3 Tips for More Effective Player Evaluations
Providing meaningful feedback for each player takes time, but it shouldn’t be complicated. Sprocket Sports’ easy-to-use, integrated Player Progress module lets you focus on providing constructive and actionable feedback to motivate your players and help them reach their full potential on the field.
Here are 3 tips for more effective player evaluations from Luke Weaver, Sprocket Sports’ resident Ted Lasso:
Be Positive and Specific
Begin by focusing on the player’s strengths. It’s advised in any relationship to “fill the emotional tank” by keeping a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative comments. It’s more effective to lead with the positive areas of strength, rather than emphasizing negative qualities and leaving the player feeling discouraged. It’s also important that your feedback be specific. For example, instead of saying “strong passer”, say, “can pass over 15 yards accurately with both feet.”
Establish Player Goals
Engage players by asking them to share their goals with you. One way to do this is by asking who their favorite player is and how they would like to emulate that player. Do they want to be a more creative playmaker? Do they want to improve their shooting? Do they aim to play in college? Meet the player where they are and use their answers to guide the conversation. Better yet, ask players to put their goals in writing.
Focus on Personal Progress and Make It Actionable
Focus on how the player can make incremental improvements in order to reach their personal goals. Try to minimize comparisons to other players. While rating and ranking players is necessary to create teams, communicating these scores with players can have a detrimental effect on their psyche. A more motivating way to share feedback is to suggest three areas of strength and three areas for improvement. Conclude by developing an action plan with specific “to do’s” that the player can use to make tangible progress.