What do football scouts look for and how to get scouted at football trials

The PFSA are the worlds leading provider of scouting and analysis training to new and experienced football scouts. This means we educate football scouts on what to look for in new talent. This is at the foundational level of what we teach, which goes way beyond profiling football players.

The PFSA has launched an initiative where we introduce trialists and parents to our education programmes within talent identification (football scouting), resulting in better performance in trial games AND an industry certification.

The PFSA feature in some of the worlds leading news outlets and Universities including; UCFB – Leading Footballing University, The Guardian, Independent, BBC, the Metro and the Sun to name a few.

We have certified new and experienced professionals and currently have the most comprehensive portfolio of training programmes across the industry covering talent identification, technical scouting, performance analysis and opposition analysis.

So how can you take advantage?

It is essential to understand what football scouts look for to actively improve your game.

You will delve into theories such as the 4-corner model, highlighting several indicators scouts focus on when profiling a player. These include Technical, Psychological, Physical and Social. The ability to highlight what you excel in and work on these attributes will undoubtedly accelerate your performance.

Did you also know every club conducts a specific performance profile of an individual target they want at their club and/or academy, and did you know these vary from academy to academy? In addition, we teach performance profiling (Level 2) and much, much more.

Not just insight but a certification taken by the professionals

Not only will you delve into the mind of a football scout, but you will understand how the industry works, and ultimately what they look for. As a result, your game will improve, and you will also kickstart a potential career in football with an accredited certification from the PFSA. The same accreditation took by most clubs and football scouts.

The Courses

Below we have listed both the Level 1 and Level 2 Talent Identification in Football course. Talent identification is what you will know as football scouting. Both courses are industry standard. The Level 1 is entry-level, and the Level 2 is much more in-depth.

Both courses are self-paced, which means they can be taken in your own time and at your pace. All you need is access to a laptop, tablet or phone and have an active internet connection.

PFSA Level 1
Talent Identification In Football

The PFSA Level 1 Talent Identification in Football Course was developed by elite Premier League Football Scouts, Heads of Recruitment and Academy Managers, and touches on all aspects of talent identification.

Unlike other online talent identification courses, the PFSA 1 Talent Identification In Football Course delves much deeper into the profession of football scouting and is the industry-leading online introduction into talent identification.

The 11 module course will equip you with a firm understanding and platform to further develop your knowledge of the talent identification process and what is needed to operate as both a football scout or an elite coach.

The course has been developed in line with the EPPP and is a great stepping stone for a career within football.

Units Include:

Introducing Talent Identification
Understanding the EPPP
Talent Identification Predicators
Football Scouts and Player Reports
Talent ID Predictors in a Goalkeeper and the Relative Age Effect

PFSA Level 2
Talent Identification In Football

Includes 2 free trials day passes

FREE TRIAL DAY PASSES If you choose the Level 2 Talent Identification In Football course you will also receive 2 free trial day passes to upcoming PFSA Football Trials.

The PFSA Level 2 Talent Identification in Football Course is an industry leading, internationally recognised certification by the PFSA and our most popular option for new and experienced football scouts. The PFSA Level 2 has been taken by many ex-professional footballers and current Heads of Recruitment to further their knowledge of Talent Identification and is the only Level 2 endorsed by Instat, the world-leading provider of analysis software to elite clubs across the Globe.

The Level 2 will explore football scouting at a much deeper level than it’s Level 1 counterpart. You will learn how football scouts and clubs operate in different countries and regions, while also focusing on position specific talent indicators.

Units Include:

Module 1 & 2 - Talent Identification In Football
Talent Indicators and Early Predictors of Talent
Performance Profiling
Successful Talent ID Programmes and Systems for Football
Creating / Implementing Talent ID Programmes
Understand How Sporting Talent Is Developed and Maintained
The Future of Talent ID in Football

Module 3 & 4 - Match, Team & Individual Analysis
Role of a Scout
Scouting Protocols
Match Preparation
Individual Player Reporting
Match Reporting
Team Formations
Player Assessments and Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses of a Player

Football Clubs who have attended the courses include: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, AFC Bournemouth, FC Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Celtic, Aberdeen, Stoke City, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry, Bury, Reading, Blackpool and many more.

New and experienced football scouts have travelled from all over the World to attend the courses – which include America, Australia, Cambodia, Mexico, Portugal, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Columbia, Brazil, Cyprus, Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, Holland, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Gibraltar, Turkey, Lithuania and many more.

All new users onto the PFSA Level 2 Talent Identification In Football Course will receive exclusive access to Instat. The PFSA is proud to partner with one of the markets leading analysis platforms used by Arsenal, Manchester United and many more.

Get started

All of the above courses are 100% online and self-paced. What this means is that you can complete the courses in your own time and at your own pace. They are super flexible and can fit around your training schedule.

To register onto either the PFSA Level 1 Talent Identification In Football, Level 2 Talent Identification In Football or both, please use the registration for below.