Everyone generally underestimates scouts, and people think they can be one anytime. But, not everybody has the right mental profile and the skills to become a football scout. While there are some hard skills involved, such as football knowledge, scouting requires some soft skills that cannot be easily acquired. Some of us possess something unique, some people are great football players but terrible coaches, others have zero success in the league but become great coaches, while the rest shine out as scouts.
With that in mind, one should set expectations right and understand what it’s like getting into this, and then have a detailed view of how to become a football scout.
What types of football scouts exist?
Some football scouts focus exclusively on one role, while others alternate between the two depending on what their clients require. One may also find that these roles begin to develop, especially with increasing technology levels within the industry. This has even reached the point where some scouts do not even head out to games anymore and become full-time data analysts. Generally, football scouts are divided into two types, namely, talent scouts and tactical scouts.
Talent scouts are one such type of football scout, whose job is to identify potential recruits and hopefully unearth a hidden gem. They evaluate the talent of footballers to sign them on a professional contract for their employers. Though some scouts focus on discovering promising young players and future stars, some others are employed for running the rule on potential signings. While smaller clubs might only scout within their own country or region, larger, richer clubs can have extensive international scouting networks.
Tactical scouts assess the team and each player to identify the opposition’s relative tactical threats and weaknesses. A tactical scout generally deals with analyzing a team and its tactics. Tactical scouts are generally employed full time as their knowledge and findings are considered precious for clubs.
What do you need to be a football scout?
Each football player on the field knows his role and what he is supposed to do to neutralize the opponent. Football positions have their distinct purposes, and every player needs to have an in-depth understanding of their tasks on the field. Scouts’ expertise isn’t limited to just one position. They will be watching individual players make moves and commit mistakes. Based on that and their comprehensive knowledge of football strategy, they need to accurately identify talent. Getting involved in football is a primary need for football scouts. Although it isn’t mandatory to have played at a high level, having hands-on experience with football is necessary for identifying skills on how to become a football scout. Being a student manager or playing oneself provides a unique insight into football and a better understanding of the game.
Which skills do I need to become a football scout?
- It demands a passion for every football aspect with excellent in-depth knowledge of the gameplay, rules, and tactics. Football scouts usually start low. Often, people engage in scouting as a side gig in addition to their full-time job. Passion is key in football scouting. This isn’t the kind of job where one would make hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for minimal effort. They need to be ready to invest in scouting without expecting much in return. Some people won’t make it; however, this should not dishearten them. Along the way, they will discover other ways of connecting their career with football.
- Outstanding communication skills allow to pass on a scout’s observations through exceptional communication skills, both in written and spoken reports. Scouts often have to work in groups, so having good communication skills is crucial if anybody wants to excel in this career. Constructive interaction with peers and supervisors is a prerequisite for success in the league. They will guide me better and suggest ways on how to become a football scout.
- Football scouting also needs to judge character at a glance, often without directly interacting with the individual being observed. The flexibility to know when to adopt a strategy and when to cut the losses with a lead isn’t working out. While watching players on a pitch with the ability to judge their strengths precisely from a distance, excellent observation skills are necessary for being a football scout.
- Many football scouts have made it into the career by following the right people. Building valuable connections and getting in front of other scouts along the way can be very helpful for an aspiring scout. In this sense, having played in a football team can be highly valuable as one would already know some people.
- Patience is extremely important for a scout as well. Football scouting is a very intensive job mentally and time-wise. It needs to be watched through hours of match footage and make notes, documenting every significant move, mistake, or offense of every team player. The patience to accept that not every client will play out and that something worthwhile will not be found. Merely analyzing a game is going to take hours and hours.
How much does a football scout earn?
A football scout earn salary depends on various factors, including the reputation of the club, where the scout is employed, and the specific role being carried out. A football scout is known to earn approximately £20,000 per annum, but there are many variations within the industry.
Reports say scouts with 6-10 years of experience mostly make from $50k to $100k per year, while scouts with over 16 years of experience mostly earn $100-$125k. A football scout earn a salary is nothing too exceptional, and this certainly isn’t the kind of job someone would switch to earn a lot of money. Moreover, scouts are rewarded with bonuses if the club ultimately signs a player they have analyzed and recommended.
Where I can find more info about scouting courses
A degree is not a must-have for scouts, but it is highly desirable. Reports say that scouts who do have a degree usually have a bachelor’s in sports management, business, marketing, or sales. Although a degree may not be a prerequisite for becoming a football scout, a sports management or sales program will introduce some key hard and soft skills. These are going to be exceptionally useful for an aspiring scout. Aside from a degree, one should rather consider completing scouting courses.
There are also many scouting courses being provided online. Every course is passionately delivered by a qualified, experienced tutor, including elite senior football scouts from the renowned teams.
The scouting courses fee is quite hefty, but the comprehensive curriculum and an experienced team of instructors offer an unparalleled learning opportunity.
Conclusion
Scouts travel distances to cover games and assess players, while not essential, definitely helps. Along with having an intimate knowledge of football and understanding different positions’ requirements, the modern-day scouts should ideally be techno-savvy.
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