5 Key Benefits of Athlete Evaluation Software

Selecting the most well-rounded players for your team. That is the number one goal in the minds of coaches. Players will be evaluated across a range of skills, scores will be analyzed, and decisions will be made. But, without the use of athlete evaluation software, this process isn’t as easy as 1-2-3.

If we consider the pen-and-paper method, there are a plethora of challenges it presents. How long will it take for the data to be transferred from the clipboard to the computer? What happens if the data isn’t entered correctly or gets lost? How long will it take to use Excel to generate reports in order to interpret that data?

Save yourself the headache and consider an athlete evaluation software to conduct your next tryout, clinic, or skills assessment.

Why Utilize Athlete Evaluation Software?

1) Reduce Data Entry

Evaluate your athletes seamlessly. Create a customized evaluation template and upload your players in advance. Then, start coring your players on any mobile device.

No longer do you need to spend time locating a player on your clipboard to assign a score and rush to write down notes (which may not be legible when it’s read later). Rather, select a skill and evaluate all athletes by typing in a score or using the slider button. You can also quickly navigate to any athlete using the built-in search bar.

Easy athlete scoring ability on SkillShark

2) Cut Down Evaluation Time

Set up everything needed for your evaluation in a matter of minutes. Score players and have results on the same day.

1. Import players. Players can be imported from an Excel spreadsheet or a player management software such as TeamSnap, SportsEngine, or Linkt.
2. Create an evaluation template. A pre-filled evaluation template comes readily available based on your sport. Use these pre-determined metrics or completely customize your own evaluation template!
3. Create an event. Add an event name, start date & time. Next, invite all of your evaluators, giving them each access to the evaluation template you have created.
4. Evaluate the event. Use a slider button to score athletes, add any additional comments, and attach videos on any mobile device.

The process of athlete evaluations used to take us 2-3 hours. Now, it is done in under 20 minutes with SkillShark.

Tyler Stahl, Notre Dame Academy

3) Unlock Player Insights

Let’s go back to the paper-based system again. Once you have gathered the stacks of paper forms from your evaluators, how do you even begin interpreting the data? As most sports organizations don’t have a data scientist on hand, figuring out how to derive insights from this data becomes incredibly time-consuming. As a result, team placement decisions aren’t made with 100% accuracy.

However, if you’re using evaluation software, analysis is a piece of cake. Once scores are input during evaluations, they are readily available for analysis in report-ready format. You can now focus on comparing and ranking players to make important drafting decisions.

Score grid reports on SkillShark

4) Provide Athlete Feedback

Athlete development is essential for long-term success. As much as players want to win each game, they also want to become well-rounded athletes who are adept at many skills. However, if an athlete isn’t told what to work on by their coaches, how will they know what skills to develop?

By using athlete evaluation software, coaches can provide immediate, professional reports sent straight to their athletes’ inboxes. Players can see how they score across each skill and how they compare to the team average. In addition, players can view any attached comments or watch videos of themselves performing that skill.

While coaches often don’t have the time to give this level of detailed and prompt in-person feedback during practices, individual reports can supplement in-person feedback. Athletes will have a clear understanding of how they are performing, what areas they need to work on, and tips for how they can improve in certain areas.

Individual player report in SkillShark

What we like best about SkillShark is being able to provide instant feedback. Before SkillShark we used the old-school method of pen and paper. Now using SkillShark we can view results right after the evaluation is complete. We wouldn’t be without it.

Derek Bloski. Coach — SHA Hockey

5) Streamline Parent Communication

Parents will almost always have questions about how their child is progressing. With the money, time, and energy commitment parents are making to a sports team, parents want to ensure their child is getting the most out of their experience.

Instead of trying to decipher handwritten notes, coaches can share scores, comments, and video feedback with parents through individual reports. When sending a report to an athlete, coaches can also email a copy to the parents. This ensures parents receive the same feedback as their child, helping prevent any miscommunication & inconsistencies that often arise with in-person feedback.

Wrapping Up

These 5 benefits of an athlete evaluation software make this tool a “must-have.” Coaches will be equipped to conduct more thorough evaluations, athletes will be provided with a better sense of direction, and parents will be given the level of feedback they desire.

Transform the way you conduct player evaluations, make team decisions, and provide athlete feedback. Want to learn more? Visit skillshark.com