Reading a Go2Pro Passport in two minutes: a checklist for scouts
You will open many Passports. Most deserve two minutes, a few deserve twenty. This checklist helps you tell which is which, fast, and without missing the details that matter.
First thirty seconds: the frame
Look at the profile before the videos. Age group, position, club, how many clips there are and over what period. A Passport with clips spread across a season tells you the player is consistent and the family is engaged. Ten clips posted in one weekend tell you something else.
Next minute: watch two clips, not ten
Pick the most recent clip and the oldest one. The most recent shows where the player is now. The oldest shows the direction. If both are good and the gap between them shows progress, keep going. If not, move on with a clear conscience.
What to look for in 29 seconds
Clips are short on purpose. In 29 seconds you can still see:
- The first touch and the body shape before receiving.
- The decision after the touch, and how fast it comes.
- What the player does when the action moves away.
- How the player reacts to losing the ball.
You cannot see stamina or character in a clip. Do not pretend you can. Write down what you saw and what you still need to check in person.
Check the counter
Each video has a scout counter. A high number means other professionals found the clip worth watching. It is a signal, not a verdict. A low number on a recent clip can simply mean nobody has looked yet.
Last thirty seconds: decide the next step
Three honest options. Not for me. Keep an eye on this one. Contact the family now. For the second option, note the name and come back in a month. Passports grow.
If you contact the family
For players under 18 you write to the linked parent, never to the player. The parent sees your verified status and your professional profile. Keep the first message short: who you are, which clip you watched and what you are proposing. Parents reply to clear messages. They ignore vague ones.
Keep your own notes
Go2Pro shows you the player. The judgement is yours. A simple sheet with name, date, clip watched, three observations and a next step will serve you better than memory. After a hundred Passports, memory fails. The sheet does not.
