Field Hockey Tryout Evaluation Form: Free Printable Template for Coaches
A position-aware evaluation form built for field hockey tryouts. Rate stick handling, passing, hitting, tackling, and field awareness on a 1-5 scale, with dedicated rows for forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers.
A field hockey tryout evaluation form gives your staff one consistent scorecard to rate every player on stick handling, passing, hitting, tackling, and field awareness, with position rows for forward, midfield, defense, and goalkeeper so you can compare players fairly and build a balanced roster instead of going off memory.
This free printable template is built specifically for field hockey. It separates the core stick skills (the Indian dribble, first touch, push passing, hitting, and pushing) from position-specific evaluations, and it gives goalkeepers their own save-focused rows since the kit and the job are completely different from field play. Each skill is rated on a 1-5 scale with space for notes.
For a full breakdown of where each player fits, see our field hockey positions guide. And when it's time to outfit the team you build, we've got custom field hockey uniforms and team packages ready to go.
What This Evaluation Form Covers
Core stick skills plus position-specific rows built for field hockey tryouts.
Stick Handling
Close control, the Indian dribble at speed, dribbling under pressure, eyes up on the ball
Passing & Receiving
Push pass accuracy, first touch on the move, receiving open and reverse stick
Hitting & Pushing
Drive power and technique, quick push and flick release, slap hits on the move
Tackling & Defense
Jab and block tackles, timing, channeling attackers wide, defending in the circle
Speed & Fitness
Acceleration, agility, dodging a defender, conditioning over a full game, field awareness
Position & Goalkeeper
Forward, midfield, and defense rows, plus save-specific goalkeeper rows for reactions and clearing
Evaluation Form Template Preview
One form per player. Print a stack for each tryout session.
Core Skills (All Field Players)
| Skill Category | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dribbling / Stick Handling Close control, Indian dribble, eyes up at speed | | |||||
| First Touch / Receiving Trapping on the move, open and reverse stick | | |||||
| Push Passing Accuracy, weight of pass, both directions | | |||||
| Hitting / Driving Power, technique, clean contact on the drive | | |||||
| Pushing / Flicks Quick release, flicks, deception | | |||||
| Tackling / Defense Jab, block tackle, timing, staying on feet | | |||||
| Dodging Pull and drag, beating a defender 1v1 | | |||||
| Positioning / Field Awareness Spacing, off-ball movement, reading play | | |||||
| Speed / Footwork Acceleration, agility, change of direction | | |||||
| Fitness / Conditioning Motor over a full game, recovery runs | | |||||
| Attitude / Coachability Effort, communication, response to feedback | |
Position-Specific (Score the Player's Position Group)
| Position / Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward: Finishing / Deflections Shooting in the circle, tips, redirects | | |||||
| Forward: Pressing / Off-Ball Forcing turnovers, creating space, leading runs | | |||||
| Midfield: Two-Way Transition Linking attack and defense, work rate both ends | | |||||
| Midfield: Distribution / Aerials Switching play, overhead receiving, vision | | |||||
| Defense: Tackling Under Pressure 1v1 in the circle, marking, channeling wide | | |||||
| Defense: Clearing / Outlets Outletting under a press, starting the attack | |
Goalkeeper Evaluation (Goalkeepers Only)
| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reaction Saves (Pads / Kickers) Quick feet, leg and foot saves on low shots | | |||||
| Hand / Glove Saves High shots, glove control, deflecting wide | | |||||
| Positioning / Angles Cutting down the shooter inside the circle | | |||||
| Clearing Kicks and outlet clears under pressure | | |||||
| Communication Organizing the defense, calling penalty corners | |
Overall Rating
Recommended Position(s)
Roster Rec
Additional Notes
How to Use This Evaluation Form
Run organized field hockey tryouts that give every player a fair look.
Pinnie up and number every player
Give each player a numbered pinnie and match the number to their form. Numbers let evaluators score quickly during a dribbling course or a small-sided game without stopping to ask names. Pull goalkeepers into their own group from the start so they get proper reps in the kit.
Run a skills circuit before you scrimmage
Set up a dribbling course, a push-pass and receiving grid, and a hitting station. Rotate small groups every 12 to 15 minutes. The circuit gives you a clean read on technique, especially first touch and the Indian dribble, before live play muddies the picture.
Score in real time on the 1-5 scale
Check the box for each skill as you watch. A 3 is average for the level. Reserve 5s for players who clearly stand out. Use the notes column for the things a number misses, like a defender who always channels attackers wide or a forward who can only receive on the open stick.
Play small-sided games and full-field
7v7 in a small grid surfaces tackling, decision-making, and positioning fast. Full-field play shows you who reads the game and who has the fitness to cover ground in the midfield. Score the tackling, positioning, and field awareness rows here, where they show up against live pressure.
Compare evaluations and build your roster
Total each player's scores and sort within position groups so you build a complete team, not just your eleven best athletes. Cross-reference evaluator notes for players near the cut line, and use the position recommendations to make sure you have depth at forward, midfield, defense, and in goal. For a refresher on roles, see our field hockey positions guide.
Field-Hockey-Specific Evaluation Tips
What to watch that a stat line won't tell you.
First touch separates players fast
Watch what happens the instant a player receives the ball on the move. A clean first touch that puts the ball into space lets them play with their head up. A heavy touch forces them to chase and slows the whole attack. First touch under pressure is the quickest tell of a skilled field hockey player, so weight it heavily.
Check both open and reverse stick
Field hockey is one-sided by rule, so players cannot use the back of the stick, which makes reverse-stick skill rare and valuable. Test receiving, dribbling, and tackling on the reverse side specifically. A player who is comfortable on the reverse stick can defend and receive on both sides of the body, and that flexibility is hard to coach late.
Give goalkeepers live shots in full kit
You cannot judge a keeper off straight-on warmup shots. Take live reps from the top of the circle and the baseline, and watch footwork with the kickers, glove saves, and angles. A keeper who clears clean and organizes the defense on penalty corners is worth far more than one who just stops shots and leaves the rebound in the circle.
Watch midfielders cover ground
Midfield is the engine of a field hockey team. A midfielder who attacks but jogs back on defense is only doing half the job. Run full-field phases and score the two-way row honestly. The player who links attack to defense, switches the field, and still has legs late is the one you build the spine of your team around.
Assess position versatility
Players who can slide between forward and midfield, or play across the back line, give you lineup flexibility when injuries and cards hit. Note on the form when a player has the speed and finishing of a forward but the work rate of a midfielder, or the composure to drop into defense. Versatile players keep your lineup intact all season.
When to Use This Form
Any time you need to evaluate field hockey talent objectively.
High school tryouts. The most common use case. Varsity and JV selections get better when multiple coaches evaluate independently on the same form. Separate scoring by position group so you build a balanced roster across the front line, midfield, back line, and goal.
Club and travel tryouts. Club teams cut from a large pool, and a standardized form is the fairest way to make roster calls. It also gives you documentation if a parent asks why their player ended up where they did.
Youth program placement. Use the form on an evaluation day to place players on balanced teams. Weighting stick handling, first touch, and athleticism keeps placement fair when skills are still developing across the group.
Mid-season check-ins. Re-evaluate players mid-season with the same form. Comparing back to tryout scores shows you who has improved their reverse stick, who has grown into a position, and where individual players need extra reps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should you evaluate at field hockey tryouts?
Start with the core stick skills: dribbling and the Indian dribble, first touch and receiving on the move, passing (the push pass), hitting and driving, and pushing or flicking for a quick release. Then rate tackling and defense, dodging past a defender, positioning and field awareness, and fitness over a full game. Add position rows for forwards, midfielders, and defenders, plus save-specific rows for goalkeepers. Score each on a 1-5 scale and watch players in small-sided games.
How do you evaluate a field hockey goalkeeper?
Goalkeepers get their own rows because the kit and skills are nothing like field play. Test reaction saves with the pads and kickers, hand and glove saves, positioning and angles (cutting down the shooter's options inside the circle), clearing with kicks and outlet passes, high-ball and aerial saves, and communication organizing the defense on penalty corners. Take live shots from the top of the circle and the baseline, not just straight-on warmup shots.
What's the difference between evaluating forwards, midfielders, and defenders?
Forwards live in the attacking circle, so weight finishing and deflections, pressing to force turnovers, and creating space off the ball. Midfielders cover the most ground, so weight two-way transition, link play and distribution, aerial receiving, and endurance. Defenders weight tackling under pressure, clearing and outletting, marking and channeling attackers wide, and one-on-one defending in the circle. The core stick skills apply to everyone, but the position rows show you where a player belongs.
How do you test stick skills at field hockey tryouts?
Set up a dribbling course with cones to test close control and the Indian dribble at speed, a passing and receiving grid for push passes and first touch on the move, and a hitting station for power and technique on the drive. Watch how clean the first touch is when a player receives on the run, since that separates skilled players fast. A controlled course plus live small-sided games gives you both technique and decision-making.
How long should field hockey tryouts last?
Plan two sessions of about 90 minutes each. Day one covers individual skills: a dribbling course, push-pass and receiving grid, a hitting station, and a goalkeeper station. Day two runs small-sided games and full-field play so you can score tackling, positioning, and field awareness against live competition. Two sessions give you enough looks and account for a player having an off day on the turf.
What do college field hockey coaches look for at tryouts?
Beyond clean stick skills, college coaches look for speed, a strong first touch under pressure, two-way work rate, and field awareness, the ability to read play and find space without the ball. They watch how a player reacts after a mistake and how they communicate. A fast, fit player with a reliable first touch and good vision projects better than a flashy dribbler who loses the ball when pressed. Score those traits heavily for older, recruitable players.
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