Opponent Scouting Part 1: Player Scouting

Photo from Miami University Libraries

Scouting opponents is a important part to being prepared as a coach and to help prepare your team.  A big part of opponent scout is scouting the opponents players and learning about them.  Things to include about personnel are statistics, tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.

Statistics
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Statistic are easy to include into the scouting report and gives a quick overview of the player.  Stats to include: Position, Height, PPG, FGM/FGA, FG%, 3PM/3PA, 3P%, FTA/FTM, FT%, RPG, APG, BPG, SPG.  You can keep the format uniform for all players or vary it for each player or just a few who may stand out in a few categories that majority do not.  An example of adding a statistic that a player may stand out in would be offensive rebounds per game or steals per game.  

Tendencies/Type of player

I think tendencies are the most important part of opponent player scouting because it helps players know and understand how to defend a player.  A tendency might be a player favors his/her left shoulder in the post or a player prefers to drive right and pull up or pass going to their left or a player prefers to face up and shot fake in the mid post.  Some coaches like to label players based on there tendencies and strengths to give a quick overview of the player.  By the player it may say driver/slasher, shooter, 50/50 (a player who can drive and shoot), or post.  

Strengths/Weaknesses

Strengths help give greater detail to who the player is.  It will help your players know what to expect when they are guarding a specific player.  Examples of strengths are good ball handler, athletic guard, great offensive rebounder, really aggressive/active in passing lanes, really good/quick pull up jumper.  Some coaches do not like to include weaknesses in scouting reports for various reasons, but if the weaknesses are obvious I like to include them.  Examples of weakness are: weaker going over right shoulder in post, not a three point threat, not a great ball handler, etc.  

Overview

This part of the scouting report gives your players a picture of type of players they will be going against and defending in the upcoming game.  Give detail, but keep it brief and simple enough for your players to understand.  All of your players should read through and know all of the players in the scouting report because they might defend them in the game or get switched onto a different player.  ​