AYSO Region 73 Player Evaluation Program

Evaluation Point Guidelines Intermediate (14U)

Technical Ability

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

• Has a great touch when dribbling the ball with their instep (left/right)

• Is great at turning when receiving the ball and has great ball touch (left/right)

• Has a great ability to shield defender from the ball

• Has an ability to maintain great vision while incorporating feints/fakes to, unbalance an opponent

• Is great at consistently using change of speed to beat an opponent 

• Passes are mostly accurate, of correct pace, well timed, deceptive, and mostly successful in advancing the ball or maintaining possession of the ball

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

• Has a good touch when dribbling the ball with their instep (left/right)?

• Is good at turning when receiving the ball and has great ball touch (left/right)

• Has a good ability to shield defender from the ball

• Has an ability to maintain good vision while incorporating feints/fakes to, unbalance an opponent

• Is good at consistently using change of speed to beat an opponent 

• Passes are Somewhat accurate, of correct pace, well timed, deceptive, and somewhat successful in advancing the ball or maintaining possession of the ball

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

• Has a fair touch when dribbling the ball with their instep (left/right)?

• Is fair at turning when receiving the ball and has great ball touch (left/right)

• Has a fair ability to shield defender from the ball

• Unable to maintain good vision while trying to incorporate feints/fakes to, unbalance an opponent

• Unable to consistently use change of speed to beat an opponent 

• Passes are not very accurate, not at correct pace, not well timed, not deceptive, and not somewhat successful in advancing the ball or doesn’t maintain possession of the ball very well

Tactical Ability

20 – 25 Player displays an extraordinary understanding and knowledge of tactical ability for soccer:

• Knows and has an awareness of what is happening or what might happen on the field of play

• Knows and is able to communicate verbally and non-verbally with teammates

• Knows and has a will to assume the responsibility for taking charge on the field of play 

• Knows and has the soccer skills required to develop tactical play

10 – 19 Player displays an average to good understanding and knowledge of tactical ability for soccer:

• Somewhat knows and has an awareness of what is happening or what might happen on the field of play

• Somewhat knows and is able to communicate verbally and non-verbally with teammates sometimes

• Somewhat knows and has a will to assume the responsibility for taking charge on the field of play

• Somewhat knows and has the soccer skills required to develop tactical play

1 – 10 Player doesn’t display a fair understanding or knowledge of tactical ability for soccer:

• Doesn’t know or has an awareness of what is happening or what might happen on the field of play

• Doesn’t know or understand when to communicate verbally and non-verbally with teammates

• Doesn’t know or understand when to assume the responsibility for taking charge on the field of play

• Doesn’t know or has the soccer skills required to develop tactical play

Functional Defending (Stop Scoring and Regain Possession)

20 – 25 Player has extraordinary understanding or knowledge of functional defending:

• Knows and has the ability to pressuring opponents in possession by giving immediate chase, denying their options, i.e., dribbling, passing, shooting, etc., or delaying the opponents in order to regain possession.  – Pressure (delay)

• Knows and has the ability of supporting player(s) challenging the ball in case they are beaten.  Limits options for 1st attacker.  –  Cover  

• Knows and has the ability to reading the attack and providing equal or greater numbers of defenders than attackers at the point of attack, while simultaneously covering the vital area near the goal. – Balance

• Knows and has the ability of compressing or restricting the space the attacking team has by “shepherding” them into a confined area making it easier to defend and regain possession of the ball. – Compactness

• Knows and has the ability to stay calm and collected in the face of an attack by maintaining proper defensive techniques and positioning. – Control/Restraint (Composure)

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

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability to pressuring opponents in possession by giving immediate chase, denying their options, i.e., dribbling, passing, shooting, etc., or delaying the opponents in order to regain possession – Pressure (delay)

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability of supporting player(s) challenging the ball in case they are beaten.  Limits options for 1st attacker.  – Cover   

• Somewhat has average knowledge and to reading the attack and providing equal or greater numbers of defenders than attackers at the point of attack, while simultaneously covering the vital area near the goal. – Balance

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability of compressing or restricting the space the attacking team has by “shepherding” them into a confined area making it easier to defend and regain possession of the ball. – Compactness

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability to stay calm and collected in the face of an attack by maintaining proper defensive techniques and positioning. – Control/Restraint (Composure)

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

• Doesn’t know or has fair ability to pressuring opponents in possession by giving immediate chase, denying their options, i.e., dribbling, passing, shooting, etc., or delaying the opponents in order to regain possession.  – Pressure (delay)

• Doesn’t know or has a fair ability of supporting player(s) challenging the ball in case they are beaten.  Limits options for 1st attacker.  – Cover

• Doesn’t know or has a fair ability to reading the attack and providing equal or greater numbers of defenders than attackers at the point of attack, while simultaneously covering the vital area near the goal. – Balance

• Doesn’t know or has a fair ability of compressing or restricting the space the attacking team has by “shepherding” them into a confined area making it easier to defend and regain possession of the ball. – Compactness

• Doesn’t know or has the ability to stay calm and collected in the face of an attack by maintaining proper defensive techniques and positioning. – Control/Restraint (Composure)

Functional Attacking (To Maintain Possession and Advance The Ball and Score)

20 – 25 Player has extraordinary understanding or knowledge of functional attacking:

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

• Knows and has the ability of supporting teammates by creating safe options for the player with the ball.  – Support

• Knows and has the ability for players interchanging positions (filling in for one another as needed) and moving off the ball. Unbalancing defense, creating numerical advantages and thereby attacking/scoring opportunities – Mobility 

• Knows and has the ability kin of mobility. Attacking on a broad front (players spread out) stretches and isolates the defense and creates space for players to advance. – Width 

• Knows and has the ability of creating opportunities for advancement, possession and scoring by utilizing individual skills such as feints and fakes while dribbling. – Creativity 

10 – 19 Player display average to good understanding or knowledge of functional attacking:

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability of advancing the ball past opposing players by dribbling, passing and finishing/shooting – Penetration

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability of supporting teammates by creating safe options for the player with the ball.  – Support

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability for players interchanging positions (filling in for one another as needed) and moving off the ball. Unbalancing defense, creating numerical advantages and thereby attacking/scoring opportunities - Mobility 

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability kin of mobility. Attacking on a broad front (players spread out) stretches and isolates the defense and creates space for players to advance. – Width

• Somewhat has average knowledge and ability of creating opportunities for advancement, possession and scoring by utilizing individual skills such as feints and fakes while dribbling. – Creativity

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

• Below average knowledge and ability of advancing the ball past opposing players by dribbling, passing and finishing/shooting – Penetration

• Below average knowledge and ability of supporting teammates by creating safe options for the player with the ball.  – Support

• Below average knowledge and ability for players interchanging positions (filling in for one another as needed) and moving off the ball. Unbalancing defense, creating numerical advantages and thereby attacking/scoring opportunities - Mobility 

• Below average knowledge and ability kin of mobility. Attacking on a broad front (players spread out) stretches and isolates the defense and creates space for players to advance. – Width

• Below average knowledge and ability of creating opportunities for advancement, possession and scoring by utilizing individual skills such as feints and fakes while dribbling. – Creativity.