NEXT MOVE
The scouting engine connecting ambitious players and clubs across steps 1–6 of English football.
About project
NextMove is a web-first football scouting platform built from scratch to connect ambitious players, semi-pro clubs, and independent scouts across the English game. Players create credible profiles with highlights, verified connections, and scout reports — turning “self-claimed talent” into trusted, reviewable evidence. Clubs search, filter, and shortlist players, then move conversations forward through the platform. Scouts manage assignments and submit structured reports that power a clear verification signal.
TL;DR
01
Challenge
Trust and reach are broken below pro tiers.
02
Approach
Map three journeys, then design
trust-first flows.
03
Solution
Verified profiles, scout reports,
and gated access.
04
Outcome
MVP screens ready for pitching
and build.
The product in real life
A club manager needs a right-back for Saturday and has no time for endless calls. A player wants visibility beyond local networks and needs proof, not hype. A scout is busy and paid per report, so the workflow must be fast and structured. NEXT MOVE makes these moments simple: search, verify, shortlist, and start a controlled conversation inside the platform.
When work starts
to feel heavy
Below the top leagues, recruitment runs on personal networks and scattered messages. Players inflate profiles, clubs waste time, and scouts lack a clean way to attach credible evidence. The first experience must feel “data-rich” while staying friendly and readable.
Pain behaviors
Clubs rely on manager’s personal contacts.
Pain behaviors
Players cold-message clubs with low response.
Pain behaviors
Scouts write long reports with no structure.
Pain behaviors
Trust breaks when details can’t be verified.
What we
noticed early
Insights
- Trust is the main product, not “more player data”.
- Verification must be visible, but never confused with ability.
- Clubs need quick scanning before deep reading.
- Scouts need templates that force evidence, not essays.
Our approach
We aligned scope through wireframe review and built clear flows for players, clubs, and scouts. We designed low-fidelity wireframes first, then explored two visual styles before scaling to full UI and a system.
We kept feedback loops short using shared boards and in-file comments. Decisions were documented in flows and reflected in component states to reduce rework during UI.
Key improvements
Role-first entry
01
Situation
Users arrive with different goals and time pressure.
02
Change
Landing content guides players, clubs, and scouts into the right journey. Copy and visuals set a semi-pro tone, not amateur.
03
Result
Clear first steps without overwhelming navigation.
Verification without confusion
01
Situation
“Rating” easily reads as talent, not trust.
02
Change
A 1–5 verification badge is framed as completeness and credibility. The UI explains sources: self-claimed, linked profiles, and scout validation.
03
Result
Clubs understand what they can trust at a glance.
Scout reporting that scales
01
Situation
Reports are inconsistent and hard to compare.
02
Change
A structured report builder anchors ratings to evidence, match context, and role-specific KPIs. The output supports quick summaries and deeper dives.
03
Result
Reports become readable, comparable, and reusable.
Safer access control
01
Situation
Clubs and scouts can be impersonated, creating reputational risk.
02
Change
Registration includes verification logic and a status screen with progress feedback. Optional MFA is strongly recommended and supported.
03
Result
Reduced misuse risk without bloating the MVP.
Scout Report
Builder
The report builder captures match context, anchored attribute ratings, and evidence links. It supports role-based KPIs so scouts avoid irrelevant fields. A short recommendation block keeps the decision readable for clubs.
Navigation & information shape
Navigation is built around journeys rather than site sections. Clubs see search and shortlist as primary, players see profile and uploads, scouts see assignments and submission. Dense data is grouped into collapsible blocks and cards for fast scanning.
Interaction rules
Verification gates are communicated through clear locked states and “unlock” prompts. Optional MFA is suggested during onboarding and can be enabled later from account settings. Progress feedback prevents “static waiting” during manual verification.
The system behind the screens
The UI system supports a mixed audience: darker energy for players, cleaner light surfaces for clubs and scouts. Components were designed with predictable states so the product can grow without UI fragmentation.
Proof points
- Reusable cards for profiles, results, and reports
- Badge system for verification and tier access
- Form patterns for uploads and structured reporting
- Consistent typography and spacing scale
Validation & risk
control
The MVP avoided heavy features while controlling trust and safety. Flows were reviewed iteratively, with decisions reflected in wireframes before UI. Verification rules were treated as a product risk, not just a UI detail.
Risk controls
- Verification required for privileged actions
- Optional MFA strongly recommended
- Evidence-first reporting format
Handoff &
implementation
The handoff is structured for developers to build without guessing states and permissions. The prototype demonstrates the intended journeys and gated moments. The system supports fast iteration once real data arrives.
01
Organized Figma screens with naming and page structure
02
Design system with reusable components and states
03
Clickable
prototype for key journeys
04
Handoff notes for permissions, gating, and empty states
What changed
01
Locked a web-first MVP suitable for pitching.
02
Aligned three role journeys into one product story.
03
Defined verification logic to reduce impersonation risk.
04
Turned scout reporting into a structured, comparable format.
Got a project in mind?
Let’s make it happen!
- We review your request right away
- We’ll share case studies relevant to your industry
- If we’re the right match, you’ll get a custom proposal
- Then, we’ll start with a 3-day trial to get the ball rolling