Scouting on both an individual player basis and a team basis is one of the most rewarding parts of the game. It can also provide a team and coach a real advantage – if it is done correctly. The modern day soccer scout uses a combination of both his own eyes along with the analysis of data that he has compiled on their assigned topic. At the forefront of what a scout does is his ability to convey the information he has collected to the relevant parties who are using it (player, coach, team). This is essential in the role of a Scout and their role within a team or club.

Scouting: The Immense Benefits

The positives that a good scouting system can give to your club far outweigh the negatives. Getting a good, positive Scouting Network set up will help you and your team prepare for various circumstances over the course of a season, so let’s take a look at some of those positives and how they can benefit you and your team.

1. A good Scouting Network allows you to be in control of how your team prepares for what may lay ahead in future games, in advance, on the training ground.
2. An effective and smart Scouting system can also help collect information on what your team and players are doing as well as future opposition.
3. An effective and smart Scouting systems allows you and your players to grow into the game by encouraging better and more productive communication between yourselves and creating a better understanding of each other in the process.
4. A good Scouting Network will allow you to create your own specific system and method of collecting that data that you feel will benefit your players and team. Simply remember: keep it smart, simple and to the point. This will undoubtedly help you to gain complete confidence from your players with your new levels of preparation while helping in their game time education and learning.

What Should I Scout?

Like all aspects of the game, the level and depth of scouting will depend on how you view the game and will be influenced by both the age group and ability level.

First of all, let’s look at what aspects we would scout an opposing team and how they like to play. The advantages of doing this well would be clear. Focus on what really matters. You need to keep it simple, precise and factual while trying to avoid your own personal opinion. By keeping things as matter of fact as possible, you decrease your chance of obtaining the wrong information. Here are sample aspects of what you should scout:

• Team shape
• Who does what
• Where do they do it
• How do they do it
• Why do they do it
• How does it affect their play
• What Player is assigned what role
• Attacking and Defending Set Pieces

These are just some of a number of things we would need to take into consideration when we are compiling a proper Scouting Report. Within any of the aspects mentioned above, we could breakdown and be more specific on each and every area. This would provide excellent insight and valuable information at our finger tips. For instance, we could look at “team shape” and examine additional aspects:

Team Shape

• What system do they play?
• How many Players do they attack with?
• Do they attack from central positions or from the wings?
• How is the space created?
• What attacking patterns did you observe?
• Who is assigned specific roles and what are they?

Remember, what you are doing here is to obtain and ultimately present information to help your players, coach and team as a whole. An effective Scouting Report will help the team and players to prepare themselves properly and improve their end results while helping them to understand the game and the different areas within it.

Next week we will look at how to keep yourself and your information organized, what is needed in terms of your “Scouting Check List” and other practical tips and advice.