Liverpool faced a low block in 26% of their build-up phases last season. No side in the Premier League saw more. Arne Slot put it simply: "We face a lot of low blocks." So does almost every team that wants the ball. A low block is easy to describe: drop deep, two compact lines, protect the space in front of goal. It's much harder to break. Our new guide covers: • How a low block is set up (4-4-2, 5-4-1, 4-5-1) • Why it's become so common in 2025/26 • Eight ways to break one, from half-space runs to switching play • The questions an opposition analyst asks when scouting one Read it here: thepfsa.co.uk/low-block-foot…

Two players. Same U13 side. One was born on 1 September, the other on 31 August. On paper they're the same age. In reality one has had almost a full extra year to grow, get stronger and mature. Watch them play and the older one usually looks like the better prospect. This is the Relative Age Effect, and it's one of the first things we teach on our Level 2 Talent Identification course. Good scouts check the date of birth before kick-off. They look for skills that will still matter at 18: first touch, checking over the shoulder, decision-making. Size and strength at 13 often won't. Many academies now go further and group players by physical maturity, not birthday. It's called bio-banding. Learn to spot potential, not just size, on the PFSA Level 2 Talent Identification In Football course. thepfsa.co.uk/level-2-online…

Your striker came off after 60 minutes. One goal from six shots: 0.2, 0.4, 0.3, 0.1, 0.6, 0.4 xG. Recruitment compares every player per 90 minutes. What's their xG per 90? A) 1.3 B) 2.0 C) 3.0 D) 3.3 Answer below. We'll post the working tomorrow.

Put your PFSA certifications to work. The PFSA Scouting Network bridges the gap between certification and employment. Once you hold a PFSA Level 2 Opposition Analysis or Talent Identification certification, you can: ✅ Claim live and video fixture assignments from professional clubs ✅ Submit structured opposition and player reports for our partner clubs ✅ Receive feedback from our scouting coordinators ✅ Build a verifiable scout profile and digital ID you can show employers It's free to join for certified scouts. Join now: network.thepfsa.co.uk #FootballScouting #OppositionAnalysis #TalentIdentification #FootballAnalysis #ScoutingNetwork #PFSA

Two new features in the PFSA Scouting Platform: Match Mode and Watchlist. Good scouting starts with what you see live, and too much of it gets lost between the final whistle and the write-up. These two features close that gap. Match Mode: log what you see as it happens. ✅ A live match clock with halves, half time and minute adjustments ✅ One-tap tags for passes, dribbles, shots, duels, positioning, decisions and errors, each marked positive, negative or neutral ✅ Works offline at grounds with poor signal and syncs when you reconnect ✅ After full time, each player's moments go straight into a new scouting report, already sorted into Strengths and Areas for Improvement Watchlist: never lose track of a player you need to see again. ✅ Flag any player with "Watch again" from a report or player profile ✅ Set a follow-up date and a note on what to look for next time ✅ Re-watch dates appear on your calendar, and overdue players are flagged ✅ One tap starts a new report with the player's details filled in Together they take you from first sighting to a finished report without losing a moment. Both features are available now in the PFSA Scouting Platform. scout.thepfsa.co.uk #FootballScouting #TalentIdentification #PFSA #ScoutingPlatform #FootballAnalysis

Swansea City AFC is looking for a sharp, driven scout to join their First Team Recruitment department. What the role involves: ✅ Identifying recruitment targets through video scouting, live observation and traditional scouting methods ✅ Producing high-quality scouting reports and video playlists for coaching staff and key stakeholders ✅ Working closely with the club's Data & Analytics team to sharpen talent identification ✅ Building and maintaining strong contacts across designated markets ✅ Staying across the First Team's game model, philosophy and positional profiles ✅ Liaising with agents and external contacts to gather transfer intelligence ✅ Supporting the Recruitment department through high-pressure periods, including transfer windows What they're looking for: ✅ Previous experience in a scouting or video analysis role at a professional football club ✅ Strong tactical understanding and a genuine eye for detail ✅ Proficiency with video analysis software ✅ Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team This is a permanent role based in Swansea, with occasional travel required for live scouting assignments. Click the link below to apply thepfsa.co.uk/job-postings/f…

Last week's webinar is now available on demand via your membership portal! Head online to watch not just this webinar, but the entire series. Free for all PFSA Members! #pfsa #membership #footballscouts members.thepfsa.co.uk/

"The ball into the box still matters, but it's only the entry ticket. The real edge is in the screens, the runs and the fight for the second ball." — PFSA Arsenal scored a record 19 goals from corners on their way to the 2025/26 title. The cross wasn't the secret. We break down the micro-tactics behind the set-piece revolution: screens, far-post packs, blocked sightlines and second balls. Read it all below! #SetPieces #PremierLeague #PFSA thepfsa.co.uk/its-not-the-de…

At the PFSA, supporting our users beyond certification has always been at the heart of what we do. The PFSA Scouting Network was established in 2016 through a partnership with the EVO-STIK Premier League, and over the past decade, it has grown tenfold as we've continued to work closely with clubs throughout the EFL. Now, as we continue to leverage technology, we have announced a new platform which, amongst many other benefits, has made giving timely, detailed feedback much easier, so scouts can improve with every report they submit. Already PFSA certified? Sign up below and start creating professional reports for professional clubs! #efl #league1 #league2 #nationalleague network.thepfsa.co.uk/

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this week's webinar series as we explored talent identification and its best practices across the industry. All webinars will be available to members on demand. Not yet a member? Head over to members.thepfsa.co.uk/

Tune in for this evenings webinar with Dr Danielle Prescott (UCFB, Manchester United, England) - Talent ID Secrets: How to Find the Right Player Every Time Free for PFSA members! The link is now available on your portal, with on-demand access from the following day. #pfsa #membership members.thepfsa.co.uk/

Why choose one, when you can have them all! Kickstart a career in football scouting and analysis with the PFSA Level One portfolio included with any Level Two registration! #PFSA #cpd #footballscouts thepfsa.co.uk/free-level-one…

Big thank you to everyone that joined us this weekend on the PFSA Level 3 Advanced Reporting course. Head on over to the PFSA educations homepage for all available online tutor-led dates. #pfsa #footballscouts #cpd thepfsa.co.uk/education/

This weekend, we're back with another tutor-led session of the PFSA Level 3 Advanced Reporting Course — two days packed full of contact with industry experts. thepfsa.co.uk/level-3-online…

Fast-track your career in football scouting or analysis with the PFSA programmes. Each programme has been carefully designed with scouts and analysts in mind, giving you the best possible opportunity with football. All programmes make you eligible for the PFSA Scouting Network. thepfsa.co.uk/fast-track/

The PFSA's Webinar Series returns on the 9th September and we are joined by Dr Danielle Prescott (UCFB, Manchester United, England). Danielle will walk through the process she uses to judge players properly — not just what to look for on the pitch, but how to avoid the common mistakes that lead scouts to the wrong conclusions. Expect real examples, honest talk about bias, and practical takeaways you can use in your next report. ✅ As a PFSA member, you can access our webinars at no extra cost. Simply log in to your member portal to find the registration link and secure your place. #pfsamembership #webinars #footballscouts #talentid thepfsa.co.uk/scouting-webin…

Why signing all-action Baleba could be a masterstroke by Man Utd #manutd #baleba #transfer #premierleague thepfsa.co.uk/why-signing-al…

The hardest part of breaking into football scouting has never been the qualification. It's getting the experience afterwards. Most people finish a course and find there's nowhere to apply it. No fixtures, no briefs, no club actually waiting on a report. The PFSA Scouting Network exists to close that gap. Clubs across the EFL and National League come to us for opposition and player reports. Our certified scouts claim the assignments that suit them — live at the ground, or by video from anywhere in the world. This is the fixture board they work from. Every assignment on it is a real request from a real club, with a real deadline, and a report that ends up in front of an analyst. We've just moved the whole network onto a new platform: claim assignments directly, work to PFSA report templates, track every deadline in one place, and build a portfolio of verified work you can put in front of a club. It's free to PFSA members holding a qualifying certification. network.thepfsa.co.uk #FootballScouting #Recruitment #PerformanceAnalysis

We are pleased to be working with Burton Albion this season on the PFSA Scouting Network covering both opposition and individual scouting. You still have time to register onto the PFSA Scouting Network and work across the EFL and National League. PFSA Certified Scouts only! Not yet certified? Then enrol onto eligible courses through the portal below! #efl #burtonalbion #scoutingnetwork #footballscouts network.thepfsa.co.uk/

The PFSA has the largest portfolio of certified scouting and analysis courses delivered in several formats. All designed and developed by leading industry-experts at the very top of the game. So, if your work or training schedule is tight! We have you covered with our self-paced options. Keep a look out on the format within each course, and choose the one that fits you! thepfsa.co.uk/education/