Credentialed evaluators. Standardized methodology. Zero advocacy.
TRIS Field Agents are verified football professionals trained in standardized evaluation methodology, ethical observation practices, and FERPA-safe protocols. Every agent is certified, background-checked, and subject to continuous calibration and audit.
Four levels of verified expertise.
Every TRIS Field Agent progresses through a structured certification path. Each tier has specific requirements, responsibilities, and accountability standards.
Apprentice Evaluator
Entry-level evaluators who have completed the TRIS Foundation Certification. Apprentices work under direct mentorship from Senior or Regional Lead evaluators and submit evaluations for review before they enter the database.
Requirements
- Verified football background (coaching, scouting, or playing experience)
- Completion of TRIS Foundation Certification (40+ hours)
- Background check and conflict-of-interest disclosure
- Supervised evaluation period (minimum 20 evaluations reviewed)
Certified Evaluator
Evaluators who have completed the apprenticeship period, passed calibration assessments, and demonstrated consistent scoring accuracy. Certified evaluators submit evaluations directly to the TRIS database without pre-review.
Requirements
- Successful apprenticeship completion with mentor signoff
- Passed national calibration assessment (80%+ accuracy)
- Minimum 50 approved evaluations in the apprentice tier
- Annual conflict-of-interest disclosure renewal
- Ongoing random audit participation
Senior Evaluator
Experienced evaluators who serve as mentors for apprentices, participate in calibration panel reviews, and cover high-priority events and regions. Senior evaluators may also contribute to methodology updates and training materials.
Requirements
- Minimum 2 years and 200+ evaluations as Certified Evaluator
- Calibration accuracy consistently above 85%
- Completed Advanced Methodology Certification
- Active mentorship of at least 2 apprentice evaluators
- No compliance violations or audit flags on record
Regional Lead
The highest certification tier. Regional Leads manage evaluator networks across multi-state territories, oversee quality control for their region, lead calibration sessions, and serve on the National Calibration Panel that sets scoring benchmarks.
Requirements
- Minimum 4 years and 500+ evaluations in the TRIS system
- Consistent calibration accuracy above 90%
- Completed Leadership and Quality Assurance Certification
- Demonstrated ability to manage and develop evaluator teams
- Appointed by TRIS National Operations with regional approval
The rules every agent operates under.
These are not guidelines -- they are mandatory operational requirements. Violations result in suspension, decertification, or removal from the TRIS network.
No Contact / No Advocacy
Field Agents do not recruit, promote, contact, or communicate with athletes, families, coaches, or high school staff about recruiting matters. Agents observe from designated areas only. Any contact -- including social media interaction -- results in immediate suspension pending review.
Observation-Only Methodology
All data comes from live athletic observation at public events: games, practices, camps, showcases, and combines. Agents do not interview athletes, request information from schools, or access any non-public records.
Conflict of Interest Controls
Every agent submits an annual disclosure identifying any personal, financial, or professional relationships with athletes, families, coaches, or programs. If a conflict exists, the agent may observe but may not submit an evaluation. Compensation is tied to certification level, never to recruiting outcomes.
Auditability & Documentation
Every evaluation is source-tagged with the agent ID, event, date, time, and location. All scores include written justification. Evaluations are subject to random audit by the Quality Assurance team. Agents who fail accuracy benchmarks are placed on calibration review.
FERPA-Safe Boundaries
Agents are trained to understand the boundaries between publicly observable athletic performance and protected educational records. TRIS agents never collect, request, or access academic records, transcripts, grades, test scores, disciplinary records, or medical information.
Continuous Calibration
All agents participate in ongoing calibration exercises where they evaluate the same prospects independently and compare scores. National calibration panels set benchmarks. Agents whose scores deviate beyond acceptable margins receive targeted retraining.
Comprehensive training at every level.
TRIS evaluators complete structured training modules covering methodology, ethics, compliance, and position-specific evaluation. Training is not optional -- it is required for certification and recertification.
Foundation Certification
Core methodology, scoring rubrics, FERPA boundaries, ethics training, conflict-of-interest protocols, and observation standards.
Position-Specific Training
Detailed evaluation criteria for each position group -- offense, defense, and special teams. Scheme recognition and trait identification.
Advanced Methodology
Projection modeling, development curve assessment, scheme fit analysis, and multi-game trend evaluation. Required for Senior Evaluator certification.
Leadership & QA
Team management, calibration panel facilitation, audit processes, and regional quality control. Required for Regional Lead certification.
Annual Recertification
Yearly refresher covering methodology updates, new compliance guidance, calibration exercises, and technology platform changes.
Ethics & Compliance
Standalone module covering non-contact policy, FERPA obligations, conflict-of-interest protocols, and institutional compliance standards. Required for all tiers annually.
What makes TRIS agents different.
TRIS Field Agents
- Certified and background-checked football professionals
- Trained in standardized methodology (40+ hours minimum)
- Subject to random audits and continuous calibration
- Zero contact with athletes, families, or high school staff
- Compensation tied to certification level, not outcomes
- Annual conflict-of-interest disclosures required
- All evaluations source-tagged and time-stamped
- FERPA-safe by training, policy, and ongoing audit
Typical Recruiting Evaluators
- No standardized certification or training requirements
- No methodology -- subjective opinions presented as ratings
- No audit trail or accountability for accuracy
- Often contact athletes and families directly
- Paid by athletes/families or incentivized by placements
- No conflict-of-interest disclosures or controls
- Rankings influenced by marketing spend and relationships
- No FERPA training or compliance considerations
Interested in becoming a TRIS Field Agent?
We are always looking for credentialed football professionals who share our commitment to independence, accuracy, and ethical observation. If you have a background in coaching, scouting, or football operations, we'd like to hear from you.