This paper examines evaluation tools used in football programs at the varsity and broader athletic levels. It reviews a player evaluation form from American Football Monthly, noting its psychological and physical breadth while identifying gaps such as vertical jump assessment. It also analyzes a varsity coach evaluation form, highlighting its focus on community engagement, enthusiasm, and participation over win-loss records. The paper extends to program development, discussing how coaches and athletic directors can align on shared goals — from player health and leadership to budgeting and community relations — while using self-evaluations, peer feedback, and regular meetings to maintain objectivity and honest assessment.
Effective sports program management depends on structured evaluation of both players and coaches. Football programs at all levels benefit from standardized forms that assess not only physical skills but also psychological qualities, leadership, and community engagement. The following sections examine specific evaluation tools for football players and varsity coaches, and then broaden to consider program-level goals shared by coaches and athletic directors.
Football players can be evaluated using a formal player evaluation form. Such forms are designed for use in a formal evaluation process — either on intake or during considerations for lineup changes — as well as for providing ongoing feedback and assessment for players already on the roster.
A well-designed player evaluation form can be quite thorough, providing both psychological and physical feedback. However, some forms may lack assessment criteria that are particularly important for specific positions. For receivers, for example, a form could be improved by adding an assessment box for how high the player can jump from a standing position. There may also be a need for other position-specific skills to be included. Otherwise, a comprehensive form should cover the full breadth of skills a player will need to succeed, including attitude, work ethic, and leadership ability. Any additional observations can be placed in a "notes" section or in supplementary fields indicating the player's strongest quality and areas where improvement is needed.
Coaches at the school varsity level require an evaluation form tailored to the unique demands and philosophy of that setting. Such a form can be used in a formal evaluation process when reviewing an existing coach's performance or when assessing a new coach still in a probationary period. It can also be used for ongoing assessments, which are helpful for monitoring a coach's development throughout a school year.
A strong varsity coach evaluation form reflects a philosophy that differs significantly from coaching at the professional or collegiate level. Indicators at the varsity level should include the coach's level of commitment to parents, the school, and the broader community — not simply a focus on winning games. Qualities such as participation, enthusiasm, and genuine care for student-athletes are central to effective varsity coaching, where psychological and social skills are as important as athletic expertise. Ideally, such a form includes both self-evaluations and pre-evaluations. A significant enhancement would be the addition of student or athlete evaluations of the coach, which would provide a valuable perspective currently missing from many standard forms.
"Coach and athletic director aligned program goals"
"Self-evaluation and peer feedback for coaches"
"Regular meetings and forms for honest program review"
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