How The Academy Insider Assesses Football Players: T.I.P.S., Insider Scores and Professional Scouting Reports

How does The Academy Insider assess a football player?

At The Academy Insider, I bring match observations together through T.I.P.S. — Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed — and an independent Insider Score out of 100. The player card gives you a snapshot; the professional scouting report explains the evidence and the priorities to work on. An assessment is not a club trial, and our score is not an official Premier League or EFL rating.

I've worked across grassroots, academy and first-team football, including recruitment and coaching roles associated with Premier League and EFL clubs. I've seen technically gifted players struggle with the speed of decision-making, and less spectacular players progress because they consistently understood the game. My aim is to make that professional perspective useful to players locally, nationally and internationally.

Player assessment T.I.P.S.

At The Academy Insider we organise our evaluations around Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed. This is a practical scouting framework used in football development; our particular scorecard and player grading are our own independent approach, not an official score issued by a professional league.

Technique

Can the player receive, pass, strike, dribble, tackle or defend effectively under realistic match pressure? Technique should be judged in context, not just during unopposed drills.

Insight

Does the player recognise space, scan before receiving, anticipate danger, understand when to speed up or slow down play and make effective decisions?

Personality

How do they respond after losing possession? Do they communicate, show resilience, compete responsibly and contribute to teammates? One match is only a snapshot; personality judgments should be fair and evidence-based. I assess observable football behaviours, not psychological diagnoses.

Speed

Physical pace matters, but so do reactions, anticipation and the speed of thought. Different positions demand different types of speed.

Why position and level matter

A centre-back and a winger shouldn't be judged against an identical list of actions. Nor should a developing 14-year-old be assessed as if they were an established first-team professional. Good scouting considers age, position, match context and opposition.

For example, when reviewing a centre-back receiving under pressure, I look beyond whether the pass reached a teammate: did they scan, recognise the space and choose an appropriate option? For a winger, I want to see decisions before and after the one-against-one. These are practical examples of what the framework examines, not claims about a named player's private report.

Player assessment score card

Our reports bring the assessment together in an Insider Score out of 100, supported by T.I.P.S. breakdowns and development notes. The digital player card gives players a quick visual reference, while the full report explains the reasoning behind the score.

[EDITOR: Player card methodology example]

A single number should never define a young footballer. Repeated observations and coaching feedback are more useful than treating one performance as a final verdict. The question is not simply “what number did I get?” but “what can I learn from the evidence?”

Live and video scouting assessments

Live observation adds information about a player's movement, communication and contribution away from the ball. Video lets me revisit positioning, decisions and repeated actions. With suitable, clear footage, players worldwide can access an independent assessment without travelling to the UK.

Professional players can use independent performance assessments and subsequent coaching sessions for an additional perspective on their development. International live scouting may be arranged subject to availability and an individual quotation. Neither format is an official professional club trial.

Monthly player cards and ongoing development tracking

Where a player's service includes ongoing assessments, monthly player cards and updated reports can help monitor progress. The precise allowance and inclusions depend on the purchased service; check the current video scouting options rather than assuming every plan includes the same update schedule.

Look for patterns across observations, not only changes in the headline score. Are you receiving with a clearer picture? Are your decisions helping the team more consistently? Match scouting and its Insider Score remain separate from coaching development assessments and their Development Score.

From scouting report to individual development plan

I want every player to leave knowing what they do well, what they need to improve and how they can work on it. For some players that means targeted one-to-one coaching. For others it means reviewing more footage, developing a specific habit or understanding the demands of a higher level.

Take one priority from the report, agree a practical training action and revisit it in the next assessment. A player can use their report and development plan to keep that work focused, rather than trying to change everything at once.

Where I believe a player is suitable for a particular opportunity, my professional network may help facilitate an appropriate introduction. That is a selective process based on merit, availability and relevant permissions — never a guaranteed trial.

Explore your assessment options

Discover your Insider Score · Video Scouting · Live Scouting · Player Development

Related Insider reading

For a wider explanation of professional recruitment, read What Do Professional Football Scouts Look For in a Player?. For the detail behind a report, read Football Scouting Reports Explained.