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AYSO Region 73 Player Evaluation Program

Evaluation Point Guidelines (8U)


Technical Ability

20 – 25 Player is extraordinarily soccer technical skills ability, which is excellent to outstanding: 

  • Has great ability to kick or send the ball with their instep

  • Has a great touch when dribbling the ball with their instep

  • Has great ability to Throw-in the ball

  • Has a great ability to dribble with head up & ball close

  • When passing to teammate, the pass is at a great pace

  • Has a great ability to receive a pass, trap with inside of foot

  • Has a great ability to shoot the ball, with their instep part of the foot

10 – 19 Player display average to good soccer technical skills ability:

  • Has good ability to kick or send the ball with their instep

  • Has good touch when dribbling the ball with their instep

  • Has good ability to Throw-in the ball

  • Has good ability to dribble with head up & ball close

  • When passing to teammate, the pass is at a good pace

  • Has an ability to receive a pass, trap with inside of foot

  • Has an ability to shoot the ball, with their instep part of the foot

1 – 10 Player display non to fair soccer technical skills ability:

  • Has fair ability to kick or send the ball with their instep

  • Has fair touch when dribbling the ball with their instep

  • Has fair ability to Throw-in the ball

  • Doesn’t have or has a fair ability to dribble with head up & ball close

  • When passing to teammate, the pass is at a fair pace

  • Doesn’t have or has a fair ability to receive a pass, trap with inside of foot

  • Doesn’t have or has a fair ability to shoot the ball, with their instep part of the foot

Knowledge Ability

20 – 25 Player has extraordinary understanding and knowledge of soccer:

  • Knows and understands when the ball is in and out of play

  • Knows not to kick or trip other players

  • Knows not to handle the ball

  • Knows not to hold or push other players

  • Knows and understands kick-off, corner kick, goal kick, and drop ball

10 – 19 Player display average to good understanding and knowledge of soccer:

  • Somewhat knows and understands when the ball is in and out of play

  • Somewhat knows not to kick or trip other players

  • Somewhat knows not to handle the ball

  • Somewhat knows not to hold or push other players

  • Somewhat knows and understands kick-off, corner kick, goal kick, and drop ball

1 – 10 Player doesn’t display an understanding or knowledge of soccer:

  • Doesn’t know or understands when the ball is in and out of play

  • Doesn’t know or understand not to kick or trip other players

  • Doesn’t know or understand not to handle the ball

  • Doesn’t know or understand not to hold or push other players

  • Doesn’t know or understands kick-off, corner kick, goal kick, and drop ball

Functional Defending (Stop Scoring and Regain Possession)

20 – 25 Player has extraordinary understanding of functional defending:

  • Knows and has the ability to slow down the attack by closing gaps and denying space for the other team to work in – Delay

  • Knows and has the ability of supporting player(s) challenging the ball in case they are beaten – Cover  

  • Knows and has the ability of compressing or restricting the space of the attacking team – Compactness. 

10 – 19 Player display average to good understanding of functional defending:

  • Somewhat knows and has the ability to slow down the attack by closing gaps and denying space for the other team to work in – Delay

  • Somewhat knows and has the ability of supporting player(s) challenging the ball in case they are beaten – Cover

  • Somewhat knows and has the ability of compressing or restricting the space of the attacking team – concentration of compressing or restricting the space of the attacking team – Compactness.

1 – 10 Player doesn’t display an understanding or knowledge of soccer:

  • Doesn’t know or has fair ability to slow down the attack by closing gaps and denying space for the other team to work in – Delay

  • Doesn’t know or has a fair ability of supporting player(s) challenging the ball in case they are beaten – Cover 

  • Doesn’t know or has of compressing or restricting the space of the attacking team – Compactness.


Functional Attacking

20 – 25 Player has extraordinary understanding of functional attacking:

  • Knows and has the ability of advancing the ball past opposing players by dribbling, passing and shooting – Penetration 

  • Knows and has the ability to support teammates by creating safe options for the player with the ball  – Support

  • Knows and has the ability to attack on a broad front by stretching the defense and creating space  – Width 


10 – 19 Player display average to good understanding of functional defending:

  • Somewhat knows and has the ability of advancing the ball past opposing players by dribbling, passing and shooting – Penetration

  • Somewhat has and has the ability to support teammates by creating safe options for the with the ball   – Support

  • Somewhat has the ability to attack on a broad front by stretching the defense and creating space  – Width

1 – 10 Player doesn’t display an understanding or knowledge of soccer:

  • Doesn’t know or has the ability of advancing the ball past opposing players by dribbling, passing and shooting – Penetration

  • Doesn’t have or has a fair ability to support teammates by creating safe options for the with the ball   – Support

  • Doesn’t have or has the ability to attack on a broad front by stretching the defense and creating space  – Width

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AYSO Region 73

Box 371 4725 Panama Lane, Suite D3
Bakersfield, California 93313

Email Us: [email protected]
Phone : 661-556-2931
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