Soccer Management and Scouting FAQ

How do I become a soccer scout?

Becoming a soccer scout starts with learning how clubs actually evaluate talent. Most aspiring scouts fail because they watch games like fans instead of professionals. This course teaches you how to evaluate players using real scouting criteria, build scouting reports, and understand how scouting fits into recruitment and club decision-making.

 What qualifications do you need to be a soccer scout?
There is no single required degree to become a scout. What clubs care about most is whether you can identify talent, communicate it clearly, and back it up with strong scouting reports. This course helps you develop those exact skills and gives you training from experienced professionals who have worked inside the game.

 Can I become a soccer scout if I never played professionally?
Yes. Many successful scouts were not former professionals. Clubs hire scouts who can evaluate players accurately, understand systems and roles, and deliver high-quality reports. Playing experience can help, but it is not a requirement. Training, consistency, and credibility matter more.

 What does a soccer scout actually do?
A soccer scout evaluates players for recruitment. That includes:

  • Watching matches live and on video
  • Identifying strengths, weaknesses, and fit for a system
  • Writing professional scouting reports
  • Communicating recommendations to decision-makers
  • Tracking players over time, not just one game

This course teaches you the real process used by clubs.

 How do scouts evaluate a soccer player?
Professional scouts evaluate much more than highlights. They focus on:

  • Decision-making under pressure
  • Movement off the ball
  • Tactical awareness
  • Technical consistency
  • Physical profile and athletic traits
  • Mentality, work rate, and competitiveness
  • Fit within a specific playing style

We teach you how to evaluate players using the same framework scouts use at the professional level.

 How do you write a soccer scouting report?
A scouting report should be clear, structured, and useful for a coach or recruitment director. It’s not an opinion piece — it’s a professional evaluation. In this course, you’ll learn how to write scouting reports that include player traits, role fit, development potential, and recruitment value.

 What skills do professional clubs look for in a scout?
Clubs look for scouts who can:

  • Spot talent early
  • Understand tactical systems
  • Evaluate objectively
  • Communicate clearly
  • Produce consistent scouting reports
  • Build trust over time

This course is designed to teach those professional scouting habits.

 Is a soccer scouting course worth it?
If you are serious about scouting as a career, yes. Most people don’t need “more soccer knowledge.” They need a structured process and professional training. This course helps you build a foundation that makes you credible and prepared to pursue real scouting opportunities.

 Can an online soccer scouting course actually help me get hired?
Yes — but like any sports career path, results depend on effort. This course gives you the skills, structure, and mentorship to build a scouting portfolio and take real steps toward the industry. Many of our students use what they learn to earn opportunities with clubs, academies, agencies, and scouting networks.

 How do soccer scouts get hired by professional clubs?
Most scouts don’t get hired through a simple job posting. They build credibility through:

  • A strong scouting portfolio
  • Consistent evaluation work
  • Networking and mentorship
  • Recommendations from people in the game
  • Demonstrating they understand the modern recruitment process

This course helps you build those tools and develop the right approach.

 How long does it take to learn soccer scouting?
You can learn the fundamentals quickly, but mastering scouting takes repetition and real evaluation work. That’s why our course is structured to build professional-level skills over 8 weeks — with real assignments and weekly mentorship.

 What is the difference between a scout and a soccer analyst?
A scout focuses on player recruitment and evaluation — identifying talent and projecting future potential.

An analyst focuses on performance analysis, often using data, video, and tactical breakdown.

The best modern scouts understand both sides. This course teaches the scouting side while introducing you to how scouting and analysis work together in today’s game.

 Do soccer scouts use video and data analytics?
Yes. Modern scouting is no longer just live games and instinct. Professional scouts use video platforms, player tracking, match analysis, and data tools to support decisions. This course teaches you how scouting works today — not how it worked 20 years ago.

 Can I scout players using video only?
Yes — and many scouts do. Video scouting is common in modern recruitment, especially for international scouting. However, professional scouts know the limitations of video and what you must confirm in person. This course teaches both approaches and how clubs use each one.

 What traits do scouts look for in youth soccer players?
Youth scouting is about more than current performance. Scouts look for:

  • Coachability and learning speed
  • Movement and awareness
  • Technical consistency
  • Mentality and competitiveness
  • Athletic upside
  • Potential role fit

This course teaches you how to evaluate future potential, not just current ability.

 Do I need coaching experience to become a scout?
No, but it can help. Many scouts come from coaching backgrounds because they understand tactics and player roles. If you don’t have coaching experience, the key is learning the scouting process and learning how to evaluate players professionally — which is exactly what this course provides.

 Can I become a scout later in life?
Yes. Scouting is one of the few sports careers where experience, maturity, and judgment can be an advantage. We have students of all ages who use this course to transition into scouting, talent evaluation, or soccer recruitment roles.

 How do I build a scouting portfolio?
A scouting portfolio includes:

  • Written scouting reports
  • Player evaluations and comparisons
  • Match notes and analysis
  • Recruitment recommendations
  • Proof of consistency and improvement over time

In this course, you’ll complete scouting assignments that help you build that portfolio.

 Will this course teach me how to scout professionally?
Yes. This course is designed to teach you how professional scouts evaluate players, how scouting reports are written, and how recruitment decisions are made. You’ll learn how to watch matches with a scouting lens, not as a fan.

Do I interact with real soccer scouts and executives in this course?
Yes. The course includes live weekly video chats with soccer professionals. These sessions are where students gain insider knowledge, ask questions, and build real-world perspective. If you can’t attend live, sessions are recorded.

 Does this course help with scouting jobs in MLS, Europe, or international clubs?
It can. The course teaches scouting methods used globally and prepares you to pursue opportunities at all levels. Many students use this training as a stepping stone into scouting networks, academy roles, agency work, and club recruitment pathways.

 Can women become professional soccer scouts?
Absolutely. Scouting is about knowledge, evaluation skill, and professional credibility — not gender. Clubs worldwide are actively expanding recruitment and scouting departments, and qualified scouts are in demand. This course is designed for anyone serious about breaking into the game.

 Do soccer scouts travel?
Yes. Many scouting roles involve travel, especially for live match evaluation. Some roles are heavily travel-based, while others focus on video scouting and analysis. This course explains the different scouting paths and what each role typically requires.

  Is this course good for former players, coaches, or soccer parents?
Yes. Former players and coaches often use this course to transition into scouting or recruitment roles. Soccer parents and youth coaches also take the course to better understand player development, evaluation, and the pathway into higher-level opportunities.

  What can I do after completing the SMWW Soccer Scouting Course?
After completing the course, you’ll have the ability to:

  • Evaluate players using professional scouting criteria
  • Write scouting reports and build a portfolio
  • Understand modern recruitment systems
  • Network with industry professionals
  • Pursue scouting and soccer career opportunities with confidence

This course is designed to give you real-world scouting skills you can apply immediately.

  Will the Soccer Management and Scouting Course help me get a job in soccer?
Yes. It will help you get a job in soccer or international football. The keyword here is help. For the entire eight week course you will be in a class speaking with not only Tommy Smyth, Matt Martin, and John Print, but other participants who are interested in furthering their career in soccer and international football. Networking with these types of people on a daily basis should help you.

More importantly, you will be learning techniques and strategies that professional soccer clubs and international football clubs are learning themselves and are looking for in employees. The course content includes cutting-edge theories and the business of soccer management. The course will give you information that will make you an asset to any professional soccer organization. Will it directly get you the job? It might! The knowledge you learn from the course and the contacts that you make might be the clincher to beating out your competition for the job!

  Do I really get to talk to Tommy Smyth, Matt Martin, and John Print and other professional soccer executives weekly?

Throughout the eight week course, Tommy, Matt, and John will lead a live weekly video chat via the internet.  This hour-long question and answer video discussion with these experienced soccer executives will increase your "insider" knowledge of the business side of the game and help you network within professional soccer.  You will enjoy networking with fellow students who are either working in soccer currently or will be in the future. If you miss a live video chat they are archived and you can listen when it is convenient for you. 

  Will I be able to work in the UEFA, FIFA World Cup, MLS, or the professional league on my continent?

Maybe! The start of any great career begins with passion. If you are passionate about working in soccer and international football and you make smart choices you can make your dream job happen. Job experience and who you know is important. Tenacity and determination is a must. If you want to enhance what you know and who you know the Soccer Management & Scouting Course is a great place to start. If you need an internship at professional or collegiate soccer or international football team you need to look into our Sports Sales and Marketing course. 

  I currently have my own professional football/soccer club, how will this help me?

As you already know, football is not just a game, it is a business. Specific to the business of soccer and international football are strategies that the most profitable soccer clubs are using. As part of this course, you will learn the cutting edge techniques these profitable teams are making. Even the wealthiest clubs will run out of money if they overpay for expenses, whether it is for players like David Beckham or Zinedine Zidane. There are roughly 400 first division teams from Ireland to Ukraine. Take this course and learn the business side of why some of these clubs are extremely profitable and others struggle. The skills being taught in this course can be used at any level of professional soccer and international football.

  What's the difference between Sports Sales and Marketing and the Soccer Management and Scouting Course?

The Sports Sales and Marketing Course assists students in not only learning what they need to know to get an entry-level job in any professional sports organization but also requires that a course project be done with a major or minor league team. It teaches everything from ticket sales and sponsorship sales to creating contacts in the sports field. Students who take this course generally want a job as soon as possible in football, hockey, soccer, basketball, or baseball. The weekly chats focus on who's hiring and the instructors help the students learn skills that those teams are looking for in new hire and strategizing to get the interview. Instructors use their contacts in the sports world to assist students in getting sports jobs.

The Soccer Management and Scouting Course is pure soccer, pure international football. Soccer scouting and the business of professional soccer club management. If you want a job in professional soccer, we recommend you take both! Are you still need some help deciding? Call us at 503-445-7105!

  Do I need any special equipment or books for the course?

The books for the course are sent directly to your home from the SMWW office. Some of the books or materials are so specific that they are either out of print or not sold in any bookstore. You will need a computer with access to the internet.

  This all sounds too high tech for me, I don't know very much about computer technology.

Don't worry. We have many students who have felt the same way. SMWW has a technical support team that not only knows computers and can get your microphone working, (even if you didn't know you had one), but they love sports! As long as you have a computer and access to the internet, we can help you with the rest!

  How old do I have to be to take this course?

18 or older.

  Do I need a college degree to take this course?

No.

  Do you have more questions?

Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799. Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105