Professional, college coaches rely on personality tests to scout players
TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013 08:11 AM

When college coaches look at players to determine who they should recruit, they typically analyze their speed, strength and athletic statistics. However, in recent years, more coaches have turned to personality tests to determine which players would make a good addition to their teams, Yahoo! Sports reports.

Jeff Bower, the head men's basketball coach at Marist College, recently employed this technique when he asked guard and prospective recruit Nick Colletta to take a personality assessment. The results of the test told Bower that Colletta is competitive, sociable and comfortable playing in high-stress moments. For Bower, this confirmed that the high schooler deserved a late scholarship offer.

This is not the first season Bower has relied on a personality assessment to help him pick the best players. This is a tactic he brought with him from his days as a general manager of the NBA's New Orleans Hornets, the news source reports.

"I've seen its value in the past in the NBA and I can see its value even more in a college setting," Bower said. "We're not looking for any one quality in particular. We're looking for how individuals function best and what their natural instincts are. We think it's a tool that will help us blend personalities together and bring the right kind of person here."

In recent years, basketball is not the only sport that takes advantage of the insight personality tests can offer. The New York Times states that since the 1970s, the NFL has used a 50-item quiz to measure players' personality traits. In general, this allows coaches to find players who possess valuable qualities like motivation, passion, competitiveness and mental strength. This assessment is believed to be particularly important for scouting quarterbacks and offensive linemen, as they must possess the intellect necessary to interpret complex defenses.