1. Identify the player immediately

Use a short marker before the action begins. The evaluator should not need to guess which player is being shown. Remove the marker once play starts so it does not obscure the action.

2. Start before the decisive moment

Do not cut directly to the shot, pass or tackle. Keep enough seconds before the action to show positioning, scanning, movement and the decision that produced the outcome.

3. Keep the edit simple

Avoid long intros, transitions, slow motion on every clip and graphics that cover the field. Editing should make the football easier to read.

4. Show more than goals

For many positions, off-ball movement, pressure, recovery, progression, duels and passing decisions are essential. A striker profile also benefits from runs and link play; a defender needs more than tackles.

5. Add useful context

Position, age category, match or competition context and the action type help the viewer interpret the clip. Do not add claims that the video cannot support.

6. Quality beats duration

A concise set of representative clips is easier to evaluate than a long compilation. The goal is not to prove everything in one video; it is to provide clear evidence that invites deeper review.

ScoutMe principle:

Use evidence to improve understanding. Do not confuse a metric, clip or single observation with a complete judgment of a player.

Editorial note

This evergreen guide is reviewed when football video practices or the relevant ScoutMe guidance changes materially.