Creating a Volleyball Evaluation

Skills
We recommend evaluating a player on 8-12 volleyball skills.  Obviously using more skills would benefit the volleyball player, but it often takes too much time.  For instance, a lot of volleyball coaches get ambitious and evaluate volleyball players on 20 plus skills.  The first 2 volleyball evaluations they do are great.  Unfortunately each volleyball evaluation took 1 hour to do.  By the time they get to writing your 15th volleyball evaluation, they are too tired to write a good one.   Here are some suggestions on skills we use when doing volleyball evaluations.

Field Player Evaluations
-  Technical - Serving, Passsing, Setting, Attacking, Defending
-  Physical - Attitude, Concentration, Effort
-  Psychological - Fitness, Speed, Agility, Quickness
 

Scoring
Scoring Scale - There are 2 schools of thought.  Either use a numerical scale like (1-4) or an Alpha-Numeric scale like (US - Unsatisfactory, S- Satisfactory, E - Excellent).
What Score to Give - Some coaches like to give lower scores initially so that when they do another volleyball evaluation, they can give a higher score to show that the player is improving.  This is a good strategy with younger players.  As players get older, we recommend that you give them the score you believe they truly deserve.  You are not doing a volleyball player any favor by hiding the truth from them.  It is better that they know where they stand and what they need to work on to get better than figuring out during an important game.

Comments
Comments are the most important part of volleyball evaluations.  Comments give players a specific understanding of what they do well and what they need to work on.  The most important sentences in a comment are ones that tell the player how they can improve.  For example, "In order to improve your shooting, you need to work on your balance.  Keep your feet shoulder width apart and bend your knees slightly.  If you work on these fundamentals during the off season, your shooting will significantly improve."   

Tips to make your comments more effective.
-  Use Metaphors that your players can relate to.  (The second before receiving the ball with your stick, move your stick back to cushion the ball.  Just like catching an egg.)
-  Use Adjectives that inspire players to improve.  (Excellent, Superb, Exciting, Exceptional)
-  Stay Positive
-  Use the Sandwich Technique (Give a positive comment, critical comment, and another positive comment)
-  Use Professional players as examples to imitate.

*  ZoomReports has an quick and easy way to help you write volleyball evaluation comments.  See the below video.

Self Evaluations
Self evaluations are a very effective tool for player development.  They really get players to think through their strengths and weaknesses.  Believe it or not, most players do not know what skills they need to work on.  After doing a self evaluation, players are much more aware of where they should be spending their time practicing.

Tips for Self Evaluations
-  Make sure that the player does a self evaluation prior to seeing their evaluation.
-  Add a comment box so players can discuss their thoughts on certain skills.

Giving a Volleyball Evaluation

Face to Face Volleyball Evaluation
Where to Sit - When going over a volleyball evaluation with a player face to face it is important to consider where you sit relative to the player.  The best place to sit is next to the player on their left hand side.  This makes the player feel like you are on their side working together to help them improve.  Sitting directly across from a player makes the evaluation feel more like a disciplinary meeting over areas in which they need to improve.
Sandwich Technique - It is easy to get a player on the defensive when you discuss areas that they need to improve.  The sandwich technique is every effective to keeping the discussion open and positive.  Basically you sandwich two positives around a negative.  For example, Johnny, you are very good at making short quick passes.  You need to work on your long pass through to penetrating forwards.  But your quick passes have really opened up the ice and created many scoring chances.    
Let them Talk - It is important to let the player talk and get their feelings out.  This gives you a great chance to address issues that you may never have known were problems.  Plus, it is much easier to get players to buy into your suggestions when they feel like they have a chance to discuss the areas they need to improve on.  

When to Give a Volleyball Evaluation
Beginning of Season - This is a great way to start the season.  It gives the players a good idea of where they need to improve over the course of the season.  It really serves as a goal setting tool.
End the Season - This lets the player know how they did over the season.  Providing an end of season volleyball player evaluation helps motivate a player to practice and improve during the off season.
After a Tournament - Players love to hear how they did after a tournament.  The multiple games over the course of a few days, really gives a coach a good idea of how the player has developed.
Anytime - Giving feedback is always welcomed by players and parents.  

Age to Receive a Volleyball Evaluation
Players of all ages should receive some form of written volleyball evalutation.  
Younger Players -  Volleyball evaluations for younger players should be very positive.  
Older Players - Volleyball evaluations for older players should be truthful.  If the player needs work in a particular skill, say so, but make sure that you give suggestions on what they can do to improve.

Benefits of a Volleyball Evaluation

Benefits to Players
Increase Morale - When a player knows what they need to do to improve, they feel better about what they need to do in practice and in games.  When you have direction on where you need to improve, it brings a focus on what you need to do.  Instead of wasting mental energy guessing what your coach thinks of you, a player will have an exact idea after they receive a volleyball evaluation.   
Improve Performance - Volleyball player evaluations really help players improve.  They let players know what they need to work on.  Most players rarely know what skills they need to spend time working on.  Sure, a coach may mention during a game that the player needs to improve, but that is often forgotten in the heat of the game.  As a result, they never spend focused time working on improving a specific skill.  Volleyball evaluations are the key to giving a player something tangible that they can reference periodically to see what areas they need to spend time working on.
Improve Communication - Coaches sometimes fail to communicate with players in regards to playing time, areas of improvement, and ares of strength.  Volleyball evaluations are one way to improve communication on these topics.
Improve Player Retention - Players that know where they stand on a team and what they need to do to improve in the sport are far more likely to stay with the team the following year.  

Benefits to Parents
Improve Morale - When a parent receives a volleyball evaluation, their morale goes up because they know that the evaluation is giving their child steps to improve.  Many parents do not attend practice or games.  They do not hear the feedback that their players are receiving during practice and games.  A written volleyball evaluation lets them know that their child is receiving feedback on how to improve.
Improve Communication - Parents are constantly wondering how their child is developing.  Many times coaches do not have the time to speak individually to parents.  Consequently, many disagreements occur because parents are left in the dark as to how their child is progressing.  Volleyball evaluations are a great way to get this information to parents and, as a result, improve communication.
Improve Player Retention - Parents that receive feedback on how their child is developing are much more likely to keep their child on the team the following year.

Success Stories

     I implemented ZoomReports into my club last year and it has made a huge impact on the way we evaluate our players.  ZoomReports allows us to produce professional, detailed reports on our players and gives us the ability to keep a record of all evaluations we submit.  I would recommend ZoomReports to any club that wants to improve their player evaluation process.
Andy Hulbert
DOC | Castro Valley