If you’re thinking about a career in sports management or any other sports-related business, you might have heard about sports scouts. However, you might not know exactly what they do, which is why you probably clicked on this article while searching for what this career implies on Google.
Here is what a scout does and what you’ll need to know if you want to get this job for yourself.
The Basic Tasks of a Scout
A scout uses special knowledge and techniques to assess the performance of any given player on the field. They use the collected sports scouting data to find the best players and try to recruit them to different organizations.
Scouts often spend long hours driving and flying across the country to meet with players and their families and to watch those players on the field or court. Some scouts also help organizations and players negotiate – plus they also study players not just in the field, but also from newspapers and online sports news websites.
So, if you like watching sports games and traveling throughout the country, then you’re going to love being a scout.
What You Need to Become a Sports Scout
While you don’t necessarily require a college degree to become a sports scout, many of the most renowned scouts do have a degree in sports management and other related fields. Even college athletes are at an advantage when seeking to become sports scouts, as they have already spent time among coaches and other scouts.
Furthermore, many colleges and universities offer specialized degrees for those interested in becoming a sports scout, thus making their career journey a lot easier. Other than that, you’ll also need knowledge about your sport of interest, math skills, research skills, and at least a basic understanding of how sports agencies determine their statistics and RBIs. And, of course, a lot of patience to research potential players carefully.
Where Can You Work As a Scout?
A scout can work for a multitude of companies and institutions. For example, they can work for a college football team, a sportsbook provider, or professional teams. In any case, there’s never a dull moment when working as a sports scout for the simple fact that you’ll be traveling a lot.
Scouts can spend weeks or even months on the road during the busy season as they travel from city to city. During the off-season, those with a college degree and a license can also work as coaches or teachers. In short, a scout will always have a flexible life and career due to the sheer amount of possibilities that their job entails.
How Much Does a Sports Scout Earn?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics mentions that the 2021 median pay for scouts and coaches was $38,970 per year, which is quite decent considering the type of work that you’re doing. The good part is that the growth potential is phenomenal, with a 26% increase in job outlook from 2020 to 2030, which is much faster than the average.
Furthermore, a sports scout has the added advantage of also being able to work as a coach and other similar jobs in their spare time, so there’s always something to do in case they want to slightly change their career in the long run.
