The nowhere men who make a hash of matters

Talent identification in football, particularly at youth level, has risen in its importance for professional clubs. More money is being spent on the running of academy set ups than ever before with clubs identifying the need to produce the next top talent. Clubs are now competing vociferously with each other to be the first to snap up young potential, with development centres being set up for players as young as four or five.  The Elite Player Performance Plan allows “clubs that have earned a top category grading to recruit young talent from further afield than is permitted under the current rules”. Thus meaning that more clubs can scout in more areas, giving players more opportunities to be observed by more staff at more professional football clubs.

Is there a science behind talent identification?

The Football Association themselves are recognising the need for education on the matter of talent identification, in the process of developing the Level 1 certificate in Talent Identification. Former FA head of talent identification Mike Rigg insisted that “our talent ID process must move beyond the snapshot mentality," but with the demand and pressure to not miss out on the 'next big thing', scouts could be too worried to take their time watching a player when another club may take the chance on them straight away.

Developing the players I work with as a human being and as a footballer are always the key when I remember why I love coaching football. Therefore, when I am approached by a scout about a player in the team I am working with I am naturally delighted, knowing that I am doing a part of my job well and mainly, excited for the child identified.

What irks me, however, is when a scout does not feel the need to talk with the coach (whether it be me or someone else) and makes advances towards the child and their parents without anyone’s permission. As far as I am aware there is a certain procedure scouts are asked to follow, which involves the coach introducing the scout to the child’s parent. This was not the case earlier this year at a tournament I coached an under tens team at.

On this occasion the scout had indeed approached me and told me that he liked the look of one of my players. He added that he would come back and swap contact details so he could come see more of him, but when I next looked around he was already deep in discussion with the child and mother. I knew a scout at the same club already and found out that this person was in fact a scout coordinator! I would never block an opportunity for a young player, and he will be training with that club soon but we have received an apology too.

Worryingly accurate

In another case, just weeks previously, a supposed head of recruitment at a different club contacted a parent of another eleven year old at our club. We have taken this boy to two professional clubs already because of his obvious talent and we expected him to attract more attention. This time we had not received any notification whatsoever of their interest in taking the child in question on trial from the club. 

My primary concern here (lack of communication between grassroots and elite is for another day) is that these people are strangers first, employees at a professional football club second. We do not know these people and for all we know they could be anyone. There are so many children out there who dream of one day becoming a professional footballer which makes them so vulnerable to people who may or not work for a professional football club. I need to know these people are the real deal before we get to the stage of introducing and talking about a potential trial. Quite often a scout will approach me and fail to show me any form of identification that evidences that they are who they say they are. Leading me onto my next point. 

Secondly, the unprofessional-ism of not one but two football clubs is disturbing. These people are representing an organisation when they approach people, so they must act in a way that shows that organisation to be a respectful and thoughtful one. If there is a procedure they need to follow it strictly. If there is not then one should be implemented. It is very easy for scouts to wear a club tracksuit and show off who they work for but anyone can do that. When wearing old kit from my team (associated with a professional club) I played for at sixth form, children ask me if I am a scout, to which I politely tell them I am not. It used to be the scouts tried to stay out of the spotlight (hence the nickname 'the nowhere men'), now young men relish the attention!

I appreciate that talent identification courses are in their infancy and an effort is being made but clubs must strive to hold higher standards.  They can do so much more without a fuss to create a more stable environment for young players to be identified in the correct manner. I do not know if other grassroots coaches have similar experiences (please feel free to share if you have in the comments section) but these are people who hold important roles in the development of footballers in this country and leaves me apprehensive about the state of our talent identification system. I am hopeful with that more education for those working in the professional game will ease my fears but I believe that this needs to happen sooner rather than later.