How to become a great football scout [complete guide]
Football Scouting Guide
Chapter overview
Becoming a great football scout is a journey that requires dedication, passion, and continuous learning. Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your scouting to the next level, this guide provides you with the essential steps to become not just a scout but a great one.
You can start from the beginning to the end or jump right to the most interesting part.
- Introduction to football scouting
This chapter (which you can read below) provides an introduction to football scouting, outlining the key traits and skills necessary to excel in this field and guiding how to kickstart your career. - The three types of football scouting (data, video, live)
Football scouting involves three key methods: data, video, and live scouting. Each method provides unique insights, and scouts often combine all three to create a comprehensive player assessment. - Football scouting resources (the best blogs, websites, books, podcasts, videos)
A wide range of resources is available for aspiring football scouts, from insightful blogs and podcasts to books and videos that offer expert knowledge on scouting techniques and industry trends. - Football scouting software, tools, and technology
Modern football scouting relies heavily on software and data tools that provide detailed player statistics and video analysis, helping scouts evaluate players more efficiently and accurately. - How do you write great football scouting reports? (tips, templates & examples)
Writing an effective scouting report requires precision, structure, and clarity. Using specific frameworks and templates ensures consistency while focusing on the player’s key performance aspects. - Where and how to find football scouting jobs, vacancies, and internships
Football scouting jobs can be found through various platforms, including club websites, specialized job boards, and networking tools. Internships and freelance opportunities are also on the rise. - Writing a Football Scout CV & Cover Letter: 10 tips
Crafting a standout football scout CV and cover letter requires highlighting relevant experience, technical skills, and a deep understanding of the club or organization to which you are applying.
Introduction to football scouting
More than just watching players on a pitch
Football scouting is more than just watching players on a pitch and making quick judgments. It’s about understanding the game at a deeper level, knowing what makes a player stand out, and having the ability to forecast growth potential. With the ever-growing competition in football, clubs are constantly searching for top-tier talent that can give them the edge. This is where scouts come in.
The role of a football scout is becoming more critical with the rise of advanced scouting tools, data analysis, and video technology alongside the traditional live scouting methods. Whether spotting a future superstar in a youth team or providing tactical insight into an opponent, great scouts bring immense value to their clubs.
In this complete guide, we’ll explore the core traits that make a football scout successful, the essential skills you need to develop, and the practical steps you can take to begin your career as a football scout.
What makes you a great football scout?
The difference between a good scout and a great scout
The difference between a good scout and a great scout often comes down to more than just knowledge of football. Successful scouts exhibit specific characteristics and mindsets that allow them to consistently identify talent, build trust with clubs, and contribute to winning teams.
Here are some of the key traits that define a great football scout:
- Passion for football and new developments: Football is a constantly evolving game. A great scout must love the game enough to stay updated with new tactics, trends, and player developments. Football evolves, and you must evolve and grow as well.
- Attention to detail: Great scouts have a sharp eye for spotting things others may overlook. This includes skills, decision-making, positioning without the ball, and how a player handles difficult situations.
- Analytical thinking: It’s not just about observing a player. A scout needs to analyze how players fit into a system, their long-term potential, and how they can improve under the right coaching.
- Objectivity: Scouting requires you to make unbiased decisions. You need to be able to separate personal preferences from what’s best for the team and the club you scout for.
- Talent assessment: Understanding what a player can do and what they could do with the proper development is crucial to a scout’s value. Clubs often look for potential players who can be molded into key players.
By assessing whether you possess these traits, you’ll understand your suitability for a scouting role and what you need to work on to become truly great.
Skills needed to become a football scout
Analytical skills
Communication skills
Technology skills
Networking skills
Essentials skills for football scouts
What it takes to be a football scout
While having the right mindset is essential, a great football scout must also develop specific skills. These skills go beyond simply watching games—they involve leveraging data, effectively communicating insights, and building valuable relationships within the industry.
Analytical skills
Data and statistics increasingly drive football. A great scout needs to be comfortable evaluating players’ performances using both qualitative and quantitative methods. This means watching players in action and understanding how to interpret metrics like distance covered, passing accuracy, and expected goals. Our football scouting courses teach you the anatomy of football actions, enabling you to understand the whole game better.
Communication skills
Scouting isn’t just about collecting data; it’s about presenting your findings clearly and compellingly. Whether you’re preparing a report for a head coach or giving verbal feedback, the ability to communicate what you’ve seen and why it’s essential is crucial.
Leveraging technology for effective scouting
It’s vital to feel comfortable using tools like Wyscout or similar software, which help you analyze games, track player performance, and create detailed reports that clubs use for their recruiting strategies. With video analysis and scouting software advancing, having technology expertise is crucial.
Networking skills
At 360 Scouting, getting a job as a football scout is based on something other than connections. You can apply here regardless of whether you have a professional football background. Our application process rigorously evaluates your skills and knowledge. It is a great way to enter the industry without a professional football background.
However, building relationships with coaches, club directors, agents, and other scouts can create new opportunities and provide access to inside information. A successful scout knows how to network effectively to advance their career. This networking can be done both offline and online.
How to develop these skills:
- Stay up-to-date and constantly improve your knowledge (this list of football scouting resources will help you).
- Take online courses in football analytics and scouting to further advance your knowledge.
- Practice writing scouting reports on players and receive feedback. Effective reporting is crucial for becoming an excellent scout, but mastery will come with practice.
- Expand your network: this can be done both online and offline.
- Learn how to use scouting software and familiarize yourself with video analysis.
Decide what type of scout you want to be
Pick a niche: specialize yourself
Breaking into the football scouting industry can seem challenging, especially if you have yet to gain experience, but there are clear steps you can take to begin your journey. Here’s how you can get started:
Decide what type of scout you want to be
There are three main types of football scouts: live, video, and data. None of the three is superior to the others; they are primarily different and complement each other. At 360 Scouting, we specialize in video scouting, which is still underutilized and offers multiple advantages, including the ability to do it remotely. So, if you want to become a top video scout, you are in the right place. If you want to work as a live or data scout, others are better suited (but this guide will provide helpful information for getting started).
One of the best ways to stand out as a football scout is to choose a niche and specialize in it. This allows you to become an expert in a particular area, making your insights more valuable to clubs and organizations. Specialization can focus on several aspects:
Position-based scouting: Specializing in scouting players for specific positions, such as goalkeepers, defenders, or forwards, allows you to develop a deep understanding of the unique skills and traits required for that role. For example, you can focus on what makes a great wing-back and become the go-to scout for that position.
Geographical focus: Focusing on a specific region or country is another way to specialize. By becoming an expert in a particular football market, such as South America, Eastern Europe, Japan, or youth leagues in your local area, you’ll gain valuable knowledge about the talent pool and trends in those areas. Clubs often look for scouts who can offer deep insights into regions or specific players they want to tap into.
Age group specialization: Scouting different age groups requires unique skills and perspectives. Some scouts focus on youth players (U18s, U21s), while others prefer senior players. Youth scouting demands the ability to identify raw talent and potential, whereas scouting senior players is more about assessing their immediate impact and readiness for higher levels of competition.
Women’s Football: With the rapid growth and increasing popularity of women’s football worldwide, specializing in this area presents a significant opportunity. By focusing on the women’s game, you can become an expert in identifying top female talent and trends specific to women’s leagues. This niche is increasingly sought after as clubs and organizations invest more in women’s teams, making it a highly relevant and valuable specialization.
Tactical or analytical scouting: Another way to specialize is to focus on specific tactical aspects or become proficient in video or data scouting. You might focus on identifying players who fit particular tactical systems, or you could become an expert in analyzing data to find hidden gems.
Specializing helps you develop expertise and makes you more marketable to clubs and agencies looking for scouts with deep, focused knowledge in particular areas.
More tips to become a football scout
Build your knowledge with free online resources
Before diving into paid courses or certifications, consuming as much free content as possible is wise to build a solid foundational knowledge of football scouting. There are countless online resources—blogs, podcasts, videos, and forums—that can help you learn the basics of scouting. Our guide includes a pretty comprehensive list of free football scouting resources.
Take football scouting courses
Taking specialized football scouting courses is a great next step if you’re serious about advancing your football scouting career. Several organizations offer scouting courses tailored to different skill sets and levels of expertise. If you aim to become a top-tier video scout, our online courses are designed to help you master the art of video scouting. You’ll expand and apply your theoretical knowledge through practical scouting tasks, receiving personalized feedback from experienced professionals to ensure continuous improvement.
For those interested in other scouting areas, such as tactical or player analysis, numerous courses are available to help you specialize. Whatever your focus, enrolling in a football scouting course is an excellent way to sharpen your skills, increase your credibility, and stay ahead in this competitive field.
Gain experience through internships or volunteering
Starting as a football scout often involves gaining hands-on experience. Many scouts begin by working for free or part-time, volunteering with local clubs or youth teams. This allows you to practice your skills, build a network, and start compiling a portfolio of scouting reports. While you may get paid later, it is possible to eventually make a living out of scouting with the right experience. For more information, check out our overview of places to find football jobs and internships. Our video scouting role is also perfect for good scouts to gain experience working for multiple clubs in different leagues.
Networking Strategies
Make an effort to connect with professionals in the football world. Whether reaching out to fellow scouts on LinkedIn, X, or other networks or attending football industry events, building relationships and an online presence is key to getting noticed and standing out. The more you expand your network, the more opportunities will come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions that aspiring scouts often have, along with concise answers to help guide you through the process:
No, a degree is not mandatory, but having relevant qualifications or certifications in football scouting can be a significant advantage.
No formal qualifications are required to become a football scout, but taking relevant courses can significantly improve your skills and boost your chances of success.
Getting a job as a football scout depends on your network, skills, experience, and sometimes luck. Some scouts find jobs within a few months, while others may take longer to build their credentials and establish themselves in the industry.
Yes, football scouting is ideally suited for freelance or part-time work. A recent survey among football scouts showed that only 37% of scouts have full-time positions, while more than half have part-time and freelance roles.
The working hours for football scouts vary depending on the type of scouting they do: live, video, or data. Live scouts attend matches in person, meaning their work typically occurs during the evenings and weekends when games are scheduled, while video and data scouts have more flexible schedules.
No, you’re never too old to become a football scout. Scouting is a profession where experience, knowledge, and a keen eye for talent are more important than age. Many scouts begin their careers later in life. What matters most is your ability to evaluate talent, analyze the game, and continually develop your skills.
What to read next?
Football Scouting Guide
Chapter overview
Becoming a great football scout is a journey that requires dedication, passion, and continuous learning. Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your scouting to the next level, this guide provides you with the essential steps to become not just a scout but a great one.
You can start from the beginning to the end or jump right to the most interesting part.
- Introduction to football scouting
This chapter provides an introduction to football scouting, outlining the key traits and skills necessary to excel in this field and guiding you through the steps to kickstart your career. - The three types of football scouting (data, video, live)
Football scouting involves three key methods: data, video, and live scouting. Each method provides unique insights, and scouts often combine all three to create a comprehensive player assessment. - Football scouting resources (the best blogs, websites, books, podcasts, videos)
A wide range of resources is available for aspiring football scouts, from insightful blogs and podcasts to books and videos that offer expert knowledge on scouting techniques and industry trends. - Football scouting software, tools, and technology
Modern football scouting relies heavily on software and data tools that provide detailed player statistics and video analysis, helping scouts evaluate players more efficiently and accurately. - How do you write great football scouting reports? (tips, templates & examples)
Writing an effective scouting report requires precision, structure, and clarity. Using specific frameworks and templates ensures consistency while focusing on the player’s key performance aspects. - Where and how to find football scouting jobs, vacancies, and internships
Football scouting jobs can be found through various platforms, including club websites, specialized job boards, and networking tools. Internships and freelance opportunities are also on the rise. - Writing a Football Scout CV & Cover Letter: 10 tips
Crafting a standout football scout CV and cover letter requires highlighting relevant experience, technical skills, and a deep understanding of the club or organization to which you are applying.
Ready to take your scouting skills to the next level?
We offer the best and most advanced football scouting courses to prepare you for the field. Master the skills needed to excel in video scouting.
