How to Scan in Football: What It Is, When to Do It and 3 Drills

Scanning in football means looking around — turning your head or body — to gather information before the ball arrives. It tells you where your teammates, opponents and space are, so that your first touch and next pass are decided early. This guide explains when to scan, what the research says and three drills to build the habit.

What does scanning mean in football?

Scanning is looking away from the ball to take in the pitch. Coaches also call it checking your shoulder or checking your surroundings. The aim is to build a mental picture: who is close to you, where there is room and who is free. A player who has that picture before the ball arrives has more time to act.

What the research shows

A 2020 study in Frontiers in Psychology followed Premier League players across a season and measured how often they scanned before receiving the ball. On average, players scanned about three times in the ten seconds beforehand — 3.0 scans, or 0.44 per second. Players scanned more before passing than before dribbling or shooting, and more before long or forward passes. More scanning was associated with a higher chance of completing a pass, and the authors described the role of scanning in performance as small but positive. Technical ability and the difficulty of the pass mattered more.

Two cautions. The study shows an association, not that scanning causes better passing. And three scans is an average for professionals — not a target for a young player.

When to scan

• Before the ball arrives. The best time is while the ball is travelling to you or to a teammate.
• After a pass. You have a moment to look again before the ball comes back or the play changes.
• When defending. Look for the player and the space you are protecting.

As the ball is about to arrive, focus on it so you can control it well. Scan before that moment, not during it.

Common mistakes

1. Scanning only after the first touch. By then, the decision is rushed.
2. Looking without noticing. A quick glance that registers nothing does not help. Name what you saw: "man behind me", "space on my left".
3. Only scanning one side. Check both shoulders.
4. Scanning too late when under pressure. Build the habit in calm moments first.

3 scanning drills

1. Numbers behind you (5 minutes, partner and a ball)

A partner stands behind you and holds up a number of fingers or a colour card. As the ball arrives, you glance over your shoulder, call the number, then receive and pass. Do 10 each side.

2. Scan and name (10 minutes, passing triangle)

Three players pass in a triangle. Before receiving, each player glances over a shoulder and calls where the nearest player or free space is. Progress by adding a passive defender.

3. Scan to choose (small game, 3 v 3 or 4 v 4)

Add one rule: before receiving, the player must scan and play to the teammate who is free. A coach or parent can ask afterwards: "What did you see?"

In most sessions, the turning point comes when a player stops just glancing and starts calling out what they have seen — a teammate's name, a gap, a marker on their back. Once that habit becomes verbal it tends to carry over into matches within two or three weeks, particularly in smaller-sided games where the options are clearer.

How parents and coaches can help

Ask after a match: "What did you see before you got the ball?" This builds the habit of noticing and talking about it. For personal feedback, video review is useful: pause a clip a second before a player receives the ball and ask what they could see. RYL offers video analysis for £25.

Practise decisions as well as scans

Scanning only helps if the player then chooses well. Pitch Pro offers match scenarios that ask what you would do in a given situation, with 4 quizzes and 10 scenarios free. Our football IQ guide covers the wider decision-making habits.

Frequently asked questions

How often should you scan in football?

There is no fixed number. A study of Premier League players found an average of about three scans in the ten seconds before receiving the ball, but the right amount depends on the moment and the position you are in.

Why is scanning important in football?

It lets a player decide their first touch and next action early, which gives more time on the ball and reduces panic under pressure.

What age should players learn to scan?

Any age can begin with simple habits such as looking around before the ball arrives. Keep drills fun and low-pressure for younger players.

Does scanning make you a better player?

In elite players, more scanning is associated with higher pass completion, though other factors matter more and this does not prove cause and effect.

Next step

Try Pitch Pro free, or book a free intro call to work on scanning and decisions with a coach — face to face in Norfolk or online.

About the author: Tito is a UEFA Licensed Coach based in Diss, Norfolk.