The function of a Scout is to identify to his Club players with whom his Club may wish to enter into negotiations with a view to securing their registration.
Scouts are not themselves entitled to enter into any such negotiations nor are they able to make promises to or offer inducements to any players whom they approach.
•Scouts are employed by and represent their Clubs and are Official within the meaning of the Rules of the F.A. Premier League by which they are bound.
•Scouts must therefore be familiar with the Rules associated within Youth Development. They must maintain an awareness of and at all times comply with the Rules setting out circumstances in which their Club may make an approach to a player or student (as defined in the Rules) whose registration is held by another Club.
•When acting in the course of his duties a Scout shall at all times carry the formal means of identification issued to him by his Club and shall produce the same upon demand.
•Scouts are responsible for the conduct of their contacts and shall be liable for any act of omission by a contact which constitutes a breach of the rules.
•Scouts shall conduct themselves in a manner befitting their role as Officials of their Clubs and shall take all possible steps to promote the reputation of the game of association football and to prevent it being brought into dispute.
•A Scout shall forthwith disclose to his Club the nature and extent of any direct or indirect interest he may have in any transaction or agreement involving his Club and he shall account to his Club for any benefit which either directly or indirectly he derives there from.
•A Scout shall conduct himself at all times in an ethical and Professional manner and shall observe the highest standards of integrity and fair dealing.
•Scouts must identify young talent who can fit into the Academy’s way of playing. Therefore the Scout must have a good knowledge of the Academy’s Philosophy.
All Scouts are directly responsible to the Head of Recruitment.
FA Official Scout Qualification requirements
Scouts: Qualifications
194. Each Club which operates an Academy shall ensure that each of its Scouts:
194.1. is in possession of such qualification as the League may require from time to time;
194.2. understands and complies in full with these Rules and the Code of Conduct for Scouts; and
194.3. undertakes Continued Professional Development each year.
Guidance
It is envisaged that a new qualification for scouts will be developed in due course. For the moment, the qualification required by Rule 194.1 above is the Football Association’s Scouting Talent Identification Course (i.e. the qualification for Scouts currently required by Premier League Rules).
195. Each Club which operates an Academy upon employing or engaging a Scout shall within five days thereof apply to register him with the League in the manner prescribed by the Board and providing to the League evidence that the Scout holds the qualification required by Rule 194.1.
Guidance
It is envisaged that Clubs will be able to enter Scouts’ details via the Extranet rather than by submitting a form. An Extranet application is being developed for this purpose.
196. The League shall register a Scout and shall notify the applicant Club to that effect upon being satisfied that:
196.1. the Scout holds the qualification required by Rule 194.1;
196.2. the Scout is not currently registered as the Scout of another Club.
197. At the start of each season the League shall issue a Scout Identification Card to each registered Scout.
198. Except during the period of five days referred to in Rule
195, no Club shall employ a Scout who is not registered with the League pursuant to Rule 196 unless it has made an application to register him which has yet to be determined.
199. Upon a Club which operates an Academy ceasing to employ or engage a registered Scout, it shall within five days thereof:
199.1. give notice to that effect to the League who shall thereupon remove his name from the register; and
199.2. return his Scout Identification Card to the League.
200. Scouts shall conduct themselves in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Scouts set out in Appendix 5.
201. Each Club which operates an Academy shall take all reasonable endeavours to ensure that its Scouts comply in all respects with Rule 200 and the Code of Conduct for Scouts.
FA Official mean of a Football Scout
“Scout”
means any person employed or engaged by a Club (whether on a Full Time or Part Time basis and whether or not he is remunerated in any way for his services) whose duties include identifying to his Club players whose registration as Academy Players the Club may wish to secure.
"Scout Identification Card”
means a formal means of identification to be issued by the League to each registered Scout which shall include:
(a) the name of the Club which employs the Scout;
(b) a photograph of the Scout; and
(c) the Scout’s signature