An experienced coach should be able to quickly estimate a player’s skill level by evaluating key attributes such as:

• Court Positioning
• Shot Selection
• Consistency
• Ability to Generate and Counter Power
• Physical Mobility
• Ball Control
• Application of Strategy

Developing an intuitive sense for assessing skill levels allows coaches to keep players engaged and ensure they have an enjoyable experience. An accurate assessment enables quick adjustments to appropriately challenge all participants.

The goal is not to pinpoint precise skill levels but to identify significant discrepancies between players. While minor skill variations are common and generally inconsequential, addressing major differences ensures a balanced and enjoyable playing environment. Developing the habit of quickly recognizing these differences is an essential tool in a coach’s skillset.

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Assessing player level quickly to determine how to separate a group and how the difficulty level may need to be adjusted for certain players in the group. 

Question: What if I have a player who is highly mobile and has a great forehand but has a 3.0 backhand… How do I determine a rating for a player who has some 4.5 skills and 3.5 skills?

Answer: Determine this by asking what level of player would it take for this player to consistently lose to them… Their rating should be just below that of players they cannot consistently beat. 

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