Free Printable Volleyball Tryout Evaluation Form
Run fair, consistent tryouts with a structured evaluation form. Rate players 1-5 across 9 volleyball-specific skills, recommend a position, and document your roster decisions. Print one form per player, per evaluator.
Volleyball tryouts move fast. You've got a gym full of players, limited court time, and roster decisions that shape your entire season. A volleyball tryout evaluation form gives you a consistent framework to assess every player on the same skills so your decisions are fair, documented, and defensible.
This free printable form rates each player on a 1-5 scale across 9 volleyball-specific skills: serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking, defense, athleticism, court awareness, and attitude/coachability. It includes position preference, position recommendation, overall rating, and a detailed notes section. Print one per player, per evaluator.
After tryouts, use the results to assign positions and build your rotation. Then move into season mode with our lineup sheet, score sheet, and stat sheet. And when it's time to order volleyball uniforms (including that contrasting libero jersey), we're here to help.
What This Form Includes
A complete evaluation framework built for volleyball-specific skills.
Player Information
- •Player name and tryout number
- •Age / Grade level
- •Position preference
- •Height (optional)
Offensive Skills (1-5)
- •Serving (accuracy, pace, variety)
- •Setting (technique, accuracy, decisions)
- •Hitting (approach, timing, power)
Defensive Skills (1-5)
- •Passing (platform, consistency)
- •Blocking (footwork, timing, reads)
- •Defense (digging, court coverage)
Intangibles & Summary
- •Athleticism (speed, agility, vertical)
- •Court Awareness (positioning, communication)
- •Attitude / Coachability
- •Total score, position rec, overall rating
Evaluation Form Preview
Here's what the printable form looks like. Print one copy per player, per evaluator.
VOLLEYBALL TRYOUT EVALUATION
Rating Scale
| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serving Accuracy, pace, float/topspin variety | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Passing Platform technique, consistency, movement | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Setting Hand technique, accuracy, decision-making | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Hitting Approach, timing, power, shot selection | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Blocking Footwork, timing, hands, reading setter | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Defense Digging, court coverage, reaction time | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Athleticism Speed, agility, vertical, coordination | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Court Awareness Positioning, communication, game IQ | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | |
| Attitude / Coachability Effort, hustle, listening, teamwork | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
Position Recommendation
Notes / Observations
Free printable volleyball tryout evaluation from Secondslide · go.secondslide.io/volleyball-tryout-evaluation-form
How to Use This Evaluation Form
A structured approach for fair, volleyball-specific tryout evaluations.
Design drills that expose each skill
Structure your tryout so every skill on the form gets evaluated. Run a serving drill (10 serves per player, target zones). Run pepper for passing. Run a hitting line for approach and timing. Run 6-on-6 for blocking, defense, court awareness, and game IQ. Each drill should map to at least one skill on the evaluation form.
Rate in real time, not from memory
Score each skill as you observe it during the tryout. Use the notes column to record specific observations. "Consistent platform but slow to move laterally." "Strong arm swing, needs work on approach footwork." These details matter when you're comparing players with similar scores later.
Focus on scrimmage for position fit
Individual drills show isolated skills. Scrimmage shows how a player uses those skills in the flow of the game. Court awareness, communication, and defensive positioning only show up in game-like situations. Weight your scrimmage observations heavily when determining position assignments.
Compare, discuss, decide
After the final tryout session, gather all evaluator forms. Total the scores, rank players, and identify clear keeps, clear cuts, and the borderline group. Discuss borderline players as a coaching staff, using the notes and position recommendations to break ties. The form makes this process focused and productive.
When to Use It
Evaluation forms are useful well beyond preseason tryouts.
- Preseason tryouts for team selection and varsity/JV placement
- Position assignments after evaluating each player's skill profile
- Mid-season check-ins to measure player development
- Player meetings to show athletes and parents specific strengths and areas for improvement
- Camp evaluations for multi-day volleyball camps where you're assessing large groups
The 9 skills on this form map directly to what matters in volleyball. For younger players, you might weigh passing and coachability more heavily than hitting and blocking. For high school varsity, the balance shifts toward overall volleyball IQ and the ability to perform under pressure.
After building your roster, transition into season mode with our lineup sheet for match-day rotations and the stat sheet to track performance throughout the season.
Tips for Coaches
Run better volleyball tryouts with these practical strategies.
Passing is the great equalizer
A team that can't pass can't do anything. No matter how talented your hitters and setter are, it all starts with the first contact. Weight passing skill heavily in your evaluation. A player who passes a 3.0 out of 3.0 consistently is more valuable than an inconsistent hitter with a big arm.
Don't overlook communication
Volleyball requires constant verbal communication. "Mine!" "Out!" "Help!" "Free ball!" Players who talk on the court make the whole team better. It's part of the court awareness score, but it's worth calling out specifically. A quiet player who won't call the ball is a liability no matter how skilled they are.
Evaluate serve receive specifically
Serve receive is the most important skill at the youth and high school level, and it's different from regular passing. Have a coach or machine serve at realistic game pace while you evaluate each player's movement, platform angle, and ability to redirect the ball to the target. Players who crumble under a tough serve will hurt you in matches.
Use tryout numbers, not names
Assign tryout numbers on pinnies so evaluators can identify players by number rather than name. This reduces bias, especially when you know some players from previous seasons or their parents are on the boosters. Score the number, then match names to numbers after evaluations are complete.
Keep evaluation forms on file
Store completed evaluations alongside your season records. They're useful for player development conversations, tracking year-over-year improvement, handling parent inquiries about roster decisions, and refining your evaluation process. Combined with your match score sheets and stat sheets, you'll have a complete picture of every player in your program.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What skills should I evaluate during volleyball tryouts?
The core volleyball skills to evaluate are serving (accuracy and variety), passing (platform and consistency), setting (hand technique and accuracy), hitting (approach, timing, and power), blocking (footwork and timing), defense (digging and court coverage), athleticism (speed, agility, and vertical), court awareness (positioning and communication), and attitude/coachability (effort and response to feedback). Weight skills based on your program's needs and the level of play.
How should I structure volleyball tryouts?
Run tryouts over 2-3 days with 90-120 minutes per session. Day one should focus on individual skills: serving, passing, setting, and hitting drills where you can evaluate each player's fundamentals. Day two should add team play: 6-on-6, serve receive, and transition drills. Day three (if available) should be all scrimmaging. This progression lets you see skills in isolation first, then in game-like situations.
How do I evaluate players for specific positions?
Look for natural tendencies. Future setters have soft hands, talk a lot, and make smart decisions. Outside hitters are strong passers who can hit from the left side. Middle blockers tend to be taller with quick lateral movement. Liberos are the best passers and diggers on the court. Don't lock players into positions too early at the youth level. Let the evaluation show you where they fit best based on their skill profile.
Should I evaluate serving separately from other skills?
Yes. Serving is one of the few skills in volleyball where a player has complete control. Run a dedicated serving evaluation where each player serves 10 balls and you rate accuracy, pace, and variety (float serve, topspin, jump serve). A consistent server is extremely valuable at every level, and you can't evaluate serving quality during a scrimmage where each player only serves a few times.
How do I handle cutting players fairly?
Use the evaluation form to create an objective ranking. Total each player's scores and compare them across evaluators. Communicate your evaluation criteria to players and parents before tryouts begin. Make cuts after the final day so everyone gets a full evaluation. Post results privately and offer individual meetings for players who were cut. Keep evaluation forms on file in case of questions later.
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