Opposition Scouting & Analysis
Course Details
Learn to build your own opposition analysis report with this step-by-step guide. As you progress through the learning modules, you’ll see real-life examples of key report sections from professional football clubs and Opposition Analysts.
You'll learn from:
- Exclusive video interviews with professional Analysts and Head Coaches
- Tasks to profile teams and players with stats using professional match data
- Exclusive articles and case studies on the inner workings of professional clubs
- Real-life opposition reports provided by professionals
- Feedback from a Professional Analyst
Jim Curtin – Head Coach, Philidelphia Union
You'll learn to:
- Highlight opposition strengths, weaknesses and common patterns of play
- Draw key diagrams and descriptions matching how professionals write reports
- Structure a professional looking report with key sections
Oliver Gage – Former Opposition Analyst
After the step-by-step process of building key report sections, drawing tactical diagrams & descriptions, the learning modules transition into the practical applications of opposition analysis. You’ll see how it’s tied into the working week, how and when information is fed to players, and how opposition analysis impacts training design at the professional level.
COURSE TUTORS
Oliver Gage
Oliver also launched an analysis education platform for players and coaches named CoachTech which has ceased operations as he joined the APFA.
Lucy Rushton
Lucy Rushton is the General Manager and Head of Technical Recruitment & Analysis at DC United in MLS and one of the most prominent female’s in professional football. Prior to her role with DC United, Lucy was the Head of Technical Recruitment & Analysis at Atlanta United where Lucy was pivotal in identifying and signing Miguel Almiron who was later transferred to Newcastle United for an MLS record fee. Lucy won the MLS Cup in with Atlanta 2018.
Jim Curtin
Jim Curtin is Head Coach of Philidalphia Union. Under Curtin, the Union won their first ever MLS regular season title and no team has taken more points than them from 2019-2022. Known for his innovative approach to analysis and player involvement, Curtin could be described as a modern facilitator who gives players ideas and tools to self-develop with targeted guidance.
COURSE MODULES
Click to expand details
Get to know the course contributors, complete your first basic task and start you opposition report.
Hear from professional Head Coaches and Analysts on the importance of opposition analysis and how it’s helped them win games in the past.
Learn about common report structures, download resources to help throughout the course and build your introduction pages.
Hear from Coaches and Analysts on the opponent’s attacking tendencies. Read an attacking play case study and draw diagrams of attacking patterns. Discuss them with other learners.
Hear from the experts on the use of data, how it can be beneficial and the issues with it’s incorrect use. Download a Premier League data set and complete a step-by-step task to profile two opponents in attack.
Hear from Coaches and Analysts on the opponent’s defensive tendencies. Draw diagrams of defensive patterns and discuss them with other learners.
Read about measuring defensive pressure with data and see how professional teams can spot patterns in defensive event data to target areas to attack.
Read case studies on set-pieces and see walk through videos from professional Analysts breaking down corners and free kicks. Draw set-piece diagrams to add to your report.
See how professionals focus on individuals and include them in reports. Write a summary comparing two professional strikers using match video provided.
See how data is used to evaluate individual players at the professional level and how this can be applied to a report. Complete a step-by-step task comparing two players with data sets used by professional clubs.
See how professional Coaches & Analysts present opposition information to players. Read about professional club video sessions, team, group & individual feedback and information overload.
Learn how professional Coaches & Analysts involve and include the players in opposition analysis process to help with buy-in.
See how opposition analysis information is used to influence training sessions, how and when to deliver this information to players.
Download two full professional games and write a report using the knowledge gained throughout the course. Submit your report for a professional Opposition Analyst to review, provide feedback and issue your certificate.
Completing the course:
- You'll be provided two full 90 minute games and complete an opposition report
- Submit your report to be reviewed by a professional Opposition Analyst
- Receive feedback and a certificate of completion
Lucy Rushton – General Manager, DC United
Frequently Asked Questions
Anybody who wants to improve their opposition analysis. The course has been tested and taken by professional Coaches & Analysts as well as those aspiring to gain a paid role in the industry. It’s suitable for coaches or analysts in US colleges, academies, semi-pro and professional teams. Anybody who will likely watch and analyze opposition games.
The course is online and on-demand so you can learn on your own schedule and at your own pace. All the course content is embedded in webpages, so as long as you have an internet connection you can access it.
A combination of the APFA ambassadors and course contributors. Everybody who had input to the course has worked as a professional Opposition Analyst or a professional Head Coach.
Most people take 15-20 hours to complete the course, but you can go at your own pace.
Your final report will be reviewed by a professional analyst working at a club. The APFA has an extensive network of analysts who like us, want to help others progress their career and upgrade their skills.
No. Although the course could easily be split into different levels, the APFA has reviewed this strategy and it’s commonly used to boost income for companies rather than add learning value. This is against the core beliefs of the APFA. The APFA does offer a course dedicated to using data in opposition analysis, which would compliment this one.
Course fees help fund the APFA in giving back the football community.
They help us power the website, put on networking and career events,
host webinars and fund opportunities for under-represented groups. The
APFA also donates to charitable causes. For more information on this
check out the ‘About Us’ section of the site.
Probably not. This course requires drawing tactical diagrams, watching and probably pausing videos and creating an opposition analysis report. You might be able to do it on a tablet with a larger screen, but a laptop would be best.
When you’re ready, purchase the course and you’ll receive a confirmation email with access details. The course will also be available via your membership account which you either already have, or you’ll create during the checkout process.
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