Player scouting and recruitment is a process whereby coaches observe and analyze a player(s) to determine their suitability to play for a team in the future.  A coach may observe a practice(s) and/or game(s), either in-person or by watching video, of a player(s).  A coach may also conduct an interview with the player they are interested in and analyze data. 

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When scouting a player, coaches have various criteria and/or benchmarks, however, for the most part, coaches observe the players’ talent in terms of fundamentals and skill; they observe the interactions of the player with teammates, coaches, and officials; they observe the energy that a player brings to the court; along with other tangible and intangible characteristics of the player.

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In Canada, there is no defined recruiting period.  In the US, the recruitment period is established by the NCAA.  Both, however, have specific rules which must be followed. 

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There are also professional scouts. These are agencies who identify strong players by attending tournaments and who work together with the athlete and their family to target desired schools, teams, coaches, etc. Every agency will structure their compensation package differently. Most will ask for a flat rate up front, regardless of the outcome. These scouts like to on-board athletes in their grade 8 or 9 year so that they have time to market the athlete to the various schools. You can also contact these scouts directly. If they have not already seen you in only in person, they will be interested in viewing as much of your game footage as possible in order to determine whether or not they would like to represent you.