Scouts are a fundamental part of the football world. They are in charge of observing, analysing and recommending the best players for their teams. From their work are born the future stars that we will see on TV. You can be one of those stars. But scouts are sneaky.
You will never know that they are in the stands of the football pitch. They often come without talking, sit and watch like any family member or friend. Occasionally they take notes. And off they go. You have to be prepared to demonstrate the qualities they need, but what do grassroots scouts look for?
Characteristics of a football player
A football player must have fundamental qualities to attract the attention of grassroots scouts. Even so, it should always be borne in mind that meeting all the conditions will not mean that everyone wants you for their team. Each scout has his own guidelines given by the club, and will be more interested in one profile than another.
Even so, many of the scouts who visit training camps have clear minimum standards. In addition to natural talent, they are looking for players who have a settled head. At the elite level, it is necessary to have a lot of mental strength to withstand the daily pressure of the press and the fans.
Natural talent
It seems obvious, but it is true. Natural talent will be the first impression a grassroots scout receives. A boy or a girl who has the ability to get away from opponents with ease or who can make the perfect pass will be the first to surprise the scouts. A kind of welcome.
The same goes for goalkeepers and defenders. The ability to keep clean sheets, make good decisions and make great saves is essential. Defenders will have to be quick, hard-hitting and, now, they will have to come out well on the ball. The more complete, the better.
Mentality and maturity
The elite is complicated. In terms of the level and the demands. You can’t compete in the First Division if you don’t have the winning mentality. The objective is always to win, but also to know that losing is part of the game. You will lose, and you will have to rebuild. Grassroots scouts notice when a player has this fundamental quality and maturity is another key.
Be attentive to the coach, respect his decisions, speak properly to the referee and the opposition, stay calm in times of difficulty and shake hands with the opposition in victory and defeat. Keeping your head in the right place will get you noticed by grassroots scouts.
Where are the grassroots scouts?
It has been previously mentioned that scouts in training football are stealthy. They appear when you least expect it. This is what they are looking for in order not to influence the players’ game. Even so, the scouts leave clues as to where and how they tend to appear on the pitch.
We recommend that you always, always give your best on the pitch and show your maturity and talent. Because you never know where a grassroots scout might be. Even so, here are some of the places where youth football scouts are common.
SIA Academy facilities
SIA Academy has a school where more than 200 footballers compete every weekend. They play at the SIA Center, a high performance centre with natural and artificial turf pitches that are key to player development. It is a nerve centre for football scouts in Valencia.
The facilities host several scouts every weekend. Valencia CF, Levante UD, Villarreal CF, Elche CF, Hércules CF, CD Castellón and CD Alcoyano are some of the clubs with a presence in the stands of the SIA Center. Playing at SIA Academy is synonymous with playing in front of scouts.
Major sports cities
The sports cities of the elite clubs are also full of grassroots football scouts. They are accessible and great footballers give their all when visiting Valencia or Levante among others. These facilities are frequent for the SIA Academy, which competes in both its school and international academy.
SIA Academy international academy players play friendlies and official matches in Paterna, Buñol or Vila-real. These are key venues where they can showcase themselves. Soccer Inter-Action gives them the opportunity and the scouts are on the lookout for promising foreign players.
