The evaluations you never see

What really gets written down when college coaches evaluate your performance

Earlier this year, I watched a talented midfielder dominate a game - two goals and an assist.

My notes that afternoon? "Talented but selfish. Doesn't track back. Poor body language when subbed."

The disconnect between what families think matters and what coaches actually evaluate costs recruits opportunities at every tournament.

Today, you'll see exactly what coaches write down - and why.

How Coaches Actually Watch

Here's the reality most recruits don't understand: We're not watching the game. We're watching you.

While parents and spectators follow the ball, coaches lock onto individual players.

We'll spend 10-15 minutes evaluating you - watching how you move off the ball, checking your first touch under pressure, listening for your communication.

Then we move to the next prospect on our list.

At a major showcase, a coach might evaluate 50+ players across 20-30 games. That's why those 10 minutes matter so much.

When coaches forget to focus - and trust me, it's easy to get distracted - a whole half can go by with no useful notes taken.

But when we're locked in, 10 minutes tells us a lot of what we need to know.

The Note-Taking Reality

Every coach develops their own shorthand language. Here are some examples of what you'll see in our notes:

Technical Shorthand

• "Positive first touch" = Receives to open space, gets feet facing forwards

• "Big engine / circle-to-circle player" = High work rate, doesn't stop running

• "Soft hands" = Excellent ball-handling skills

• "Hard hands" = Poor ball control, especially first touch

• "Range" = Can play short and long passes accurately

Tactical Observations

• "Sees space" = Good field vision and positioning

• "Plays simple" = Makes smart, low-risk decisions

• "Forces it" = Tries difficult plays when easier options exist

• "Ball hog" = Doesn't pass when teammates are open in better positions

• "Pressing IQ" = Understands when, and from what angle, to initiate pressure

Character Notes

• "Coachable" = Responds positively to instruction

• "Leader" = Organizes teammates loudly, real-time problem-solving

• "Body language" = How they react to mistakes/substitutions

• "Competitor" = Fights for every ball, tackles back

• "Switches off" = Disengages when substituted or losing

What Gets Written: A Case Study

To help you understand how these notes accumulate over time and help influence coaching decisions, below is a case study with my notes on a player I watched over multiple years.

These notes were taken over a 22-month period between freshman fall and sophomore summer. I have removed any details that may identify her, and I do not coach the player now.