Continuously improve as a scout as part of our community
360 Scouting Academy
The best possible pathway to enter the world of professional football as a scout
✓ Perform (bi)weekly scouting tasks to get practical experience
✓ Learn from key figures in the scouting world in interactive masterclasses
✓ Use scouting platforms such as Impect and Scoutastic with your personal account
✓ Go into depth on specific themes such as squad planning, player agents and youth scouting
Key concepts
We work in six-week cycles, each devoted to a topic that truly matters in scouting. We deep-dive into core areas such as physical and mental traits, positional play and opposition analysis, youth scouting, the role of player agents, and strategic squad planning. The goal is to build a sharper, more holistic understanding of how modern scouting actually works.
To improve, we truly believe it is crucial to continuously practice as a scout by performing scouting tasks. The sequence is always the same: reading the briefing, evaluating the footage, writing the report, and reflecting by absorbing feedback. You will evaluate full matches, screen individual players and create in-depth evaluations, just like professional scouts do.
When applying at professional clubs, or actually joining them, it gives you a big advantage if you are already familiar with the scouting tools and platforms these clubs use. By joining the Academy, you’ll get your own personal account in elite scouting platforms such as Impect (data scouting) and Scoutastic (reporting database).
Within the Academy, you’ll closely interact with like-minded people who share the same mission: getting a foot in the door in professional football. Together, you’ll discuss what works, exchange advices, expand your network and encourage each other to land a role as a scout.
“Being part of a community with like-minded people, all striving to get better and better as a scout, is incredibly encouraging. The mix of expert guidance and peer exchange pushes you to reflect, experiment, and level up your skills faster than any solo course or textbook could.”
Marco van der Heide
Founder 360 Scouting
Key course components
Main focus themes
Six-week cycles
In each six-week cycle, we focus on one scouting theme and one player position that we dive deep into.
- Cycle 1: Physical traits + goalkeepers
- Cycle 2: Mental traits + defensive midfielders
- Cycle 3: Positional play + wingers
- Cycle 4: Team analysis + center backs
- Cycle 5: Youth scouting + attacking midfielders
- Cycle 6: Squad planning + fullbacks
- Cycle 7: Player agents + strikers
- Cycle 8: Data scouting + central midfielders
“Before 360 Scouting, I could see what was happening but couldn’t organize my thoughts. Now I use systematic frameworks that make my analysis clear and actionable.”
Nico Brandt
Bundesliga Scout
Practical assignments
Simulated assignments that mirror professional scouting tasks
Biweekly task – scouting task
Every two weeks, you’ll perform a scouting task. We’ll alternate between different types of tasks: full match analysis, individual player screening, and final stage in-depth evaluations. The rhythm is always the same.
- You read the task description.
- You analyze the video footage.
- You rate and describe the player(s).
- You reflect on your findings.
Weekly task – analyzing football situations
Every week, together, we’ll evaluate one highly interesting football situation. You’ll watch it numerous times, extensively analyze what happens, and answer questions about the situation. Later, you’ll reflect on your findings by reading and watching expert opinions on what happened. By improving your ability to analyze football on a micro level, you’ll better understand what happens on the pitch.
“I struggled to elevate my scouting skills, but this course, including the real-world assignments, gave me the confidence to take the next step. Marco’s insights made all the difference.”
Nikolaos Litsios
Course participant
Learn from industry professional
Every two or three weeks, there will be an interactive masterclass provided by industry experts.
✓ Sporting directors
✓ Heads of recruitment
✓ Scouting coordinators
✓ Professional scouts
✓ Domain experts
You will get the chance to learn from experienced professional first-hand and, if you want, ask questions and share thoughts.
“The professional scouting examples were game-changing for me. Being able to compare my work to industry-standards helped me understand exactly where I needed to improve.”
Elia Ventura
Course participant
Ready to become the scout clubs are looking for?
Join the 360 Scouting Academy and learn from industry experts, practical assignments, and continuous feedback.
How you benefit
Advance your
scouting career
Gain real-world experience
Participate in practical scouting tasks that mirror real club tasks to gain valuable hands-on experience and insights.
Learn from
industry experts
Get scouting
platform access
Who is this Academy for?
Ambitious scouts ready for pro level
This advanced course is ideal for aspiring scouts who:
✓ believe in a combination of expert guidance and peer exchange to increase their network, interact, and discuss in a community setup.
✓ strive to keep getting better by continuously practicing and digesting new theory to get closer and closer to a role in professional football.
Trusted by professional clubs across the world
Champions League
Belgian Pro league
German 2. Bundesliga
Dutch Eredivisie
Danish Superliga
Conference League
Why
choose
us?
What sets us apart from other scouting academies.
In the past, numerous aspiring scouts have joined professional clubs through 360 Scouting. This happened both through our application procedure and learning materials.
We embrace modern football reality. The course covers frameworks and insights coming directly from how professional clubs operate today.
We speak to heads of recruitment every week. Every club is different and uses their own unique approach. We identify patterns in how they structure their scouting.
“After years of experience with different scouting programs, I can say this is the best course I’ve ever taken – super clear, easy to follow, and really helpful. Nothing else comes close to this quality.”
Panagiotis Potiloudis
Course participant
Our alumni work at football clubs across the world
Marco
van der Heide
Tutor of this course
Marco van der Heide is a former professional football player and the founder of 360 Scouting. After his active career, Marco has become a video scouting expert, spending thousands of hours analyzing matches and players.
For almost ten years, he has worked for professional clubs, individually or through 360 Scouting. At AZ Alkmaar, he reported to current Liverpool head coach Arne Slot as their opposition analyst. As a video scout, Marco worked for various clubs, ranging from Champions League teams to second-tier clubs.
Time investment
In the 360 Scouting Academy, you’ll combine attending masterclasses, using scouting platforms such as Impect and Scoutastic, performing scouting tasks and interacting with tutors and peers.
You will invest approximately 3-4 hours per week, although the workload will vary a bit from week to week, depending on the schedule.
Course program
You will perform full match analysis, player screening and in-depth final stage reports. Get inside the head of scouts of professional clubs by analyzing players in great detail.
Create and download professional scouting reports that you can use to build a portfolio. You can use it online to create visibility and credibility, and send it to clubs to show your level of expertise.
Learn from industry experts such as sporting directors, heads of scouting, scouting coordinators and domain experts.
By joining the academy, you’ll get your personal accounts to elite platforms such as Impect (data scouting) and Scoutastic (reporting database). This means you can learn how they are used, which gives you new insights, as well as an advantage when applying at or working for professional clubs.
Get in touch with professionals in the industry and like-minded (aspiring) scouts. Ask questions, discuss scouting topics, and learn from each other in group chats and small-group video meetings.
Frequently Asked Questions
This academy is specifically designed for (aspiring) scouts who strive to continuously improve and set the next step in their scouting career. The academy offers many opportunities to learn, improve and connect with others, and heavily improves your chances of landing a (better) role in professional football.
Marco van der Heide is the founder of 360 Scouting and creator of this course. A former professional football player with nearly a decade of experience working with top-tier clubs as a video scout and opposition analyst.
A decent understanding of English, a reliable internet connection, and the ambition to become a better football scout. That’s it.
The academy takes place in an online environment. It includes several channels where new scouting tasks appear, theory is explained, and masterclasses are hosted.
By joining the academy, you’ll get access to all features.
All activities combined will take you about 3-4 hours per week on average, although there are possibilities to spend more time, such as through your personal access to scouting platforms such as Impect and Scoutastic.
Interactive masterclasses will usually take place in the evenings in the European time zone (CET), but will be available on-demand afterwards.
Weekly scouting tasks can be performed when it suits your schedule.
You can start whenever you want. After subscribing, you’ll get immediate access.
We work with six-week cycles. In such a cycle, there will be a central theme (such as ‘physical traits’ or ‘squad planning’) and we’ll dive deep into one position.
When joining such a cycle half-way, you’ll just continue with the last part and move on to the next six-week cycle together with the others.
All content, including video lessons, assignments, and live Q&A sessions, will be conducted in English.
You can ask questions to Marco or colleagues in the academy environment, or reach out by email.
Yes, when you are part of the academy and will apply at a professional club, we are happy to provide a letter of recommendation based on your participation in the academy, and Marco would be happy to be listed as a reference.
No specific software is needed; just an internet-connected device.
We offer various payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and popular local methods like iDeal, Bancontact, EPS, and Przelewy24. Bank transfers are also available upon request. Please email us at courses@360scouting.com, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
You can either choose a monthly subscription (€79 per month) or an annual subscription (€790 per year).
Yes. The academy offers advanced skills and knowledge which will increase your chances of landings a role in professional football. However, we cannot guarantee that you will obtain a job at a professional club as it both depends on your level and a club’s considerations.
Questions?
We are here to help you
Ready to become the video scout clubs are looking for?
Transform your scouting skills and prepare yourself for top-level football recruitment.