If you are a midfielder and you want to play professional soccer, you need to understand what do soccer scouts look for in a midfielder. Scouts look for players that possess a variety of technical and tactical skills, as well as the physical and mental attributes that are required to play successfully in the midfield.
In this article, we’ll guide you about what soccer scouts look for in a midfielder and what you should work on if you want to make it as a professional. In the end, some of the most frequently asked questions so read on.
Traits that soccer scouts look for in a midfielder
Technical skills
Midfield is a position, from where one can control the game and create chances. That is the reason why midfield players are also known as playmakers. The first and foremost thing that soccer scouts look for in a midfielder is their technical skills. This includes the ability to pass, dribble, shoot and trap the ball perfectly.
To catch the eyes of the soccer scouts you must be the master of all these basics. The most important traits among all these are the ability to keep the ball under control and being able to make accurate passes over short or long distances.
If you feel like you are not very proficient in those technical skills, then make sure to sharpen them and practice regularly because many other players are more talented than you could be vying for the same spot.
Tactical knowledge
Tactical knowledge is the understanding of what is happening on the pitch and making wise decisions accordingly to take advantage of the situation. Along with technical skills, what soccer scouts look for in a midfielder is their tactical knowledge.
If you are a midfield player, having good tactical knowledge of the game is important. The more knowledge you have, the better your decision-making can be. That will eventually raise the chances of getting scouted.
If you don’t have any tactical knowledge about soccer, don’t worry, you can learn it by watching professional games. Focus on how the players move with and without the ball, what their strategies are etc. Apply the strategies you see in the games while playing and you will see how that will help you improve your game.
With the passage of time, watching more games, and playing more matches, you will be able to build the tactical knowledge that will give you an edge over other midfielders.
Speed and agility
Soccer scouts look for a midfielder who is fast and agile. Speed plays an important role in any team’s success, especially in midfielders. Being fast allows you to cover more ground in less time and you can easily catch up with the ball if you lose it. Agility, on the other hand, helps you to change direction quickly and accurately.
As you know, soccer is a fast pace game. If you want to get scouted, make sure that you are agile and fast. Because having technically and tactically strong midfielders won’t be enough if they are slow and can’t move in the game.
Don’t worry if you feel like you are slow or not very agile, you can always improve these traits. You can do agility drills and sprint workouts. The best example of this is Kylian Mbappé, who is known for his pace, and agility. You should watch him play if you want to know why speed and agility matter so much in soccer.
Focus
Even if you have all the technical, tactical, and physical attributes but you lack focus, you won’t get noticed by the soccer scouts. You must be able to concentrate for a long period and stay focused on what you are doing.
You must be able to make quick and wise decisions in the game because if you are not focused on what is happening on the pitch, you won’t be able to do this. Focus is not only limited to the activities you do on the field but also to what is going on off the field.
There is a misconception about soccer scouts only look at the player’s performance on the field. If they like they will they can trace or investigate what kind of player you are off the field as well. Being focused and professional off the field can also help impress the scout.
Try to be a professional in what you do, be it playing soccer or something else. That is what will make you different from others.
Physical attributes
Physical attributes like strength, stamina, and endurance are what soccer scouts look for in a midfielder. A player needs to be physically fit because if they are not, they won’t be able to keep up with the pace of the game. Strength and stamina are what will allow you to keep running for long periods.
Endurance is what will allow you to maintain the same level of performance even after playing for 90 minutes. It is important to remember that if you don’t have the physical attributes, no matter what technical and tactical skills you have, it won’t be enough.
So make sure to train your physical attributes if you want to have an edge over other midfielders and impress the soccer scouts.
Body Strength
For a midfielder having a strong body is essential but not that not much like defenders or forwards. Soccer scouts look for a midfielder who is physically strong enough to survive the pushes and pulls of the other players.
You don’t need to be overly strong, but being able to hold off a challenge or two is what they want to see. Also, having a strong body means that you will be able to maintain your balance and position during tackles and duels.
Mental strength
Mental strength is equally important in all soccer positions, and soccer scouts notice this trait too. Mental attributes include the ability to stay composed in even the most pressurizing situations, focusing on what tasks you have to do, and being able to make decisions in a split-second, etc.
This also includes how you manage your anger and how you motivate yourself when things are not going well for you. Mental strength can help you stand out from other players and make sure that the scouts notice you more than others.
If you have the right mental attitude, then there is a good chance that you will get scouted. So make sure you are mentally strong and have the right mindset and attitude when you are on the pitch.
You can improve your mental strength by doing exercises like meditation and deep breathing. This will help you stay focused and make the right decisions in the most pressurizing situations. Visualization can also help improve your performance.
Response time
You may think that the only thing soccer scouts look for in a midfielder is what they can do on the ball, but that is not true. A great quality of any midfielder is the time they take to react time to what is happening around them.
Soccer is a fast pace game, and you have to make decisions quickly. Being able to react fast to what is happening around you can help you stand out from other midfielders, as it shows that you are aware of what is happening on the pitch.
If you take too much time to decide what you are going to do, then it will be too late and the opportunity will pass. So a midfielder needs to have as fast as possible if they want to impress the scouts. Most soccer players want to decrease their reaction time but they end up making too many mistakes.
You need to find a balance between what you can do and what you should do. Being able to react quickly and make the right decision is what will make you stand out from other midfielders. For that, you will need a lot of practice and hard work.
Reading skills
I’m not talking about reading books here, but the ability to read the game and the players around you. Being able to read what other players are doing and what the situation demands is what a great midfielder needs to do to make an impression on the scouts.
This includes what your teammate is doing, what your opponents are up to, what you should do to get out of any situation, what the opposition is doing to stop you, and what options are available to you.
These are all important skills that a great midfielder needs to have, as this will help them make better decisions in the game and take advantage of any situation. Being able to read what is going on will help you make the right decisions at the right time which is what soccer scouts want to see.
Decision-making abilities
If your game reading skills are good enough, then your decision-making abilities will also be up to the mark. Being able to make the right decision in a short period is what they want to see from midfielders.
This includes what passes you should make, what shots to take, what dribbles to do, and what runs you should make. It also includes what defensive decisions you can make to stop the opposition from scoring or to support your team when they are attacking.
These decision-making abilities are what will make you stand out from other players. Not every player can make the right decisions in a short period, so showing that you can make the right decisions quickly is what will definitely impress soccer scouts.
If you feel like you can’t make the right decision at right time, don’t worry, as this can be developed but you will need to do a lot of practice to master this skill.
Good communication skills
The last thing that soccer scouts look for in a midfielder is good communication skills. Being able to communicate with your teammate during the match is what will make you stand out from other players.
You should be able to tell your teammates what they should do, what to avoid, what to do when the ball is there and what to do when it is not. Being able to communicate your vision clearly and accurately is what makes a great midfielder.
Effective communication will also help you build a good relationship with your teammates and make sure that everyone is on the same page during the game. This will help you make better decisions and play as a team which is what soccer scouts want to see.
What do soccer scouts look for in a young midfielder?
Players from ages 5-12 are small, and the chances of these kids getting scouted are close to zero as it’s hard to judge their skills at such a young age but it’s not impossible.
However, what scouts look for in this age group are general attributes such as their willingness to learn and improve, their attitude and behavior on the field, physical abilities, body control, coordination, balance, and awareness. Other technical and tactical abilities can be developed with time and practice
By the time players reach the age of 13 or above, this is the time when players can get scouted for what they can do and what skills they possess. Scouts look for players who have good technical and tactical abilities, game-reading skills, decision-making abilities, and good communication skills.
Does age matter for scouts when scouting a midfielder?
Age overall matters in soccer, but what matters most is what a player can do, their skills, and their willingness to learn. Scouts usually look for young players who have the potential to become great players, rather than experienced players.
However, they can scout you even if you are older, what matters is your skill level. You need to show them what you have to offer and what makes you stand out from other players. You can get scouted anywhere from age 13 to a maximum of 30.
If you are over age 30 and not playing professional or high-level soccer yet, then you need to be realistic about what your chances of getting scouted are. If you are over 30 you can still play soccer at a competitive level but not professionally.
What are the chances of becoming a professional soccer midfielder?
The competition in becoming a professional soccer midfielder is very high. There are thousands of players from all over the world who want to pursue this career, so the chances of becoming a professional soccer midfielder are very slim.
However, with hard work and dedication, you can make it. It is important to focus on what makes you stand out from other players and what skills you possess. Luck is also
Where can I get scouted as a soccer midfielder?
There is no specific place to get scouted as a soccer midfielder. You can get scouted in any competitive soccer game if you are playing to the best of your abilities.
But you can increase your chances of getting scouted by playing in more prestigious tournaments, training camps, and youth academies. These events help scouts identify talented players and assess their skills more accurately.
In this era, the internet can also help you get scouted. You can showcase your skills through YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and Twitter updates. Make sure to have good quality videos and what makes you stand out from other players.
One of the best examples of this is Arat Hosseini, his video of dribbling went viral when he was just 5 years old and got signed by Liverpool’s academy. He also had offers from arsenal. He almost got 6 million followers on Instagram.
Conclusion
Now you are aware of what soccer scouts look for in a midfielder and what are the chances of becoming a professional soccer midfielder. It all comes down to the players’ hard work and dedication.
Be confident in what you have to show the world, remember that age is just a number, and make sure to have some luck on your side.
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