Employers

Sports scouts are employed by major league organizations throughout North America and the world. Others work for professional scouting organizations. Scouts also work for high school and college athletic teams.

Starting Out

Many sports scouts are retired athletes who use their knowledge of the game to scout for younger talent. Not only do athletes gain knowledge from years of competition, but they make valuable contacts in the sporting world.

An aspiring sports scout should become familiar with local sports activity and keep track of talented young players. Meeting people who are active in the sports community is a great help. Sports scouts are part of a vast network of people who gather, compile, and exchange information about sports. Coaches, broadcasters, and journalists are also members of this group.

Sports scouts who provide accurate and concise reports often have the opportunity to observe more talented athletes. A professional baseball scout, for example, may begin scouting college players. As the scout gains experience in providing reliable information, they may be assigned to a minor league division, and eventually may become a scouting supervisor, and then director of scouting for a Major League team.

Scouts who succeed and advance are organized, honest, and effective communicators. Sports scouts build their reputations by identifying players who will be successful at the professional level. Advancement is often based on the success of the players whom the scout has selected.

Talk to sports scouts about their careers. Ask them for advice on breaking into the field.

Participate in sports in high school and college. Learn as much you can about the sport for which youd like to work as a scout. 

Land an entry-level job with a collegiate or professional sports team to obtain experience and make industry contacts.