What Do Soccer Scouts Look For In 5-12 Years-old Players? All You Need To Know

Are you a young soccer player and wondering what do soccer scouts look for in 5-12 years-old players? Well, soccer scouts watch out for specific traits and behaviors when evaluating players of these ages.

Players of these ages are not the final product and therefore scouts look for potential raw talent and analyze if they have what it takes to become professional soccer players. Scouts know that young players are still learning and they can develop their skills with time.

So in this article, we will discuss these traits so you can work hard with your kids to aim for excellence and become a top talent. This will also increase the chances of making it to the professional level. We will also cover other group ages as well.

Traits that scouts look for in 12-year-olds or younger players

Physical traits

Although most of the physical traits improve over time, and as you know that young players are still growing until they are 18 to 20 years.

Scouts look for players with a good basic physique. This includes height, weight, speed, and strength since these will greatly affect the player’s performance. Some of these traits can be predicted from a young age such as weight and to some extent speed. But you can never predict the height and strength of the player.

Scouts look for players that are not fat and overweight and should possess considerable mobility and flexibility. The weight of the player also has a direct impact on the speed as well so they can measure that as well.

The height doesn’t really matter for young players from 5-12 years old since this is something that can be improved naturally with age. So you don’t have to worry about it too much.

If you are a boy, on average your weight should be around 35-40 KGs and If you are a girl, on average your weight should be around this as well. If you are light or heavy you should maintain your weight as It can be a deciding factor for your selection.

As an example, If you are 12 years old and taller than average (4.5- 5.2 feet) your weight can be a bit heavy and this will give you the advantage of strength and power. Remember, being too heavy can always be a problem. So make sure you don’t cross the line.

Technical skills

Although 5-12 years old players don’t need to be perfect with their technical skills, and soccer scouts know that technical skills can be improved with time and practice but they should have a good foundation of the basics.

Scouts look for players who can control and pass the ball accurately, have agility and balance in their movement, as well as the ability to accurately dribble. Showing skills like stepovers, nutmegs, and hitting the ball in an intended direction can impress the scouts.

Along with this, soccer scouts also look for players who are creative and can think on their feet, as well as someone who demonstrates a good understanding of the game by making smart decisions with or without the ball.

If a 12-year-old or younger kid is a goalkeeper, the scout will look for the traits such as reflexes, shooting and passing accuracy, and diving technique. Scouts also look for how dominant the goalkeeper is and whether he/she can command their penalty area.

Tactical Knowledge

At the age of 5-12, players don’t need to know every single tactic in the game but they should have an understanding of the basic principles of soccer. Having tactical knowledge at this age can really set you apart from other players and impress the scouts.

Not only having an understanding of the game but also the ability to recognize patterns and situations in a game can be more beneficial. Young players should be able to set themselves according to what the opposition is doing, as well as be able to understand what their team needs from them at any given moment.

Most of the time scouts do not expect the young players as masters of these tactics but they should be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of them. Make sure you learn the basics of soccer which will help you become a better player and impress the scouts as well.

Coachability

Young players like 5-12 years old players need to learn the vast number of skills and tactics required to become successful soccer players. This is the reason why scouts look for players who are easy to coach, open to feedback, and willing to learn.

A player must be able to take instructions from the coach and implement them on the field as they can be a valuable asset for any team. In some players coachability comes may come naturally while some need help to develop this quality.

Playing with a coach can help you become a coachable player if not you can learn it but you need to focus and work hard.

Mental Strength

Mental strength can really stand a player out. It is something that comes naturally but with practice and hard work it can be improved. It is one of the important traits that soccer scouts look for in 5-12-year-old and younger players because it can really determine how well a player will perform under pressure.

Scouts look for the qualities like the ability to focus, patience, and composure in stressful situations. Players with good mental strength will be able to handle the pressure and deliver performances consistently. Having a mentally strong player in the team is beneficial as it can help the team to stay focused, calm, and composed.

To become mentally strong, young soccer players, should practice relaxation techniques like meditation, and take deep breaths to stay calm and composed during the game. It is also important to practice visualization techniques so that you can focus on the game and make good decisions.

Along with this, it is also important to have a positive attitude and stay away from negative thoughts as they can affect your performance. Finally, it is important to have a good plan and stick to it so that you can stay motivated and focused.

Communicational skills

Soccer scouts look for players who have good communicational skills. It is a plus point if a player can communicate with his/her teammates during the game and help them understand what is going on, on the field.

Communicational skills can help a player understand the game and make better decisions on the field. A player needs to understand the importance of communication and be able to communicate effectively in both verbal and nonverbal ways.

Players should also be aware of the different techniques for communicating such as hand signals, eye contact, and body language. At age 5-12 years old, a kid might be able to find it hard to express themselves clearly to the coach or be able to be extrovert and vocal but this is something that can be worked on.

Work ethic

From a young age, players need to be motivated, dedicated, and hardworking. Soccer scouts are always on the lookout for players who have a strong work ethic and put in extra effort and time in order to improve their skills.

Players who are willing to give time to practice, learn new techniques, and understand their teammates are always favored by the scouts.

Players should also be persistent when it comes to training as this will help them to stay motivated and focused. This thing will come naturally if a player has a passion for the game. This shows that he/she has the dedication to push him/herself and become a better player.

Personality

Personality is a major factor when it comes to soccer. Scouts look for players who have great attitudes, confidence, and great leadership skills. Players should have good sportsmanship qualities such as respect for the opponents, referees, and coaches.

They should also be able to take criticism in a positive way and use it to their advantage. From a young age, players need to start developing their personalities. It’s better to have these traits early as they can stay with the player even when he/she grows older.

What do soccer scouts look for in 5-8-year-old players?

Well, age 5-8 is quite early to expect a soccer scout to assess a player because certain physical and technical skills can only be developed at a later age. This doesn’t mean that a 5-year-old can not get noticed by scouts.

A soccer scout will look for traits such as dedication, enthusiasm, and a good attitude in 5-year-olds. They will not notice their technical or tactical skills because at this age the player is still too young to develop these skills.

It’s amazing to have a 5-year-old interested in soccer, it is always recommended to nurture their interest and encourage them to be dedicated and enthusiastic while also teaching them the basics but don’t push them too much.

What is the best age to get scouted in soccer?

Academies and scouts usually start looking at players from the ages of 11-13, however, it is not impossible to get scouted earlier than this. At this age, many traits such as physical attributes and technical skills start to develop and it is easier for scouts to assess a player’s potential.

If you have kids younger than this and you are looking for an academy or scout to assess them, then it is best to start training and look for smaller clubs that might have less stringent requirements than the big academies.

These smaller clubs will help your child to develop the skills needed for bigger clubs and by the time he/she is 11-13 years old, he/she will have the skill level to move to bigger academies where the opportunities of getting scouted are bigger.

Can I get scouted at the 5-12-year-old for bigger clubs?

Yes, getting scouted at age 5-12 age is possible, however, the chances are slimmer and it will require more dedication and effort to get noticed by bigger clubs. If you have what it takes, then you can definitely get scouted at a younger age.

We have the example of Arat Hosseini in front of us. Arat Hosseini nick name Iranian Messi is an Iranian youngster soccer player who gained fame from a video posted by his father on social media. He was showing his dribbling skills in that video.

That video gained him around 6 million followers on Instagram. At the age of 5, he got scouted by Liverpool’s academy. He said goodbye to Liverpool’s academy at the age of 8, he had offers from clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona.

This means that if you put in the effort and have talent, then you can definitely get scouted at a young age. So keep practicing and stay motivated, everything is possible.

How to make young soccer players coachable?

Firstly, it is important to ensure that young players understand the importance of coachability and why coaches provide instructions.

Tell them to keep a positive attitude and listen to the coaches. Moreover, encourage them to ask questions from coaches.

Make your kid understand that when a coach is giving instructions, make sure to pay close attention. Encourage them to take responsibility if they make mistakes but learn from these mistakes.

Encourage them to be willing to practice and put in the extra effort. Make them understand that It is essential that you accept criticism from coaches. Make them understand that you may get angry and frustrated when things are not going your way but don’t let those emotions get in the way of learning.

This will increase the chances of them getting scouted by bigger academies. Also, make sure to start looking for smaller clubs if you want to get your child scouted earlier as this will help him/her develop the skills needed for bigger clubs.

Are you a young soccer player and wondering what soccer scouts look for in 12-year-olds or younger players? Well, soccer scouts watch out for specific traits and behaviors when evaluating players of these ages.

Players of these ages are not the final product and therefore scouts look for potential raw talent and analyze if they have what it takes to become a professional soccer players. Scouts know that young players are still learning and they can develop their skills with time.

So in this article, we will discuss these traits so you can work hard with your kids to aim for excellence and become a top talent. This will also increase the chances of making it to the professional level. We will also cover other group ages as well.

Conclusion

Now you know what do soccer scouts look for in 5-12 years old. It’s important to start as earlier as possible because this will help your child develop and nurture physical, technical, and tactical skills at a young age.

This will increase the chances of them getting scouted by bigger academies. Also, make sure to start looking for smaller clubs if you want to get your child scouted earlier as this will help him/her develop the skills needed for bigger clubs.

Post you may like