How I Decide What to Look at First When Evaluating a Player

When I evaluate a player for the first time, I’m not trying to measure everything.

I’m trying to understand the person in front of me.

Over the years I’ve learned that the goal of the first evaluation is not to collect as much data as possible, but to identify the signals that actually matter.

But it took me some time to understand that.

Before Meeting the Player

When I know I will start working with a new player, the first thing I do is gather as much information as possible.

If available, I watch matches or training sessions online. I try to understand what kind of season the player has had: the tournaments they played, the results, and whether there were periods where they stopped competing.

This helps me build a first professional picture of the athlete.

Of course, information is not always available, but when it is, it helps a lot. It allows me to arrive at the first meeting already having some context about the player’s journey.

The First Conversation

During the first meeting, I try to listen more than I speak.

I want to understand how the player thinks and how they experienced the last months or years of training.

One of the first things I observe is actually very simple.

How they walk.
How they greet me.
Whether their hand is sweaty or not.

These small details can already give clues about the person: whether they are nervous, very energetic, introverted, extroverted, or a bit anxious.

This may seem secondary, but it often influences how training should be approached later. Some athletes respond better to structure and control, others need more freedom and autonomy.

If the opportunity arises, I sometimes mention a match they played. This shows that I took the time to learn about their professional past and that I’m genuinely interested in their journey.

During this first conversation I also try to understand how they see training.

What they like.
What they dislike.
What they expect from me.

Only after that do I start asking more specific questions about the work they have been doing recently.

For example:

• the type of training they have been following
• the volume and intensity of tennis sessions
• the work done in the gym
• nutrition habits
• whether they use supplements

This helps me understand the environment they are coming from before making any decision.

The Physical Evaluation

After the conversation, I move to the physical evaluation.

I usually start with a passive and active assessment on the treatment table, looking at joint and general posture.

Only after that do I move to the active evaluation.

Sometimes coaches ask why I don’t start immediately with performance tests like sprints or jumps.

The reason is simple.

If during the passive or active evaluation I find something that raises a red flag, I don’t want to take the risk of pushing the athlete into maximal efforts too early.

For example, if I notice significant asymmetries, restrictions, or signs of discomfort, it doesn’t make sense to ask the athlete to perform maximal sprints or explosive tests right away.

The first evaluation should never create unnecessary risk.

A Mistake I Made Early in My Career

Early in my career, I approached evaluation very differently.

I believed that the more tests I had, the better I could understand the athlete.

Looking back now, I realize that I was often lost in numbers.

A few months ago I found an evaluation sheet I used around ten years ago.

Between body composition analysis, strength tests, speed tests, agility tests, endurance tests, mobility measures, anthropometric data and skinfold measurements, I was collecting 43 different data points.

When I look at that sheet now, it makes me smile.

I was spending a lot of time collecting data, but I didn’t yet have the experience to identify which information was actually useful.

Over time I realized something important.

The goal of evaluation is not to gather as much information as possible.

The goal is to identify the information that truly matters.

Observing the Player on Court

After the gym evaluation, I always like to spend some time with the player on court.

This is where many important signals appear.

I observe how the player moves during tennis-specific actions.

Is the center of mass high or low?
How coordinated are the feet when moving toward the ball?
How reactive is the first step?
Do they lose balance when changing direction?

I also pay attention to how they breathe and how they recover between points.

If possible, I like to watch them play points as well.

Not only for the physical side, but also to observe their attitude: body language, reactions after mistakes, and the overall emotional control during play.

Sometimes these observations reveal more than a full battery of tests.

What the First Evaluation Is Really About

With experience I realized that the first evaluation is not about testing the athlete.

It is about understanding how they move, how they think, and how they approach training.

Many important signals appear in the first minutes if you know where to look.

The goal is not to see everything.

The goal is to recognize what matters most.

Practical Takeaways for Coaches

• During the first meeting, listen more than you talk
  • Simple observations often reveal more than complex tests
  • Evaluation is not about collecting data, but identifying meaningful signals
  • Understanding the athlete as a person is as important as evaluating physical qualities

Most of the important information is already there.

You just need to know where to look.