What Scouts Look for in a Soccer Player
When college coaches and scouts attend soccer games, they’re not exclusively looking for the most technical and athletic players. Of course technical and athletic ability are important, but having those isn’t enough to get college coaches to call you 20 times on June 15th after your sophomore year.
Scouts and coaches are looking for players whose game will translate to the next level. These players actively demonstrate that they’re ready for the next step in soccer in the way they approach the game, and how they carry themselves on the field. In short, this shows scouts that they understand the game more than their peers.
With this in mind, here are three key qualities scouts look for in potential recruits:
1. Awareness and Soccer IQ
High-level soccer players are constantly moving and adjusting their position on the field, based on what’s going on in the game. Instead of just waiting around to see what happens next, they’re using their soccer IQ to make informed decisions on how they can help their team best for the next action. They’re assessing what’s going on in front of them, and putting themselves in an advantageous position based on the most probable outcome.
Sometimes, this is when you check to the ball and pull a defender to come with you and create space behind for a teammate to run into. Other times, its reacting a split second before a counter attack starts so you are in the perfect position to snuff it out quickly.
This often looks like you are reacting quickly and playing proactively – you are taking an action to affect the game and help your team, rather than waiting for the ball to come your way.
2. Positive Body Language, Work Ethic, and Communication
College scouts want to see players who truly care about soccer and the success of their team. They want to see that winning is seriously important for them.
How do players show they care? By pushing themselves as hard as possible, and devoting 100% of their effort to every single game. No matter what.
They want to see how players react to adversity. It’s only natural to get upset after a mistake, or when the other team scores. High-level players, however, understand that getting upset doesn’t help the team.
What does help the team is positive body language and communication. College scouts want to see players who actively support their teammates. When their teammate misses a pass, a high-level player commends them for making an effort and helps build up their teammate’s resiliency.
Positive body language and communication is ultimately a gesture of confidence, because it shows that the player still believes their team can win.
3. How Your Game Will Apply to the Next Level
When you combine those attributes, you begin to see which players will thrive at the next level – beyond their technical and athletic abilities.
College coaches and pro scouts also want to gauge your decision-making. If you have a choice between going for a golazo from 25 yards out or chipping it in to a teammate for a tap-in, they want to see what you choose to do. Even if you get the goal, it’s easy for them to discount it as, ‘when they’re going up against a better keeper they won’t make that shot,’ whereas the assist to the tap-in translates to the next level.
At Beyond Goals Mentoring, we’re well-aware that the traditional approach to soccer training gives too little attention to the mental game. But it’s resilience and quick decision-making that often separates good players from great players. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping young athletes build the same elite mindsets as the pros have. This is the mindset that will carry you through the inevitable challenges lying ahead.
So, if your athlete has aspirations to play at a higher level or they could use some help with the mental component of soccer, let’s set up a mentoring session today.
