Here is my experience applying for one of these jobs. Two companies post ads on expat websites to recruit these sports Journo's (Otherwise Known as Scouts). They are sportsdata.ag and livescout. My experience is only with sportsdata, however, after visiting the livescout website, I can safety say that it dosen't look that promising either. Why?. Have a look at the website.
http://www.livescout.net/
Notice that it's no way a professional outfit. Looks like it was created on the fly using some web design tool. Notice the spelling error "Sports Coverd". Their email address is a [at]yahoo.com. A free email address!!.
The ads sound really attractive. Have a look for yourself:
https://jobs.justlanded.com/en/South-Ko … outh-Koreahttps://jobs.justlanded.com/en/Vietnam/ … st-7238127https://jobs.justlanded.com/en/Vietnam/ … in-Vietnamhttps://jobs.justlanded.com/en/Vietnam/ … in-Vietnam
They say "We cover your expenses + 35 EUr payment per game + cost of ticket for the game". Sounds good right?. Wrong!.
What they don't tell you is:
1) You need to train for this. It could take from a bare minimum (this is a very unlikely minimum) of 5 hours to a maximum of say 20-30 Hours.
The training you have to do by logging on to their website, completing tutorials, downloading a full game, and then 'scouting' that game. There is no way anyone can pass this first time or even second time. When I asked the sportsdata supervisor about this my email went unanswered for two days. Of course, when you first sign-up, my supervisor said "if there are any questions feel free to ask" because thinks may seem "confusing". I also asked her, how come they don't have a demo (promo) video of a scout covering a 'live' game, where they are tracking each and every ball movement, throw-in, goal kick, free-kick. I reckon they don't do this because it would not be so much a promo video if they showed this. Instead, they have this youtube clip:
Yes, we see a scout tracking a game (not football mind you) on a notebook computer. Whereas, if you signup for football scouting, you will be scouting games with a smartphone using their in-house custom built software iScout. The youtube video just shows the scout enter two bits of info in the computer. No big deal right?, wrong.
I've done one training game on a smartphone, and you are tracking each and every ball movement, throw in, free-kick, goal, etc. Apparently, the youtube video is a scout doing advanced coverage. Wouldn't you rather see what YOU will be doing not what the advanced coverage is all about?.
2) Travel time - At least 30 mins each way. Yes you will probably get reimbursed the travel expenses, if you keep the receipts. But don't forget you have to make you way to the stadium, using your time.
The time you spend doing this, is on you.
3) They tell you to be at the stadium 1 hour before kick-off.
- to prepare, get setup, enter pitch conditions, take a picture of the stadium etc. etc..
4) You have preparations BEFORE the game. Get all your gear in order. Spare batteries, find out how to get to the venue etc.
Things to do AFTER. Report on the match result, upload pics of the pitch/stadium.
All together I reckon you will spend: Game time: 3.0 hours minimum (90 mins ++ incl. half time + injury time = 120 mins + be at stadium 1 hour before kick-off)
travel time: 1 hr (min.)
preparation for game: 0.5 hrs (min)
All together (minimum) = 4.5 hours
Time you spend training, that's on you. I've been told it takes at least 2-3 attempts to pass the training. Even if you complete it in 2 games. Thats 4 hours, on top of the time you spent on tutorials. Don't forget if you download a training video and don't complete the training on that video in 10 hours, that's an automatic fail. They probably think we are cheating if we take more than 10 hours (but they fail to see how inconvenient it may be for the trainee).
The first video was 700Mb, it was taking time to download, so I left it hoping to do it the next day, I had received an automatic fail, because it "hadn't been completed in 10 hours". The next video was 1.5Gb (this one took 2 hours to download).
Sportsdata do not make it clear, that you have to complete the training on a video within 10 hours.
There's a lot of information missing from there notes, guides, and procedures. Sometimes, info given on the guide conflicts with what the supervisor tells you.
One of their info sheets has a whole host of punishments for scout errors. If "you enter details incorrectly or delay" you could be docked wages from the 35 Euros. Entering incorrect info..that's fair enough, but how do we know that their system is actually "real-time"?. What if their is a delay in their processing the info entered.
To cap it all, their website brochure has this:
potential data journalists need to complete successfully a complex and extensive training. Only 1% of all applicants are confirmed for real live matches.
5,000+ data journalists are efficiently managed and quality-controlled by the SMP.
They seem to be proud of their "5000+ recruits". Another marketing ploy, whats with the 5000+, how about just saying we have over 5000. Just plain facts, would do nicely. By the way, their ad: https://jobs.justlanded.com/en/South-Ko … outh-Korea
says “We have got our own network with 2500 scouts worldwide, who forward us live statistics directly from the venues.”
See what I mean, the inconsistencies!.
By the way, Sportsdata is based in switzerland, and you will notice that their website is .ag domain. Thats Antigua and Barbuda. Ever heard of it?. I rest my case.
