| Goalkeeper |
Shot-stopping, handling, command of the box on crosses, distribution with hands and feet |
Claiming crosses, talking constantly, starting attacks quickly |
| Centre-back |
Reading danger early, heading, 1v1 defending, calm on the ball, passing into midfield |
Stepping in to intercept, playing forward, organising the line |
| Full-back |
Recovery pace, 1v1 defending, overlapping and underlapping runs, crossing, stamina |
Getting forward and still getting back |
| Central midfielder |
Scanning before receiving, receiving on the half-turn, passing range, work rate |
Checking your shoulder, playing forward, covering for teammates |
| Winger |
Beating a player 1v1, acceleration, end product (crosses, cut-backs, shots), work without the ball |
Taking players on, running in behind, tracking your full-back |
| Striker |
Movement to lose a marker, finishing with both feet, link-up play, pressing from the front |
Making runs even when the ball does not come, pressing defenders |
How to get scouted for football
PFSA Football Scouting Programme
Learn to rate players the way club scouts do
Every PFSA scouting course online, CPD accredited.
So, football’s your passion, you’re willing to put in the work and you want to make a career of it?
You will already know that a football scout could be your ticket to a full-time career in the game you love.
But how can you get scouted in football?
The short answer: play regular, competitive football where scouts already watch, perform well week after week rather than once, and put yourself in front of scouts directly through trials and good match footage. In England, most young players are spotted in grassroots leagues or representative football and then invited to an academy trial. Older players are more often found in non-league football or at open trials.
This guide will give you everything you need to give you the best possible chance of success.
It’s a tough business, but there are a few things you can do to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
How does football scouting work in England?
Professional clubs use scouts to watch young players and recommend the best of them to the club’s academy. The academy invites a player in for a trial period and, if it goes well, registers them. In England, that whole process runs under the Premier League’s Youth Development Rules and the strategy behind them, the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).
The EPPP launched in 2012, and every academy is independently audited each year and placed in one of four categories, with Category 1 the highest. The category reflects the academy’s coaching, facilities and programme. It is not the same thing as the division the first team plays in.
Academy football is split into three phases:
Coaching hours are taken from the Premier League’s guidance for academy parents, which also sets out two rules worth knowing early. First, your age group is decided by how old you will be on 31 August. Second, the Youth Development Rules limit how far younger players can live from an academy’s training ground, with the guidance referring to a one-and-a-half-hour travel limit. In practice, the academies nearest you are your realistic first target.
The 31 August cut-off matters more than most families realise. A player born in September can be almost a full year older than a teammate born the following August, and at nine or ten that shows. A 2024 study of English U18, U21 and senior squads found a clear selection bias towards players born earlier in the selection year. Good scouts know this and make allowances for late birthdays and late developers. If you are young for your year, measure your progress against players your own age, not the most physically developed player on the pitch.
Train hard and from a young age
Start playing organised football as early as you can, then keep improving every season. Academies can formally register players from the Under-9 age group, so that is when scouting starts in earnest.
Becoming a pro footballer doesn’t happen overnight, it takes graft. 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.
You need to be attending regular football training, learning the fundamentals of the sport and the tactics and principles involved, and recognise your weaknesses and understand how to improve them to take your football career forward.
Only then will you have what it takes.
Starting early does not mean training every day. Even Category 1 academies start their youngest players on four coaching hours a week. Quality practice, plenty of free play with friends and proper rest do more for a young player than sheer volume. Look after the basics as well: sleep, recovery and eating well around training and matches. Our guide to football nutrition covers what to eat and when.
Get yourself in a Sunday football league
Join a club that plays in an affiliated grassroots league, because that is where most scouting starts.
It all starts with a Sunday football league, the name most people use for local grassroots football. Youth leagues are affiliated to your County FA, and plenty of them play on Saturdays rather than Sundays, so don’t rule a club out because of the day it plays.
Football scouts regularly attend county games to find new talent from a young age, so you need to be on the pitch showing them what you can do.
Over time, providing you’re consistent in your approach and show talent, you may then be invited to trials for a professional club.
Play at the highest standard you can hold your own at. A strong team in a competitive division draws more scouts than a weak one, and tougher opposition shows a scout how you cope under pressure. If you are comfortably the best player in your league, it may be time to move up.
League matches are not the only place scouts look. They also watch school, district and county representative games, tournaments and festivals, and development centres that some clubs run below academy level. Tell your coach you want to progress. Grassroots coaches are often the first people a scout asks about a player.
If you’re not sure of your nearest football league, you can find your nearest Association on The Football Association’s County FA directory.
Attend a PFSA Football Trial
The Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA) is a leading organisation representing thousands of football scouts across the world.
You can gain access to this network by attending one of our UK football trials, which take place throughout the country but most often at UCLan’s Sports Arena in Preston in central Lancashire, northern England.
During the PFSA’s trial days you’re guaranteed to play in front of football scouts with connections at some of the leading football clubs in:
Each trial is a full-day event that runs from 9am to 4pm, starting with all ages coaching before delving into trial matches in the afternoon.
PFSA Football Trials are £75 for the day. The days are led by Dean Whitehouse, PFSA’s Lead Coach who currently works for Manchester United Academy. He has overseen the development of some of the UK’s top footballers, including Danny Welbeck and Marcus Rashford.
Find out more about PFSA Football Trials here.
Read how to prepare for your trial here.
What football scouts look for in new talent
Scouts look for potential across four areas: technical and tactical ability, physical qualities, psychological traits and social behaviour. These are the four corners of The FA’s player development model, and many academy scouting reports in England are built around them.
There are some crucial characteristics football scouts look for when scouting new talent and you can increase the likelihood of getting spotted by showing your best self come trial day.
Two things surprise most players. First, a scout is judging who you could become in three or four years, not only how good you are today, so how you learn and respond counts as much as what you can already do. Second, one game is rarely enough. A scout who likes you will usually come back, often without telling you, to see whether the good performance was typical.
What scouts look for in each position [NEW]
Scouts judge you against the demands of your position. The FA’s England DNA player profiles take the same approach, setting out different core attributes for each role. The table below is a practical version for trial day.
Make a good first impression
No football scout has time for tardiness, which means you should arrive early and make sure you’re ready for the day. That means making sure you’ve got the right gear and that you’re in good shape.
If you have a trial day coming up, prepare to ensure you have the energy to last the day, even when playing at your best throughout.
Remember, scouts want to see a competent player with skill that has confidence but isn’t arrogant. Be humble about your ability and, more importantly, be yourself.
Don't be a 'try hard'
In-line with ‘being yourself’, don’t show yourself up on the day.
Make sure you play as you normally would and fill the gaps where you’re needed during play rather than focusing on where you’ll get the most visibility. After all, it’s the impact you have on the overall game that will make the difference, not the odd trick.
Most importantly, make sure you do the simple things well. Don’t try all the tricks in the book if you can’t pull them off to an exceptional standard.
Show versatility
Specialists are all well and good when you get into the profession, but football scouts want young minds they can mould and make better.
It’s crucial that you show versatility when playing, which means defending at the back when it’s necessary and attacking from the front when you get the opportunity.
Taking advantage of opportunities while on the pitch that show that you’re a tactical and strategic thinker, rather than just someone that can kick a ball straight, will go a long way.
Versatility does not mean having no position. Know your best position and exactly what it demands, using the table above, then show you can do a job elsewhere when the game asks for it.
Be 'in it' with your team
If there’s one thing a football scout hates, it’s a selfish player that’s obviously out to snatch the limelight from other players.
Football is a team sport, which is why it’s essential you show prospective scouts that you’re a team player.
You should give your fellow team members encouragement throughout the match. You should also be ‘in it’ when it comes to training. Having the whole team present during training gives everyone a boost, so don’t let your team down. Scouts often ask your coach about your attitude and attendance, so the way you train matters as much as the way you play.
Communicate well
Football isn’t all about what’s happening when you have contact with the ball, but also about how you communicate your intentions to your fellow team members while on the pitch.
You should be vocal, clear and never aggressive. If you’re a sore loser and shout at your competitors when the ball is tackled from you, you won’t get the right attention from scouts; they may write you off entirely.
Do the reading
You need to show that you understand the principles of football and what tactics your team is using and why.
That means taking time to read and practice so that you can strategize with your team effectively and perform at your best on the pitch.
After all, a considerable part of football is about understanding your fellow players and teams and using their weaknesses to your advantage.
Watch full matches, not just highlights. Pick one player in your position and follow only them for ten minutes at a time: where they stand, when they look over their shoulder, when they move and why. You will learn more about your role that way than from any compilation.
Welcome feedback
At half time, speak to your coach and fellow team members to get advice and feedback, and take it on board.
Football scouts look for players that are not only talented but can be moulded and made better, so a player that’s happy to take feedback onboard and improve is desirable.
If you’d like a career as a professional footballer, put the work in, don’t be selfish and show potential scouts that you’re a team player. That way, you’re in with a good chance of succeeding.
Frequently asked questions
What age do football scouts start looking at players?
Academies can register boys from the Under-9 age group, and girls can join an Emerging Talent Centre from 8, so scouts watch grassroots football from around seven or eight. The academy route narrows sharply later on, because clubs must make scholarship offers by the end of December in a player’s Under-16 season.
Can you get scouted at 16?
Yes, but you are competing for the last academy places, since scholarship offers close in the Under-16 season. Non-league clubs, their youth sides and open trials all remain open at 16 and beyond.
Can you get scouted at 18 or older?
Yes. Adult players are usually found in non-league football, where a strong season can lead to a move up the pyramid, or at open trials. PFSA Football Trials welcome adult players, and we have seen players scouted in their late twenties.
Do scouts watch Sunday league football?
Yes, especially at youth level, though they focus on the stronger divisions and on representative football. Playing at the highest level you can hold your own at gives you the best chance of being seen.
How do I know if a scout is watching me?
Often you won’t. Scouts tend to watch quietly and may come back several times before they make contact. Play every game as if someone is watching.
Do I need an agent to get scouted?
No. Agents, known formally as intermediaries, cannot approach a player before 1 January in the year of their 16th birthday, and scouts deal with your club and your family. An agent becomes relevant when contract talks begin.
Can I send my highlight reel to clubs?
Yes. Send a short reel and one full match to the club’s academy recruitment contact, with your name, date of birth, position and current club on the opening title card. The video section above explains what to include.
References
PFSA Football Trials
5 Key tips to talent ID
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