How to read a football scouting report
A football scouting report tells you what your next opponent does most and when. Read it in order: the keys to win first, then formations and how often each is used, then tendencies by down, distance and field zone, then key players and their defense. Finish with the game plan and turn each key into a practice rep.
Start with the summary
Most scouting reports open with a one-page summary: who the opponent is, what film it was built from, and three to five keys to win. Read this page first and read it with your staff. Everything after it is the evidence behind those keys.
Check two things right away: how many games the report covers and which games. A report built from one game shows you what the opponent did that night. A report built from two or three games shows you what they keep coming back to.
Formations and usage %
The formation page lists every offensive formation the opponent showed and how often they used it. Usage % is simply the share of their snaps that came from that look. A formation they line up in on a large share of snaps is the one your defense has to recognize instantly; a formation they used once or twice is a curiosity, not a plan.
- Personnel and alignment. Note how many backs and receivers are on the field and where the strength is. A change in personnel is often the first clue to what is coming.
- Run/pass split by formation. The most useful number on this page is not how often they use a formation, but what they do from it. A formation that is mostly run or mostly pass is a tell your players can learn.
- Motion and shifts. If the report flags motion, look at what the motion does: does it change the strength, signal a run to one side, or set up a quick pass?
Tendencies by situation
Tendencies are where a report earns its keep. They answer the question every coordinator asks during a game: what do they like here? Look for the opponent's behavior broken down by:
- Down and distance: 1st down, 2nd and long, 2nd and short, 3rd down by distance.
- Field zone: backed up, open field, the red zone and the goal line.
- Hash: many offenses run to the field side or the boundary more often than the other.
- Game situation: two-minute, ahead or behind, after a turnover.
Our guide to reading down and distance tendencies on film goes deeper on how these are charted.
Key players
A good report names the three to five players who decide the game: the quarterback's strengths and limits, the back who gets the ball in key moments, the receiver they look for on third down, the defender who wrecks plays. Scout Lab identifies players by jersey number, which keeps youth reports private and is all your players need on game day. Turn each key player into one instruction: who to double, who to run away from, who to make beat you.
Defense and special teams
On defense, look for the base front, the coverages they show most, and when they pressure. Pressure often clusters in certain downs and distances, so read the blitz notes next to the down-and-distance page. On special teams, note the kicker's range, the punt formation and any fake or onside tendency. These are small things that swing close games.
From game plan to practice
The game plan page connects the dots: which plays should work against what they do, and why. Use it to build your week:
- Early week: show the staff and the players the top formations and the keys to win.
- Midweek: run your scout team in the opponent's most-used formations, so your players see the looks they will see on Friday.
- Late week: rep the situations: third down, red zone and two-minute, using the opponent's tendencies in each.
Diagrams in the report can go straight onto scout-team cards.
Read with care: sample size
Every percentage in a report comes from a count of plays. A tendency built on a handful of snaps is a hint, not a rule. Good reports show the count next to the percentage so you can judge for yourself. Also remember that opponents change: injuries, a new quarterback or a different game plan against a different style of team. Use the report to prepare, and keep adjusting during the game.
A quick checklist
- How many games is this built from, and which ones?
- Which two or three formations do they use most, and what do they do from each?
- What do they do on 3rd down and in the red zone?
- Who are the players we must account for, by jersey number?
- When do they pressure, and from what front?
- What are our keys to win, in one sentence each?
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