you’ve got a football-mad child whose dream is to make it as a professional, then you might be wondering what you can do to try and help them achieve their ambitions. The answer is quite a lot.
It should be said though that getting scouted isn’t straightforward, and even once a player has been spotted and signed then that is only the start of an even more difficult journey towards making it. Of all the kids who enter an academy at the age of nine, less than one percent go onto earn a living out of the game.
But if you’re determined to give your child the best chance of success, then here are three ways in which you can help.
Help them with their temperament and attitude
Most parents assume that the most important skills that a young player can have are technical ones. While any individual with hopes of making it as a professional obviously has to be able to pass, shoot and control a ball, there’s much more to it than that.
Scouts will also look closely at a player’s temperament and attitude. There will be plenty of speedbumps in the road from academy footballer to first teamer and often it’s those players with the best temperaments and who can keep their head when the going gets tough that stand a far greater chance of making it than those who don’t possess that grounding.
Teaching your child the value of hard work, team work, respect and a never-say-die attitude will make them a better prospect than a more talented player with a questionable temperament.
Take them to watch as much live football as possible
A child can learn much from playing football, but there is much to be said for exposing them to as much live action as possible. Watching a game on television or the highlights on Match of the Day is a start, but you don’t always get a true picture of how a game works or what is required of an individual when viewing through a screen.
When you watch live, you can see what a player does off the ball. You can see their movement, the runs they make and the way they position themselves. Take N’Golo Kante for example. Until you’ve seen him in the flesh, you don’t realise that the reason he is that good is because of what he does when he isn’t in possession.
Obviously, paying to watch Chelsea play is going to be beyond the budgets of plenty of parents. But a young player can learn a lot from watching any level of football, be it Premier League or non-league.
Take them along to your local club and get them to watch the player who’s occupying the position that they play in. Not only will they pick up ideas that they never could while watching on television, but you’ll be giving much appreciated support to grassroots football and your child will realise the hard work, passion and dedication that goes into playing even at that level. It can be a real eye opener.
Create playing opportunities
In some ways, it’s never been easier for a talented player to get noticed. Not only are clubs pouring money into their scouting networks in an attempt to hoover up the best talent at a young age, but technology can alert academies to the talents of a child who may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
If you’ve got the technical expertise, why not consider uploading a highlights reel of your child’s skills and performances to YouTube? You’d be surprised at the number of clubs who consider this a first port of call for finding talent.
You shouldn’t abandon the traditional methods of being found, of course. Football academies such as our We Make Footballers schools have links forged with professional clubs so if a child excels at these programmes, then they’ll be in pole position for a recommendation to an academy.
Playing regularly for a team will also help as scouts constantly monitor and watch local junior teams in the hope of spotting the next big thing.
The most famous players always talk about how much they love football and the importance of the passion for the sport!
FAQs
How to get your child scouted for football
- Help them with their temperament and attitude. Most parents assume that the most important skills that a young player can have are technical ones. ...
- Take them to watch as much live football as possible. ...
- Create playing opportunities.
Things like character, effort, presence, abilities to overcome bad situations, voice and more, can be seen from the outside by a scout. We know you want to sign with a Pro club, so show it!
How do I get my child recruited for football? ›
Attend camps, combines, showcases and junior days that will get you in front of the coaches. Attending football camps, showcases and junior days is incredibly important for the same reason that recruits need a great highlight video: college coaches often have limited time and resources to watch every recruit in-person.
How do you impress scouts in football? ›
Play to benefit your team. Showing off your skills in a game situation will only impress your friends. Scouts are looking for players that are technically strong in the basics of the game and can play in a way that is positive for the team. Make passes, shots, crosses or tackles that are beneficial to the team.
Is 14 too late to get scouted? ›
In a nutshell, the answer to our question is pretty clear, no it isn't too late to join a football academy. If your child is keen to get scouted by national league clubs, there are kids across the country who get scouted as toddlers, all the way up to being 22 years old!
What do football scouts look out for? ›
Skills and physique
Football scouts look for players with innate ball skills. They look at different details depending on the player's position. A midfielder will need to be cautious and put the ball at the foot of a team-mate, while a winger will need to be able to dribble and dribble to impress the scout.
What is the best age to get scouted for football? ›
Most footballers are scouted before the age of 13 from county leagues, so you need to put in the work from a young age to make sure you stand a chance of succeeding. If you've played football from a very young age, you're probably already miles ahead of the competition, but the work doesn't stop there.
What do d1 football scouts look for? ›
College football coaches are looking for recruits with extensive varsity experience, a stellar highlight film, the right body type, high football IQ and good academics. However, even if athletes have these characteristics, there's no guarantee that a college coach is going to find them.
Do football scouts look for height? ›
Key Components of a Scouting Report
It also delves into more specific details like height, weight, and preferred foot. In the age of specialization, even the smallest details can make a significant difference in a player's suitability for a particular role.
How can I help my child get recruited? ›
9 Essential Steps to Getting Recruited
- Stay ahead academically. ...
- Create a list of potential schools. ...
- Research the team and the coach. ...
- Create a highlight video. ...
- Create an online recruiting profile. ...
- Reach out to coaches. ...
- Attend summer camps and showcases. ...
- Visit your top choices.
How to get a football scholarship. The short answer: It's up to the coach of an individual team to award an athlete a scholarship. Athletes must show that they have the ability to make an immediate, positive impact at their position or they need to demonstrate that they have the potential to develop into a key player.
How hard is it to get a football scholarship? ›
The chances of receiving a division one football scholarships are very remote. There are only about 125 division one programs, and each has 85 scholarships. That means there are roughly 10,000 scholarship division one football players out there. With roughly 1.5 million high school players, the odds are less than 1%.
What is the best way to get scouted in football? ›
Most football players are scouted in their early teens (or earlier). Join a club at a young age (or sign up your kids) to be instantly ahead of the competition. Once a club member, take advantage of the training and advice given.
What do football scouts look for in 7 year olds boy? ›
Movement and mental skills
Particularly for offensive-minded players, movement is critical, and scouts are looking for a natural desire from kids to find space and look for opportunities to get the ball. Much like a game of chess, scouts also want to see evidence of youngsters thinking three or four moves in advance.
How to stand out in a football trial? ›
17 Tips To Stand Out At Trials
- Think about what has got you this far that coaches have liked. ...
- Note down things which help you feel most prepared before a match and tick them off so you turn up feeling prepared and ready. ...
- Have confident body language, shoulders back, head up, smile, make eye contact with coaches.
Football scouts regularly attend games to find new talent from a young age, so the kid needs to be on the pitch showing them what he can do. Over time, providing he is consistent in his approach and show talent, he may then be invited to trials for a professional club.
How much do football scouts earn? ›
What are the salary expectations? A Football Scout can earn on average £18,000 – £30,000 per annum depending on the hours and requirements of the role. A Chief Scout in the EFL can earn on average between £30,000 – £60,000 per annum.
