In the seventh episode of the CoachingArea podcast, host Thiago Calderaro is joined by Jonathan Schmidt, scout for the U17 team at Fußball-Talente Freiham, as they delve into the world of scouting in ambitious amateur football. Jonathan shares his experiences and provides fascinating insights into the daily challenges and strategies he employs when scouting young talent. This article offers you a concise overview of the key topics discussed and is sure to pique your interest – make sure to tune in to the episode!

Episode 007: Scouting in Ambitious Amateur Football

What Does the Scouting Process Look Like at an Amateur Club?

In amateur football, resources are often more limited than in professional clubs, so processes need to be even more efficient. Jonathan describes his approach at Fußball-Talente Freiham – from needs analysis and scouting plans to initial contact with potential talents. He highlights the importance of having a clear structure and targeted approach to finding and securing the best talents in the local area.

Differences Between Scouting in Amateur Football and Professional Clubs

Another key focus of the episode is the comparison between scouting in an ambitious amateur club and a professional youth academy (NLZ). Jonathan candidly discusses the challenges smaller clubs face when competing with the resources of an NLZ, such as needing to make quicker decisions on whether to invite talents for trials. Despite these differences, he emphasises the strengths of FT Freiham, which strives to combine the best aspects of amateur and competitive youth football.

Technology in Scouting: Necessity or Luxury?

The role of technology in scouting is also explored. While large clubs already rely on extensive data analysis and video scouting, Jonathan explains how Freiham still employs traditional methods. However, he predicts that technologies like AI and video analysis will increasingly play a role, particularly in optimising the scouting process and identifying talent more effectively. But will this also apply to the semi-professional sector?

Tips for Aspiring Scouts

Jonathan offers valuable advice for those looking to pursue a career in scouting. He stresses the importance of continuous learning, networking with experienced colleagues, and the ability to view situations from different perspectives. For him, looking beyond one's own expertise and constant learning are the keys to success in scouting.

The Future of Scouting

Finally, Jonathan looks at the future of scouting in amateur football. He believes that the use of technology will continue to grow but still considers the human element indispensable. In his view, the combination of data analysis and human judgement will remain crucial for success in scouting in the coming years.

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