebounding, court vision, athleticism, and effort." When everyone knows the criteria, the process feels fair even when the outcomes are hard.
Don't forget the intangibles
Attitude and coachability are on this form for a reason. A player who hustles, communicates, and responds to coaching will improve faster than a talented player who doesn't. Don't underweight the attitude score. A kid who gives maximum effort at tryouts will do the same in February when the season grinds.
Watch scrimmage more than drills
Drills show isolated skills. Scrimmage shows how a player uses those skills in a game setting. A great ball handler in a drill might turn the ball over constantly in a game. A kid who looks average in layup lines might play tough defense and grab every rebound in scrimmage. Weight your scrimmage observations heavily.
Keep forms for reference
File your tryout evaluation forms in a binder. They're useful for conversations with parents who ask why their child didn't make the team, for tracking player development year over year, and for adjusting your evaluation criteria based on what actually predicts success in your program.
Plan your tryout like a practice
Design tryout drills that expose the skills you're evaluating. Need to see defense? Run a 1-on-1 closeout drill. Need to see passing? Run 3-on-2 transition. Use our practice plan template to structure your tryout sessions just like you'd structure a practice.
More Basketball Templates & Gear
Printable coaching tools and custom uniforms for your basketball team.
Basketball Practice Plan
Structured practice plan template for organizing drills, scrimmages, and conditioning.
Basketball Stat Sheet
Track individual player stats during games to measure improvement.
Basketball Positions
Learn all 5 basketball positions and where to slot your players.
Basketball Uniforms
Custom sublimated jerseys and shorts for your basketball team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills should I evaluate during basketball tryouts?
The core skills to evaluate are shooting (form and accuracy), ball handling (control with both hands), passing (accuracy, decision-making, vision), defense (footwork, effort, positioning), rebounding (boxing out, aggressiveness), court vision (reads and awareness), athleticism (speed, agility, vertical), and attitude/coachability (effort, listening, attitude). You can weigh these differently based on your program's needs. Some coaches also add free throw shooting as a separate category.
How long should basketball tryouts last?
Most basketball tryouts run 2-3 days, with 90-120 minutes per session. Day one usually focuses on individual skills (shooting, ball handling, layups, defense drills). Day two adds team play (scrimmages, 3-on-3, transition drills). A third day, if you have one, is all scrimmaging so you can see how players perform in game situations. Don't make cuts until after the final day.
Should I use a 1-5 scale or 1-10 scale?
A 1-5 scale works better for tryouts. With a 1-10 scale, evaluators tend to cluster scores in the 5-7 range, making it hard to differentiate players. A 5-point scale forces clearer distinctions: 1 is well below average, 2 is below average, 3 is average, 4 is above average, 5 is standout. If you have multiple evaluators, a 5-point scale also produces more consistent scoring.
How do I handle cuts fairly?
Use the evaluation form to make data-driven decisions. Total up each player's scores across all categories and rank them. Have at least two evaluators score independently, then compare. When scores are close, use the scrimmage performance as the tiebreaker since game play reveals things drills can't. Communicate your criteria upfront so players and parents know what you're looking for. Post results privately and be available for individual conversations.
How many evaluators should I have at tryouts?
At least two, ideally three. Multiple evaluators reduce bias and catch things a single coach might miss. Each evaluator should score independently without discussing ratings during the tryout. Compare forms afterward to identify players where evaluators agree (clear keeps and clear cuts) versus players where opinions differ (those need the most discussion). If you only have one evaluator, use the scrimmage heavily since it's the hardest to misjudge.
Ready to Outfit Your Basketball Team?
Custom jerseys, shorts, shooting shirts, and warm-ups. No minimums, fast turnaround.