What does research tell us about scouting in football? A scoping review with evidence gap-map

Aim We examined scientific literature focusing on scouting practices in professional football, as well as presenting an evidence gap-map to facilitate future research. Methods The study followed the PRISMA 2020 and Cochrane's guidelines, and PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The databases used were PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. The eligibility criteria followed the PECOS approach. Results From 25,356 hits, 15 studies were eligible for inclusion in this scoping review, most were published between 2010 and 2020 (67%). Moreover, 80% of the studies were published over the last 10 years, and 33% (5 studies) since 2020. Additionally, we identified that the interest of studying this domain occurs most frequently in Europe. Moreover, the level of experience and qualifications possessed by the scouts plays a crucial role in their effectiveness. Finally, most of the studies selected pointed out the lack of academic or specific qualifications for scouts. Conclusion This scoping review underlined the complexity and variability of scouting practices in football, highlighting the need for standardization and the development of more robust and inclusive methodologies and instruments to better prepare scouts for the challenges of talent identification. Additionally, a lack of detailed demographic data and knowledge of the specialized qualifications possessed by scouts limits a full understanding. In this vein, structured evidence-based development programmes and the use of emerging technologies in football scouting may revolutionize the talent identification process.