The aim of this article is to provide you the knowledge about Sports Scouting Salary their Skills and Responsibilities
Introduction
Sports Scouts are those individuals who observe and enroll new people for any sports at an entry-level, amateur, and top-class level. Professional sports scouts are very talented in judging the behavior and sporting culture of any individual.
A Sports Scout normally travels from place to place searching for the best athlete as per their sports category. They pay very close attention to the skills of their chosen player and their tactics before choosing them.
It is the job of a sports scout to improve the overall team’s level of talent. The recruitment done from these sports scouts is not only for short-term dividends but, they pay long-term dividends as well in terms of their overall performance and wins.
Steps to Become a Sports Scout
Let us find out what are the certifications, education level, and other experiences required to become a Sports Scout.
- Degree required- A bachelor’s degree is required in some cases but, the interested candidate should have a background education in exercise science, kinesiology, sports management, or any other related field.
There are many degrees available in the sporting field such as exercise science and sporting science. Learning the principles of exercises is very important along with nutrition values, techniques in sports, sports management, and scouting tactics to become a successful sports scout.
- Acquire experience- Most sports scouts enter the field as part-time talent spotters. Learning scouts are mostly sent at the collegiate level to look for talent. Sports Scouts need to communicate with other coaches, managers, players, and their parents. They should prepare reports and highlight the talented players in a team.
- Play or counsel sports- With all the gained experience the sports scout by now should have some experience in counseling at the college or professional level. A Sports Scout may interact with other coaches related to a player’s aptitude. Interacting with other coaches and players will help the scout find out what is exactly needed when recruiting new players for a team.
These were some of the easy yet important steps to be fulfilled to become a sports scout. Additionally, most of the sports scouts are either former sports players of that particular sport or the others are either current or former coaches just with years of experience.
Skills expected from a Sports Scout
The skills required from a sports scout are very simple yet, they should be used strictly to have the most out of any player. Below are the skills required from any sports scout around the country:-
- Should able to take decisions quickly- The basic job of any sports scout is to decide on the spot regarding the selection of any player as per their talent or playing skills. A Sport Scout needs to be very analytical while selecting the right player for a team.
Athletic scouts are slightly different as they not only need to be analytical but also to be calculative for the betterment of the team. Sports Scout should only aim for what is the best for the team in which he or she is working at present.
- Understanding skill- A Sports Scout should understand the talent of a player. The Sport Scout should know what are the greatest skills of a player and what are their weaknesses. A Sport Scout should be able to understand a problem and give out a clear explanation or solution to the sportsman.
- Communication Skills- A Sports Scout should have good communication skills as they would require to speak to many known and unknown coaches, managers, players, and their parents. The scout needs to explain the message properly to the recipient. A clear and precise message would save a lot of time not only for the Sport Scout but for the player as well.
Understanding the problem and giving out the solution is highly required in this profession so, the sports scout needs to have good communication skills.
- Negotiating skills- A Sports Scout who is working in a well-reputed company often needs to negotiate with his or her employers. The sports scout needs to come into a deal where the employer and the firm can have the benefit to an equal level.
- Leadership skill- This skill is mostly required for those sports scouts who recruit new members for a group-playing sport. As the sports scout would have to control the whole team to work under him, they must have some leadership qualities.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Sports Scout
Sports Scout have some duties and responsibilities to follow and they are the following:-
- Search for potential athletes or sportspeople by strictly following the sports news and interact with different coaches to recruit new members as per the sports category.
- They should examine the skills, attitudes, behavior, and any other factors that match a team’s success.
- They should counsel the sports team (if not an individual game).
- The Sport Scout needs to attend different sports events from all around the city or country to watch athletes who are under consideration. This is a very important step to observe and analyze a sports person’s form and ability. Moreover, the sport scout needs to visit several sports events to analyze and observe the talented player’s live performance.
- They should compare the prospective athletes to the potential opposing teams. As a result, whoever comes out to be better under the observation of the sports scout they are shortlisted and is asked to join the team.
- A Sport Scout should make individual statistical reports of every player in a team and submit them to the team coach, manager, or owner.
- Player recommendations are expected from a sports scout as they know who could be the right player for the squad.
The professional level sports scout observes players for long-term goals as they try to determine that one day in the future they will be perfect in their respective sport. A Sports Scout also plays a very important role to determine at what level the team should be investing in a player.
In some cases, a professional sports scout fixes the price range of how much should be invested in the particular player that has been chosen. They also give the decision whether to send an offer letter to the selected player or not as per his or her ability and skills.
How Much Money Does A Sports Scout Make?
The average yearly salary earned by any sports scout around the country is $34,840 per year. The wages of a sports scout typically start from $19,040 and that can go up to $78,890 per year. Yes, the salary range greatly depends on your background experience and experience in the field.
The senior-level sports scout earns nearly $40 on an hourly basis whereas the junior-most sports scout has an average of $9.15 per hour. It is always better to gain as much experience as you can as compared to the profession or field that you opt for.
The table given below will showcase the salary of a sports scout as per their seniority level.
| Seniority Level | Per Hour | Per Year |
| Entry-Level Sports Scout (10th percentile) | $9.15 | $19.040 |
| Junior-Level Sports Scout (25th percentile) | $11.51 | $23,950 |
| Medium-Level Sports Scout (50th percentile) | $16.75 | $34,840 |
| Senior-Level Sports Scout (75th percentile) | $25,95 | $53,980 |
| Top-most-Level Sports Scout (90th percentile) | $37.93 | $78,890 |
*The data given above in the table is as per 2019.
These were the average hourly and yearly pay as per the seniority level of a sports scout but, the salary also greatly depends on which state you are working in. Different states in America pay different to the sports scout and below are the average salary paid along with the state name.
| State Name | Average Salary (yearly basis) |
| Alaska | $37,920 |
| Arkansas | $32,800 |
| Alabama | $29,880 |
| Arizona | $40,150 |
| Colorado | $28,080 |
| California | $39,750 |
| Connecticut | $34,590 |
| Florida | $35,610 |
| Georgia | $34,370 |
| Kansas City | $19,330 |
| New York | $46,650 |
| Texas | $44,430 |
| West Virginia | $40,640 |
| South Dakota | $31,640 |
Conclusion
The job and duty of any sports scout around the country are quite different from that of the team managers and coaches. The future of any team or a club or even an individual depends on the observation and analytical skills of a sports scout.
The interested candidate needs to be able to take decisions very precisely and wisely. The career of sports scout is not suitable for everyone especially for those who are mentally or physically disabled. The job needs fit and healthy thinking to work efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the qualifications required to be a sports scout?
Answer- To become a sports scout, the candidate needs to have a bachelor’s degree in sports science, exercise science, business administration, sports marketing, or any other field related to it. It would be much better if you gain some knowledge about food and its nutritional value.
- What is the median salary of a sports scout?
Answer- As per the reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of any sports scout is $33,780 per year. This is for the medium-level sports scout but, those in the professional level earn the highest with an average of $45,000 per year. The lowest-earning sports scout are found working in elementary or public schools.
- How long does it take to become a sports scout in the country?
Answer- To become a sports scout one has to complete a bachelor’s degree which generally takes three years. After the completion of the bachelor’s degree, one can further proceed to become a sports scout with the required internships or training. Moreover, it generally takes four-five years to become a successful sports scout.
- What skills are important to become a sports scout?
Answer- It is not always necessary that one should have background experience in the field but, it is very important to have some knowledge about it. The most important skill that a sports scout should have is decision-making skills and communication skills. As they will be recruiting new members as per their skills and abilities they must take decisions wisely and communicate well for no misunderstandings.
