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[aberger]

Do player evaluations help progession for youth athletes?

[ThiKuBC]

What kind of evaluation?

An evaluation is only as good as its follow-up.

[sissy]

What kind of evaluation?

An evaluation is only as good as its follow-up.

Very true ThiKuBC!

[aberger]

Something written out, going over the players technique, attitude, sportsmanship and ect. So they can take it home and go over it with their parents.

[plentyofgames]

An evaluation is really useful if two things happen: (1) the coach takes the time and has the knowledge to do a proper evaluation; and (2) the follow up mentioned above. A coach/trainer/parent (whoever) has to take the time to help the player work on the areas where s/he needs help.

[get serious]

An evaluation is useful depending on the detail used to write it. It needs to not only give opportunities to improve but also highlight what the player is doing well . The evaluations should come as no surprise as the coach should be communicating their expectations with the player at practices.  My DD didn't always agree with her evaluations but she agreed that this is what the coach saw and it was her responsibility to improve in those areas if she wanted to play for this coach. This made her a much better player and as she got older she already knew her opportunities and was working on improving long before her sit down evaluation.

[aberger]

What are some of the cons with evaluations?

[MarkyMark]

One Con is that young players can be very sensitive to what the coach says in an eval. I have heard of players leaving a club based on what the coach wrote in the eval. So It is very important to understand that some coaches are not great communicators and that the eval may come accross as judgement or an attack on the players character rather than just a learning tool.

[ThiKuBC]

With youth players you MUST point out positives in an eval even if the overall tone is not "glowing". Absolute must, and if a negative eval make sure to provide insight into how and why you believe the player can overcome the negative portions. And make yourself available to discuss in person.

[SoccerFlicks]

 How many players have gotten evals from ID camps?  Are those fairly solid information to reply on?

As far as player evals from a team coach, I wonder if that's valuable or not....might be rather subjective material is the coach is not that great to begin with.

[tripleplay]

We don't like to admit it, but coaches and players do not have identical interests. And knowledge is power. Parents would be naive to expect coaches to divulge information when it is not in their interest to do so. Best is an independent evaluation from someone who knows the player.

[yote19]

TP--what the pucky are you talking about.  Coaches know their players better than anyone.  If you do the evaluation properly.  List out specific information and actually spend time on each of your players, you will get an evaluation that is useful for the coach, player and their parents.  Like others state, you emphasize the positives and creatively advise how they are to improve on areas that they need to work on.  You then sit down with the player and one parent and go through the evaluation and then ask for comments or questions.  Soccerflicks everything is subjectively objective from a coaches perspective.  This is what I see from my point of view to work best for this team.  If the parent thinks the coach is worthless, is it even worth going through the process?   And if the coach is not a good coach, do you really think they would take the time to go through the process of actually providing a quality review?  It took me about 15 minutes per player just to write out the info for each of my players.  I think it is then important to come back for a review (weeks/months) down the road to really make the process work.

[tripleplay]

TP--what the pucky are you talking about.  Coaches know their players better than anyone.

You don't have the same interests as the player. Extreme example, but one I've seen. Your keeper has no (long term) future as a keeper, but she's the best you've got for this year. Do you tell her to start working on her field skills (her interest) or do you tell her how to improve as keeper (your interest)? You have a surplus of midfielders and have converted one to defense, where you're short. Do you raise the point knowing that your crosstown archrival is desperate for mids, or do you keep it quiet because that is in the team's (aka your) best interest?

Players are better off with independent evaluations. Coaches have interests of their own, reducing the value of their evaluation (not to zero, but reducing it nonetheless).

[Rock27]

Here's another option - college camps.  Mine went to one and asked the coach for an eval at the end of camp.  The coach gave him positive strokes and also what he could improve upon and  advised him what level he could expect to play at.  It was a surprise for me as a parent because I wasn't expecting the coach to take the time.  He also told him to keep his grades up and keep in touch with him.

Has anyone else had that experience going to a college camp? 

[metz123]

TP--what the pucky are you talking about.  Coaches know their players better than anyone.

You don't have the same interests as the player. Extreme example, but one I've seen. Your keeper has no (long term) future as a keeper, but she's the best you've got for this year. Do you tell her to start working on her field skills (her interest) or do you tell her how to improve as keeper (your interest)? You have a surplus of midfielders and have converted one to defense, where you're short. Do you raise the point knowing that your crosstown archrival is desperate for mids, or do you keep it quiet because that is in the team's (aka your) best interest?

Players are better off with independent evaluations. Coaches have interests of their own, reducing the value of their evaluation (not to zero, but reducing it nonetheless).

That's one of the major problems with the USA premier coaching business model. Is it your job to develop players or win games? If your primary job is to develop players, none of the situations you describe enter into the evaluation process. Your job is to guide the development of the player, not do what's in the best interest of your team. If your job is to win games....you're dead on, the evaluator and the candidate have different goals and the evaluation is close to useless.

Until I see premier coaches start emphasizing player development on their resume over state and national championships...I've got to agree with 3play. Coaching evaluations need to be taken with a dose of reality. Is the coach suggesting areas of improvement in the best interests of the player or for his team?

[SoccerFlicks]

Here's another option - college camps.  Mine went to one and asked the coach for an eval at the end of camp. 
Has anyone else had that experience going to a college camp? 

Yes!  My younger DS just had this happen at the SPU camp.  It was awesome.

[yote19]

OK Guys -- here is an example for you.  We have a player on the front line who is quick, very calm with the ball, distributes amazingly well and also defends well on the back pressure,  but for her life can't shoot and can't hit the goal if it was the broad side of a barn.  In my coaching evaluation, I emphasize the positives -- her quickness, her distribution, her ability to control play and keep possession.  I also state as a forward you/we have to continue to develop your shot as it really is sucky right now.  However, if you would like to try a defensive position, I think this would be an ideal for your development and future advancement within this team.  You would become a more well-rounded soccer player.  Now what disservice did I do the player?

[SoccerFlicks]

Yote

The disservice, if any, might be in giving her choice - but I am not experienced in this to know if my reply to you is accurate.  In those situations most players are gonna want to stick with being a forward - thats where the glory is at.  Defense is remebered for what was missed not what was made.

I would think that if she wanted to take her game to a higher level and she trusted her coach, she would need to just be put in that defensive spot - maybe change the wording a bit, instead of might use should.  Show her those positives put to use in that new position - talk down that forward spot, talk up the defense.  However, the same amount of focus given to showing the new spot could be given to better shooting.

My DS was simular - 10 yrs or so he played the wings - speed, long ball and improved tackles - great spot for him.  And then he got big - when his coach first starting talking to him about defense he didn't like it at all.  It sounded like a sterotypical thing - all big players are on the defensive line - is that a disservice to him, this coach's eval saying he needed to be at Center D rather than the wing?  But after a while  of giving the defense spots a try DS said he could better see the game from defense.  His skill set still seems to me best used on the wing - so think a compromise was found back, left d.   

[yote19]

I understand your perspective, but remember you are mom and it is your opinion that forwards get the glory.  In my playing days I know that our defense wins championships, especially when the defenders go forward and score goals    All I was trying to emphasize that good coaches keep open communication with their players all of the time about all sorts of things associated with their team.  The professional coaches may have different alternatives or perspectives -- but the communication should still be solid.

[metz123]

OK Guys -- here is an example for you.  We have a player on the front line who is quick, very calm with the ball, distributes amazingly well and also defends well on the back pressure,  but for her life can't shoot and can't hit the goal if it was the broad side of a barn.  In my coaching evaluation, I emphasize the positives -- her quickness, her distribution, her ability to control play and keep possession.  I also state as a forward you/we have to continue to develop your shot as it really is sucky right now.  However, if you would like to try a defensive position, I think this would be an ideal for your development and future advancement within this team.  You would become a more well-rounded soccer player.  Now what disservice did I do the player?

None..it sounds like you are trying to develop the player. Now if you has said "I know you want to play forward but you've got a crappy shot so I'm going to make you a defender and you can either play that position or find a new team."

That's a different story...

[yote19]

There is huge difference with the coaches that coach with "my way or the highway" or ego minded and those that truly care for all of their players.   Just my opinion.

[soccerpride]

I understand your perspective, but remember you are mom and it is your opinion that forwards get the glory.  In my playing days I know that our defense wins championships, especially when the defenders go forward and score goals    All I was trying to emphasize that good coaches keep open communication with their players all of the time about all sorts of things associated with their team.  The professional coaches may have different alternatives or perspectives -- but the communication should still be solid.

Very well stated...

If anyone behind the forwards were incapable of getting the ball up, there would be no glory. Thus, a good coach who can get this point across might not have a difficult time convincing a player to try out a different position, to further said players skills. Simply my opinion. Enough said...

[aberger]

Had tryouts last saturday and gave the players who made the team an evaluation.   It went over the pro and cons. Got great reviews from the parents.  They appreciated me taken the time to put it down in writing.  The only bad thing about evaluations is that they take to long. But other then that it was a success.

[aberger]

Just found this website.  http://www.zoomreports.com/soccer-evaluations/   Wish I found it before doing my evaluations.  Will def use it next time. 

[sissy]

OK Guys -- here is an example for you.  We have a player on the front line who is quick, very calm with the ball, distributes amazingly well and also defends well on the back pressure,  but for her life can't shoot and can't hit the goal if it was the broad side of a barn.  In my coaching evaluation, I emphasize the positives -- her quickness, her distribution, her ability to control play and keep possession.  I also state as a forward you/we have to continue to develop your shot as it really is sucky right now.  However, if you would like to try a defensive position, I think this would be an ideal for your development and future advancement within this team.  You would become a more well-rounded soccer player.  Now what disservice did I do the player?

Yote, you sound like a diamond in the rough to me    If I am hearing you correctly, what you are saying is,  if your heart is at forward....we have our work cut out for us BUT if you are open to trying another postion, we may have found your spot.  I will work with you but it's your choice.