Short answer: scanning is a quick turn of the head to check around you before you get the ball. It tells the player where teammates, opponents and space are. Research links more scanning to better passing and more forward play. Kids can learn it with simple cues from about age 8.
What scanning is
A scan is a short look away from the ball, usually over a shoulder, to see what is around. Coaches also call it "checking your shoulder" or "having a look". It happens before the ball arrives, not after.
Why scanning matters: the research
- Jordet and colleagues (MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference) studied 118 Premier League midfielders and forwards in 1,279 game situations. Players who scanned more often before receiving completed more passes. The effect was largest for midfielders playing forward.
- McGuckian and colleagues (Frontiers in Psychology, 2018) measured head turns with sensors on 32 semi-elite players. More head turns before receiving went with more turning with the ball, more passes forward, and more passes to the opposite side.
In plain words: the players who look more have more options and use them.
Why kids do not scan
- They watch the ball. It is the most interesting thing on the field.
- Nobody rewards the look. Coaches praise the pass, not the check before it.
- They do not know what to look for. "Look around" is too vague.
How to coach scanning at 8 to 13
Ages 8 to 10: make it a game
Use cues they must look to find: fingers, colors, a cone that moves. Keep it fun. Count looks, not passes. "Fingers before the ball" on our soccer IQ drills page is a good start.
Ages 10 to 13: give the look a job
Tell them what to check for their position. A center mid checks for the man behind. A center back checks for the striker's run. A winger checks where the fullback is. A look with a job turns into a better choice.
Timing: when to look
The best time is while the ball is traveling to a teammate, before it is played to them. Teach "look when the ball moves, not when it arrives".
How to tell if your kid scans
Watch one half of a game and only watch your kid. Count head turns in the few seconds before they get the ball. Many young players do zero. Two or more is a good sign. Then compare after a few weeks of practice.
Scanning is the first step of soccer decision making. For the full picture, read what soccer IQ is.