Sports Scouts

High School

A general high school education will give the basic skills needed to succeed in sports scouting. Speech and English courses will help ease communication with prospects as well as with conveying findings to coaches, managers, and front office workers. Learn Spanish or Japanese to help connect with foreign players, who are increasingly sought after by Major League Baseball teams. Finally, take physical education classes and join sports teams—especially the sport for which you want to scout.

Postsecondary Training

There are no colleges and universities that offer classes in sports scouting. Professional baseball teams send promising employees to a "scout school" that is sponsored by the Major League Baseball. Employees learn the basics of scouting and how to judge talent. The most famous graduate of the school is former scout and former White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that scouts typically have a bachelor’s degree, with some pursuing degrees in business, marketing, sales, or sports management. An increasing number of scouts have degrees, but there are still many who have just earned a high school diploma or completed some postsecondary training.