Football Scouting Reports Explained: What Should a Professional Player Assessment Include?

A scouting report should help a player understand what was seen and what to do next. If it does not lead to action, it is only an opinion.

Match context

Opposition level, pitch, weather, score line and minutes played all influence what a player can show. A good report records them.

Position

Players should be assessed against the demands of the position they played. A full-back's report should not read like a striker's.

Technical assessment

First touch, passing, receiving, ball-carrying, finishing or handling — observed in match situations rather than isolated drills.

Tactical understanding

Positioning, scanning, decision-making, defensive organisation and the timing of movement.

Football behaviours

Observable behaviours such as communication, reaction to mistakes and work rate without the ball.

Physical and speed observations

Acceleration, repeated sprints, agility and recovery — noted as observed in that game.

Strengths and development priorities

A clear list of what the player does well and a small number of focused priorities. Too many priorities usually means none get done.

Action plan

Practical steps to work on before the next assessment.

Reassessment

A report is a snapshot. Re-observing a player later shows whether priorities are improving — see how often should a young footballer be reassessed?

See what the scouts see

Every Academy Insider report follows this structure through the T.I.P.S. framework. Compare options on our pricing page or read about Rusty's background.