What a Shooting Evaluation Report Should Contain.
A shooting evaluation should fit on one page: the conditions it was recorded under, four to six baseline measurements, a consistency figure, one named priority, the two or three drills that address it, and a re-test date. Anything longer gets skimmed, and anything without a re-test date is a document rather than a development plan.
The structure.
1. Conditions. Date, spot on the floor, number of shots, fresh or fatigued, camera angle. Without this the numbers are uncomparable next month, and comparability is the entire point.
2. Outcome baseline. Makes out of attempts from the recorded spot. One number, honestly recorded.
3. Mechanical baseline. Four to six measurements, no more:
| Measurement | Why it earns its place |
|---|---|
| Release point height | Predicts whether the shot gets contested at the next level |
| Arc / entry angle | Explains misses that look mechanically fine |
| Base width and landing offset | Root cause of most left-right misses |
| Elbow alignment at release | Directional consistency |
| Lower-to-upper timing | First thing to break under fatigue |
| Rep-to-rep variance | The best single predictor of game transfer |
4. Consistency. How much each measurement varied across the set. A player whose release point moves five centimetres between reps has a consistency problem, not a technique problem, and the fix is different.
5. Makes versus misses. The one or two variables that differed between the player's makes and their misses in this set. This is the analytical heart of the report.
6. The priority. Exactly one. Written as a cue the player can repeat, not as a biomechanical description. "Land where you jumped" beats "reduce anterior displacement at landing."
7. The plan. Two or three drills, with rep counts and a weekly frequency.
8. Re-test date. Two to three weeks out, same spot, same set size, same conditions.
What to leave out.
- Every measurement you collected. A report is a selection, not a dump.
- Comparisons to professional players. Nobody develops from being told they are not Steph Curry.
- Percentile rankings against other kids in a report a parent will read. It changes the conversation from development to status.
- More than one priority. Two priorities means the player works on neither.
- Jargon. If a fourteen-year-old cannot restate the priority in their own words, rewrite it.
Two audiences, one page.
The player wants to know what to work on. The parent wants to know that there is a plan and that progress is measurable. The same page serves both if the priority is plain language and the re-test date is visible. Send it as one page; keep your detailed data for yourself.
Re-testing is the whole thing.
An evaluation without a re-test is a snapshot sold as a service. The credibility of a coach's programme comes from the second report: same conditions, same measurements, and a visible delta. When the delta is flat, say so and change the approach — that honesty is worth more than a flattering chart.
How Kima fits.
Kima produces this data continuously rather than at an evaluation appointment: 14+ biomechanical checkpoints per shot, compared against the player's own makes, on every rep including the solo sessions. For a coach, the evaluation stops being a special event you schedule and becomes a matter of pulling the numbers you already have and choosing the priority. The judgement — which one thing to fix, and what to say about it — remains yours.
FAQ.
How long should a shooting evaluation take to run?
Twenty to thirty minutes of court time: a warm-up, a recorded set of 20 to 25 shots from a fixed spot, and a short conversation. The writing should take ten minutes if your measurements are already captured.
How many shots do I need for the numbers to mean anything?
Twenty to twenty-five from one spot for consistency; ten is enough only for an initial reference. Spreading the same total across five spots gives you five unreliable samples instead of one reliable one.
Should I share the raw video with parents?
Share one make and one miss if it supports the priority. Full session video invites second-guessing and rarely helps the player.
What if the re-test shows no improvement?
Report it plainly and change one variable: the cue, the drill, or the volume. Flat results after three weeks usually mean the cue was not understood or the reps did not happen, not that the player cannot improve.
Can I use the same template for youth and adult players?
Yes, but change the tone. Youth reports should carry one priority and encouragement; adult reports can carry more measurement detail because adults are usually self-directing their training.