Why Most Money Spent on Football Scouting is Wasted: 3 Key Reasons
Football clubs invest heavily in their scouting departments. They employ large teams of scouts and invest in expensive software with premium data APIs. Yet, despite these investments, many clubs are still wasting a significant portion of their scouting budget. I talk to several scouts every week, and the same issues come up repeatedly. It’s not the scouts themselves that are the problem—it’s the systems in place that aren’t delivering the best return on investment. Here’s why: 1. No Clear, Concise, and Realistic Scouting Strategy A well-defined strategy is crucial. Many clubs fall into the trap of looking for too many positive attributes in every player they scout. This approach is unrealistic and makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly what the team needs. A good scouting strategy is one that’s specific, focuses on real needs, and avoids the “perfect player” mindset, which often leads to wasted effort and unfocused scouting. 2. Ineffective Data Filtering While it’s great to have hundreds of scout reports on hand, the real challenge is sifting through them efficiently. Imagine having a pile of reports for the next transfer window but no way to filter them down to meet the club’s specific requirements. For instance, if you need a 190cm+ center-back with excellent passing skills, can you identify the right players with just a few clicks? Without an efficient data filtering system, scouting becomes an overwhelming, unfocused task. 3. Data Sources Misaligned with Club’s Playing Style Many clubs rely on the same data points that other clubs use, which doesn’t always align with their specific playing style or tactical needs. If everyone is scouting players using the same parameters, how do you know if those players fit your club’s system? Tailoring data sources to the team’s specific tactical requirements is critical for scouting success. The Bottom Line Most clubs see their scouting department as a cost, not as an investment. This leads to a mindset of “the bigger, the better”—adding more scouts and tools in the hope of finding better players. But without a focused strategy, proper data filtering, and an alignment with the club’s playing style, much of this investment is wasted. By implementing the right systems and approaches, clubs can maximize the value of their scouting departments and get the best possible return on their investment. If you are looking for a software to tackle these problems, then I highly recommend you check ScoutDecision here: Football Scouting Software
P.S. For 2 months, the ScoutDecision team collected testimonials from scouts in our network about their jobs, the tools they use, etc. Now you can read the results for free here: Football Scouting Survey 2024
