Scout Handbook

Get in the Gym and Out to the Field

• Do the work before you get there – write a preview, make contact with the tournament/camp director. Make a plan for the games and drills you want to see ahead of time.
• Be open to watching & interacting with ALL teams and coaches. Nobody is off-limits. Finding the balance between socializing/networking and watching action/writing is key. Be seen evaluating.
• Note-taking is key. Don’t trust your memory. A page or two of scribbles can turn into a week’s worth of content.

 

Build a Network

• Start small. Develop rapport and relationships with some of the smaller, newer programs and smaller coaches in the area. They’re like you, trying to build up from the bottom.
• Understand our mission when building a network. Programs loaded with small college talent are the ones you should aim for. Small college coaches, too. Your goal — exposure and visibility for players at all levels — helps those coaches with their goals.
• Be patient with your network-building. Introduce yourself multiple times. Be consistent with your manner and your attendance.
• More quality coverage is a good thing, but at a point the returns begin to diminish. The time spent producing 10 more articles on a site that’s already publishing 40-50 pieces per month may be better spent promoting and amplifying the coverage on the site and/or reaching out to local programs, coaches, etc to build relationships. 

 

Writing Tips

• Before you begin writing, check out Grammarly! Grammarly will identify any spelling and grammatical issues at the click of a button. This tool can be your best friend and ensures that nobody will question your attention to detail, as your articles will be pristine!
• Prepare yourself. Don’t be afraid to sit down at the beginning of the month or the beginning of the week and create a plan for the articles you want to write. The more you plan ahead, the more efficient you can become with scheduled posts. 
• There is almost no article type that should take you over an hour to write. There is no article type that should take less than 20 minutes. Care deeply about the quality of the work and the time/length will take care of itself.
• Never stop thinking about Featured Content. Ask yourself, “What’s a new way I can organize prospects into a list?” and then analyze that list.
• Draw on personal experience and insight in your intro. Just 2-4 sentences is ideal. But make those purposeful, not empty. Quickly share your perspective on, say, the importance of shooting when you write about Top Shooters. Or maybe you look for certain qualities when scouting shooters. What are those? Tell us!
• The more players, the less analysis is needed, and vice versa. Six players with 150 words on each is just as good as 9 players with 75 words on each.

 

Content Guides

• Our most comprehensive database of content examples can be found here!
  • All of our content is oriented toward our mission of providing value and visibility to as many players as possible. We do that through player lists and analysis, rather than individual-player pieces. That’s what it’s all about for us. 5-7 players in an article with a few sentences of analysis on each.
• For Prep Hoops and Prep Girls Hoops scouts, check out our High School Season Guide (full of content ideas and instruction from August through March) and Grassroots Season Guide (April through early August).
• For Prep Dig scouts, click on the link to our Club Season Guide (content ideas and instruction for November through July) and High School Season Guide (August through November).
• For Prep Redzone scouts, here is our comprehensive, year-round content guide for the entire calendar year: Prep Redzone Handbook.

Visuals

• First of all, click here for our full Visuals Handbook, and learn how to take your articles to the next level!
• The Featured Image is often the difference between a reader clicking on your story or scrolling past it. Something as simple as a headshot is perfect, too. 

• Take a headshot of players after their game. “Hey, my name is Sam with Prep Hoops. I enjoyed watching you play. Can I get a picture of you for our website?” It’s that simple and players are happy you’ve asked.
• Eventually you can become more advanced by using pictures as thumbnails with clever formatting. It all begins with collecting a range of headshots, though. 

 

Social Media 

• Be professional, first and foremost. If you’re on the fence about posting something, don’t.
• Follow the players you want to write about. Follow the teams. Follow the coaches. Following is an important first step to establishing rapport – and learn to use the mute button, rather than the unfollow. For important follows, activate notifications. 
• Incorporate visuals. Pictures and short videos on your personal account will grow your following in a major way. Continue to take notes — you’re still a writer — but balancing note-taking with visual content is the goal. 
• Advertise your stories every time. Tag the teams/players/coaches so they know you’re writing/posting about them.
• Figure out how the state account fits into your strategy. Engage with players and fans on there. RT yourself and vice versa with that account.
  • Article tweets are the bread and butter of the account, but that should not be the only type of content found on the page.