Lacrosse Tryout Evaluation Form: Free Printable Template for Coaches
A position-aware evaluation form built for lacrosse tryouts. Rate stick skills, dodging, defense, athleticism, and lacrosse IQ on a 1-5 scale, with dedicated rows for attack, midfield, defense, and goalie.
A lacrosse tryout evaluation form gives your coaching staff one consistent scorecard to rate every player on stick skills, dodging, defense, athleticism, and lacrosse IQ, with position-specific rows for attack, midfield, defense, and goalie so you can compare players fairly and build your roster without relying on memory.
This free printable template is built specifically for lacrosse. It separates the universal stick skills (cradling both hands, ground balls, passing, catching, shooting accuracy and power) from position-specific evaluations, and it gives goalies their own save-focused rows since the position is nothing like field play. Each skill is rated on a 1-5 scale with space for notes.
For a full breakdown of where each player fits, check our lacrosse positions guide. And when it's time to outfit the roster you build, we've got youth lacrosse uniforms, lacrosse uniforms, and custom lacrosse jerseys ready to go.
What This Evaluation Form Covers
Universal stick skills plus position-specific rows built for lacrosse tryouts.
Stick Skills
Cradling both hands, scooping ground balls, passing, catching under pressure, weak-hand reps
Shooting
Accuracy to the corners, shot power, overhand and sidearm release, shooting on the run
Dodging
Change of direction, split and roll dodges, beating a defender, protecting the stick
Defense & Checking
Poke, slap, and lift checks, footwork on the approach, body positioning, slides
Athleticism & IQ
Speed, footwork, conditioning, off-ball movement, field awareness, coachability
Position & Goalie
Attack, midfield, and defense rows, plus save-specific goalie rows for reaction 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradling Stick protection, both hands, on the move | | |||||
| Ground Balls Scoop technique, box out, ground balls in traffic | | |||||
| Passing Accuracy, both hands, passing on the run | | |||||
| Catching Soft hands, off-hand, catching under pressure | | |||||
| Shooting Accuracy Hitting the corners, placement, finishing | | |||||
| Shooting Power Velocity, overhand and sidearm, shot on the run | | |||||
| Dodging Split/roll, change of direction, beating a defender | | |||||
| Defense / Checking Poke, slap, lift, footwork, body position | | |||||
| Speed / Footwork Acceleration, agility, change of direction | | |||||
| Lacrosse IQ Off-ball movement, field awareness, reads | | |||||
| Attitude / Hustle Effort, coachability, communication | |
Position-Specific (Score the Player's Position Group)
| Position / Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack: Finishing Burying shots around the cage, inside finishing | | |||||
| Attack: Feeding / Vision Feeds from X, drawing slides, off-ball cutting | | |||||
| Midfield: Two-Way Play Offense to defense transition, motor both ends | | |||||
| Midfield: Clearing / Riding Carrying through traffic, pressuring the clear | | |||||
| Defense: Footwork / Approach Breakdown, drop step, holding ground 1v1 | | |||||
| Defense: Slides / Communication On-time slides, calling the defense | |
Goalie Evaluation (Goalies Only)
| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reaction / Hand Speed Saves to all five hole spots, hands to the ball | | |||||
| Positioning / Arc Top of the crease, squaring to the shooter | | |||||
| Clearing / Outlets Outlet passes under a ride, starting the break | | |||||
| Communication Directing the defense, calling slides and shots | | |||||
| Composure Bounce-back after a goal, presence in cage | |
Overall Rating
Recommended Position(s)
Roster Rec
Additional Notes
How to Use This Evaluation Form
Run organized lacrosse 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 evaluation form. Numbers let evaluators score fast during a ground ball scrum or a shooting line without stopping to ask names. Split goalies into their own group right away.
Run a stick-skills circuit with both hands
Set up stations for partner passing, ground balls, and shooting, and require reps with both hands at each. Score the weak hand specifically. Stick skills are the foundation of every position, so this circuit gives you a baseline on every player before you ever scrimmage.
Score in real time on the 1-5 scale
Check the box for each skill as you watch. A 3 is average for the age group. Only hand out 5s to players who clearly stand out. Use the notes column for context a number can't capture, like a lefty who can only go to one hand or a defender who talks the whole drill.
Play small-sided games and full-field transition
3v3 and 4v4 in a small box exposes dodging, defense, and decision-making fast. Full-field clears and rides show you who can play two ways and who has the motor for midfield. Score the dodging, defense, and lacrosse IQ rows here, where they actually show up against live competition.
Compare evaluations and build your roster
Total each player's scores and sort within position groups, since you're picking a balanced roster, not just the top 23 athletes. Cross-reference evaluator notes for players near the cut line, and use the position recommendations to make sure you have enough at attack, midfield, defense, and in the cage. For a refresher on roles, see our lacrosse positions guide.
Lacrosse-Specific Evaluation Tips
What to watch that you won't catch on a stat line.
Ground balls reveal motor
Ground balls win lacrosse games, especially at the youth and high school level. Watch who goes through the ball, boxes out, and protects the scoop in traffic versus who rakes at it or stands and waits. A player who wins fifty-fifty ground balls makes your whole team better, and it shows you their compete level instantly.
Test the weak hand on purpose
Almost everyone looks fine on their strong side. The players who can dodge, feed, and finish with their off hand are the ones who are genuinely hard to guard. Force weak-hand reps in your passing and shooting stations and score that hand separately. It is the single best predictor of how much room a player has to grow.
Give goalies real shots, not a warmup line
You cannot evaluate a goalie off easy shots straight at the chest. Take live reps from the wings, up top, and on the doorstep, and watch reaction speed, arc, and whether they stay big after letting one in. A goalie who clears clean and directs the defense is worth more than one who just makes flashy saves and gives the ball back.
Watch midfielders both ways
The midfield is where rosters are won and lost. A middie who scores but loafs back on defense is a half player. Run full-field clears and rides and score the two-way row honestly. The kid who busts it back, plays a hard ride, and still has legs in the fourth quarter is the one you build your second and third lines around.
Assess position versatility
Players who can slide between attack and midfield, or play both close defense and long-stick midfield, give you lineup flexibility all season. Note on the form when a player shows the stick skills for attack but the motor for midfield, or the footwork for defense. Versatile players are gold when injuries and foul trouble hit.
When to Use This Form
Any time you need to evaluate lacrosse talent objectively.
Club and travel tryouts. The most common use case. 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 questions why their player landed where they did.
High school tryouts. Varsity and JV selections get better when multiple coaches evaluate independently on the same form. Separate scoring by position group so you build a complete roster instead of just collecting your best ten athletes.
Youth program placement. Use the form during an evaluation day to place players on balanced rec or travel teams. Weighting ground balls, catching, and athleticism keeps the placement fair when stick skills are still raw across the board.
Mid-season check-ins. Re-evaluate players mid-season with the same form. Comparing back to tryout scores shows you who is developing their weak hand, who has grown into a position, and where individual players need extra reps.
Related Lacrosse Resources
More guides and gear for lacrosse coaches.
Lacrosse Positions
Complete guide to attack, midfield, defense, and goalie roles and responsibilities.
Youth Lacrosse Uniforms
Custom youth lacrosse uniforms and full team packages with fast turnaround.
Lacrosse Uniforms
Game and practice lacrosse uniforms for club and high school programs.
Custom Lacrosse Jerseys
Sublimated lacrosse jerseys with custom numbers, names, and team colors.
Get more free Lacrosse coaching templates
Printable templates, free coaching tools, and team gear tips for Lacrosse coaches. Join thousands of youth and high school coaches.
Lacrosse Gear from Secondslide
Ready to outfit your team? Check out our custom gear.
Youth Lacrosse Uniforms
Custom youth lacrosse uniforms with sublimated jerseys and full team packages.
Lacrosse Uniforms
Game and practice lacrosse uniforms for club and high school programs.
Custom Lacrosse Jerseys
Sublimated lacrosse jerseys with custom numbers, names, and team colors.
Lacrosse Positions
Complete guide to lacrosse positions, roles, and field responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you evaluate at lacrosse tryouts?
Evaluate stick skills first: cradling with both hands, scooping ground balls, passing, catching, and shooting for both accuracy and power. Then rate dodging, defense and stick checking, athleticism (speed, footwork, conditioning), and lacrosse IQ. Add position-specific rows for attack (finishing, feeding), midfield (two-way play, clearing), defense (footwork, slides), and goalie (reaction saves, clearing). Score each skill on a 1-5 scale and watch how players compete in live transition.
How do you evaluate a lacrosse goalie at tryouts?
Goalies need their own evaluation rows because the position is completely different from field play. Test reaction and hand speed on shots to all five hole spots (high, low, and the corners), positioning and arc (staying on top of the crease and squaring to the shooter), clearing and outlet passing under a ride, communication directing the defense, and composure after letting in a goal. Take live shots from multiple angles and distances, not just a single shooting line.
How is evaluating attack, midfield, and defense different?
Attackmen live around the cage, so weight finishing, feeding, off-ball cutting, and dodging from X. Midfielders play both ends, so weight two-way motor, clearing and riding, and conditioning over a long field. Defensemen carry a long pole, so weight footwork on the approach, stick checks (poke, slap, lift), body positioning, and slide communication. The core stick skills matter for everyone, but the position rows tell you where a player actually fits on your roster.
What matters most at youth lacrosse tryouts?
At the youth level, prioritize ground balls, catching and throwing with the dominant hand, and athleticism over polished stick tricks. Ground balls win youth games, and a kid who hustles to every loose ball and can catch a basic pass is more valuable than a flashy player who drops feeds under pressure. Weak-hand development and lacrosse IQ come with coaching, so score raw effort, coachability, and athletic upside heavily at younger ages.
How long should lacrosse tryouts last?
Plan two sessions of about 90 minutes to two hours each. Day one covers individual skills: a stick-skills circuit (passing and catching both hands), ground ball drills, a shooting station, and a goalie station. Day two runs small-sided games and full-field transition so you can score dodging, defense, and lacrosse IQ against live competition. Two days gives you enough looks and protects against a player having one bad session.
Should you test both hands at lacrosse tryouts?
Yes. Weak-hand ability separates players more than almost anything else in lacrosse. Set up your passing and shooting stations to require reps with both hands, and score the off hand specifically. A player who can finish and feed left and right is far harder to defend than a strong-side-only player. Note weak-hand reps on the form so you can track development and make fair comparisons across the tryout group.
Ready to Outfit Your Lacrosse Team?
Custom jerseys, shorts, and full team packages. No minimums, fast turnaround.