What do scouts look for in a player

[GoHawks4]

How much a factor is speed in soccer? I think speed is a great thing to have but you dont have to be the fasted guy in the world to play soccer.

-justin
Speed is the most important attribute in football.

[LeslieSantosfan]

Hey, I am responding to this writing you posted. I am 15 years old, I have played club soccer at the highest level for 5 years, won the state championship two times in nc, and I am the best player on my team. I am 6 feet tall, and built at 155-160 pounds, and I have also played varsity soccer for my high school. I want more than anything to come for a summer and train and play with a team in england, but in no way do I know how to go about doing this. I mean I have all of the skills/size/speed, possibly more than enough to get onto the academy teams, but I don't know how to get noticed by some coach overseas. I was wondering if there was any possible way, since you will be in leeds' academy, to put in the good word, or give my email to a coach and tell him of my response to you, my parents would be more than happy to let me come and stay there for a long period of time.

please reply soon.

Ever tried letter resume and taped games of yourself? a couple letters from different coaches would help too. Then just send them into wutever club you want.

Or, you play college ball and get really dang good and play on the u-19 USA team.

Or, find a way to self-intro urself to MLS clubs, again with letters and tapes, etc. Then get good there, and find a way to make your way to Euro from MLS.

So many ways... it depends on your luck and how many times u try...

and of cuz:

PRACTICE, and don't ever get injured once before u make it BIG. One more thing: good that you have speed, good that you have skill. But don't forget to strengthen your muscle supports (knees and all that) and your body size. Pro players' best kept secret ain't their skills and all that; its the way they work on their physiques.

[e.mo1988]

gave you rep points for that. But....I can't go to college for two more years, and I am 15, so the u-19 national team won't be an option for a few years.

And really..how many english clubs would actually look into you if all they have is a couple of tapes and a resume. I mean that wouldn't be a problem, but still, how many clubs would actually look at that?

[LeslieSantosfan]

gave you rep points for that. But....I can't go to college for two more years, and I am 15, so the u-19 national team won't be an option for a few years.

And really..how many english clubs would actually look into you if all they have is a couple of tapes and a resume. I mean that wouldn't be a problem, but still, how many clubs would actually look at that?

No one is gonna offer u a spot of their program if you don't do anything. So my last advice to you is to do 3 things: talk to coaches, send the tapes to the football acadamies/youth programs in Euro; and contact MLS. And play the highest division soccer possible.

trust me, the coaches at those club youth programs would look at the tape. It's their job. The higher quality of that taped match.

"Try" is another key word you have to learn in life.

PS. btw who says 15 yrs old can't play in the U-19 team? :confused:

[e.mo1988]

well it is possible, but I mean we scrimmaged the u-17 national team and lost 2-0 this past season.

If you don't believe me, look up my team 86 Greensboro SC Green

[Richie]

How much a factor is speed in soccer? I think speed is a great thing to have but you dont have to be the fasted guy in the world to play soccer.

-justin

In my view you should have fast feet in a small space with the ball that is quickness.

Also there are other kinds of speed like first step explosive speed. That is you can go from stop to high speed off the first step very important in our game and not many have it. Tab Ramos was very fast off the first step helped him to beat the first defender at the start of his dribble. He certainly did not have great speed like you think of speed.

[footballmad234]

i play centre midfield and im quick , but you dont have to be be quick with your feet you can think quicker with your brain!!!

[garethchelsea]

They look for someone with a good football brain and has good intentions and knows were to pass it etc. also they have to be confident and a range of skils they dont have to be a ronaldinho though

also a nice person and good leaders they arent going to pic the quite social misfit in the team tyhat just sits back and thinks oh i'll just let the others do it

[peanut91]

do any scouts go to B or c league games ? sorry if it sounds like a stupid question.

[footballmad234]

you will probably have to contact them to come and watch you..
scouts also look for your personality on the pitch because they want to see if you will fit in well with the other lads at the academ club

[Antonio81]

Being an ex-scout before moving up to a head coaching position I can say with authority there is only one thing scouts look for:

Speed, speed and more speed.
I don't think anyone here understands what you're referring to. What separates professionals from semi-pro/amateurs is their speed of thought, and actual speed on the pitch. A good amateur's technique is pretty much the same as a pros. Tons of amateurs can do Zatlan's or CRonaldo's dribbles and stepovers in a Sunday league, but very, very few people can do them sprinting at top speed, and even fewer can do them against Serie A/EPL level defenders.

I would also add professional match fitness to the list, which most non-pros don't have.

[footballmad234]

im referring to exactly what you said but in different context if you read what i said. pro clubs want big players and very fast what they haven't got is teqnique ability for example watford, thats why watford will always be a club will go no further than the championship cause they have no players with born actual football ability, ( their just fast and thats all they got)

[hooligan girl 23]

i agree with scotty, but the first thing they look at is your boots, must have flashy ones.

really? i love my classic pumas. but when people have that NEON LIME crap on their feet, i go after them especially because their feet annoy the heck out of me.:)

[broomtree]

really? i love my classic pumas. but when people have that NEON LIME crap on their feet, i go after them especially because their feet annoy the heck out of me.:)

and you ain't a scout are you

[Djtron75]

Two days ago my high school varsity team and I were in our district playoff final. The other team had a kid named Casey Townsend, who is on the U18 National team and was Mr. Soccer his junior year. All he had was speed and pretty good control. He didn't even talk too much (beside complain to the ref about everything) during the game. But he was insanely fast.

I think this is more evidence that scouts look for speed.

[Lurko]

I'm not a scout, but I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

What scouts look for is good hair. And cute knees. And bribes.

[Antonio81]

It probably depends on the country. In the US and England speed definately is first. A high work ethic may come in as a close second. In a country like Italy they may look more at technique and vision.

[rca2]

There are lots of types of "speed." High tactical speed requires excellent skill and vision, as well as fast decision making. In soccer effectiveness is more important than the ability to sprint 100 yards very fast in a straight line. First step quickness is more important than the next 99 yards. As for fitness, speed in the first minute of the game doesn't mean as much as speed lasting 90 minutes. Same for work ethnic, speed unused is no better than no speed. So that is why you can say it all boils down to speed, speed, speed. Its just an oversimplification.

[soccerman20]

where do the scouts go to pick up players do you hace to play college or can you be part of a club team at that university what are the statistics on that

[Italia56]

r 3rd and 4th division teams in Europe(coca cola championship, Serie c2/d) considered pro or semi pro
and do u need to be good to make one of those teams?