The Los Angeles Rams the NFL team based out of Southern California has announced the continuation of their inaugural scouting apprenticeship program that was started in the fall of 2020. The program was created to help provide on-the-job training with one-to-one mentorship and networking opportunities for the selected participants. The program also focuses on recruiting minorities with a focus on women as all 10 of their current participants are represented by a marginalized group. In this apprenticeship, students will be included in player health evaluations, tracking player invitations as well as assisting area scouts with college player talent. Participants who have graduated from this program have moved on to other opportunities including college positions at programs like Dartmouth and San Jose State University.
"To me, that's probably the most important component to the apprenticeship. To be able to network, text, FaceTime, call, pick the brains of some of the professionals that work in the scouting world, I think that's absolutely amazing."
James Bullock, Director of Compliance at San Jose State University
For this apprenticeship, there is a heavy focus placed on every apprentice’s preparedness and attention to detail. Scouting apprenticeship mentors continuously emphasize the importance of concise and accurate reports. Apprenticeship mentors in the program are accessible to the apprentices in many ways down to the smallest details including proper use of the tools of the trade and skill development. Going into year two of their apprenticeship each participant was asked to present their evaluations of small-school players where they would have the opportunity to use the different skills and responsibilities they were given and apply what they've learned. The program has grown significantly over its two-year span and seven of the original 10 participants will be returning for a second year with the Rams. On top of that, all of the original 10 participants have either been promoted or pivoted to a new opportunity within the organization.
Read full article here: https://www.therams.com/news/scouting-apprenticeship-program-empowers-participants-in-year-2
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