How to create a Basketball Player Evaluation Form (with template)

Here’s a guide to creating a basketball player evaluation form that meets your program’s or academies unique needs.

We’ll cover:

1. Key Sections to Include in a Basketball Player Evaluation Form
2. A step-by-step guide to creating evaluation form
3. Use progress report to evaluate Basketball players
4. How to share skill evaluations with parents and players
5. Basketball Evaluation Form & Progress Report Template

Why You Might Need a Player Evaluation Form

An evaluation form helps track key attributes and skills of each player, providing objective data that supports decision-making. Rather than relying solely on intuition or first impressions, the form allows coaches to assess players consistently across various categories, from physical fitness to basketball IQ.

Key Sections to Include in a Basketball Player Evaluation Form

1. Player Information

Begin by collecting basic information about the player, such as:

• Name
• Age
• Position
• Height/Weight
• Years of playing experience

This section gives evaluators context and allows easy identification of players during the evaluation process.

2. Physical Attributes

Include metrics that help assess the player’s physical capabilities:

• Speed/Agility: Ability to move quickly on the court, change direction, and accelerate.
• Vertical Jump: Essential for rebounding and blocking.
• Endurance: Ability to maintain performance throughout the game.

These attributes can be evaluated using drills or measured benchmarks like sprint tests or endurance challenges.

3. Basketball Skills

This section is the heart of the evaluation and focuses on the key skills necessary for basketball success. Break it down into specific skill categories:

• Shooting: Evaluate shooting form, consistency, and range (free throws, three-point shots, and mid-range).
• Ball Handling: Ability to dribble effectively with both hands, crossovers, and control under pressure.
• Passing: Evaluate passing accuracy, vision and creativity.
• Defense: Evaluate on-ball defense, help defense, and overall positioning.
• Rebounding: Track effectiveness in both offensive and defensive rebounding.
• Court Awareness: Basketball IQ, ability to make quick decisions, and understanding of plays.

For each skill, use a grading scale (e.g., 1-5) to standardize assessments.

4. Intangibles

While physical skills are essential, basketball is also a mental game. Include sections for:

• Leadership: Does the player lead by example and communicate effectively with teammates?
• Work Ethic: How hard does the player work during practice and in-game situations?
• Attitude: Is the player coachable, and do they respond well to feedback?
• Teamwork: How well does the player cooperate with teammates and contribute to the team’s success?

These intangibles are harder to measure but equally important in player development.

5. Game Situations

Observing players in game-like scenarios or scrimmages offers a more complete evaluation. Use this section to assess:

• Decision-Making: Does the player make smart choices under pressure?
• Execution of Plays: Ability to follow offensive and defensive schemes.
• Clutch Performance: Does the player perform well in high-pressure situations?

6. Overall Evaluation

After rating each category, provide an overall rating that summarizes the player’s strengths and areas for improvement. A comment box or notes section can be useful for highlighting standout moments or concerns.

A step-by-step guide to creating evaluation form

1. Identify Key Attributes to Evaluate: Begin by identifying the core skills you need to evaluate based on your coaching philosophy, team needs, and level of competition. These may include technical skills (shooting, passing), physical attributes (speed, agility), and intangibles (leadership, work ethic).
2. Create Evaluation Categories: Group the identified attributes into categories such as “Physical Abilities,” “Basketball IQ,” “Attitude,” and “Teamwork. This will ensure that your form is well organized and easy for evaluators to follow.
3. Develop a Rating Scale: Use a standardized scale (e.g., 1-5 or 1-10) for each skill or attribute to ensure consistent scoring. Define each level of the scale so that raters know exactly what constitutes a “5” versus a “3.
4. Include Space for Comments: Provide space for evaluators to make notes or observations that may not fit into the predefined categories. Standout moments or unique qualities can be recorded here.
5. Test Your Form: Run a trial evaluation during practice or scrimmages to ensure the form is easy to use and captures all the necessary information. Revise it based on feedback from evaluators.

Use progress report to evaluate Basketball players

Using a basketball player evaluation form isn’t just for tryouts or mid-season evaluations. Progress reports can be incredibly useful throughout the season to track a player’s development. Coaches can create regular reports based on these evaluations to help players understand their strengths and areas for improvement over time.

Progress reports are also useful for measuring long-term development, helping coaches adjust training plans, provide targeted coaching, and make informed decisions about lineups and playing time distribution.

I’ve found that the younger generation of coaches appreciate the convenience of managing everything from their iPad or smartphone. Parents and players also appreciate the ability to track and view progress online in real time.

How to share skill evaluation with parents and players

Sharing evaluation forms effectively is important to foster development and maintain open communication with both players and their families.

Here’s how you can approach it:

• Set Clear Expectations: Before evaluations, let both players and parents know what skills will be evaluated and why. This prepares them for constructive feedback and reduces anxiety.
• Use Digital Platforms: Modern platforms like Activity Messenger make it easy to digitize player evaluation forms and instantly share results with players and parents. This is especially helpful for tracking progress over time. You can also automate the delivery of feedback via email or SMS.
• Provide Detailed, Constructive Feedback: When you share the evaluation, be specific. Don’t just say “needs to improve his defense. Instead, mention areas such as “work on lateral quickness to improve on-ball defense.
• Balance Positive and Constructive Criticism: Always highlight what the player did well before discussing areas for improvement. This keeps players motivated and ensures that they don’t get discouraged by negative feedback alone.
• Follow Up with a Development Plan:If a player has significant areas for improvement, consider sharing a development plan along with the evaluation. For example, if a player needs to improve their shooting form, suggest specific drills they can do outside of practice to improve.

Basketball Evaluation Form & Progress Report Template

Here is a Basketball Progress Report Template that was created using Activity Messenger. Test it out and see if you like it.

Set-up an evaluation process at your basketball Academy

A well-designed basketball player evaluation form can make a world of difference in how you evaluate and develop talent. By breaking down the evaluation process into clear, measurable categories, you can ensure that you’re making informed decisions that benefit both individual players and the team as a whole.

Whether you’re conducting tryouts, developing young players, or scouting for competitive teams, the right evaluation form can streamline the process and provide a clear path for player improvement.

Need an easy way to collect and track player evaluations? Platforms like Activity Messenger can simplify the process by digitizing your evaluation forms, automating player follow-up, and helping you easily share results with parents and players.

Start creating your custom basketball player evaluation form today! Meet with an Activity Messenger expert.