Creating the perfect recruiting video sounds like a simple process. But the result can be a nuanced, often frustrating thing for everyone involved. Athletes and parents invest hours of time to come up with the best plays, and coaches are frustrated they’re not seeing what they want to see in a video. What does this mean for the athlete? It complicates the recruiting process and might hinder the chances of receiving an offer.
Unfortunately, most parents and athletes are kept in the dark on how to make the perfect recruiting video…..well, perfect. In some cases, college coaches will offer some specific guidelines to the athlete. But, remember that most college coaches are extremely busy, and outside the “money” sports, they may not have the time to offer guidance. At smaller, non-D1 colleges, the coach might not even be full time.
So, if you are lost on how to get started on your recruiting video, here are a few dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind:
Do: Use Professional Software to Cut Highlights
The most common mistake I see from my clients who insist on cutting clips themselves is not using the proper tools. Using professional video recording and editing software ensures the best possible quality for your highlight video. If you, at minimum, don’t know how to use iMovie, or Windows Movie Maker, you need to hire someone (me hopefully) to properly cut the highlights.
Don't: Ever Cut Highlights Using Your Phone
Your phone is not a proper video editing tool. It’s typically safe to record video on a phone, however most video editing apps on phones are cheap, clunky, and will produce lower quality video. Coaches won’t struggle to look at poor quality highlights, they’ll quit watching and go onto the next video.
Do: Keep Your Recruiting Video Short & to the Point
The perfect recruiting video should be a compilation of your very best plays. Usually 15-20 highlights, or 3-4 minutes in length. Don’t pay someone to make a super long highlight video that coaches don’t watch all the way through!
Don't: Make the Video too Short
This video is your first impression, make sure you are being competitive! A video without enough plays might give coaches the impression that the athlete doesn’t play enough, or doesn’t contribute enough to be considered for a college, or professional team.
Do: Cut Highlights That Show the Entire Play
Remember that the perfect recruiting video makes a great impression. Each highlight should be long enough that a coach can see the play develop. This is not 100% tried and true, however you want a clip long enough so coaches can see the context of the play. In soccer, for example, this might include showing an entire counter attack, even if your athlete is on the first pass. Typically, a proper highlight should be about 10 seconds long, but some might need to be longer.
Don't: Use Short Highlights that Offer no Context
I often receive highlights that are only 3-4 seconds in length. Typically this involves a scoring play of some kind. Coaches want to see more than the shot. In a basketball video, for example, how did the player move without the ball to get open? That part needs to be included, rather than sending out a video with a bunch of short clips that only show shot-making. Also, for video editors, we need the clips to be a little longer so we can make it look professional with simple transitions.
Do: Use Highlights from 4-5 of Your Best Games
Pick the best 4-5 games of your season and use multiple highlights from a variety of games.
Don't: Use only one Highlight from Multiple Games
Coaches are looking for athletes that can make an impact consistently. If your highlights are coming from too many games, coaches will get the impression that the athlete is not able to be a force throughout a game.
Do: Showcase a Variety of Skill-Sets
Coaches want to see overall talent shine in your recruiting video. Depending on the sport, and the position the athlete plays, this can mean a number of things. For example, a soccer athlete will want to show a coach dribbling, speed, passing, corner kicks, anything in addition to scoring.
Don't: Only Focus on Your Scoring Ability
What else does the athlete offer? While you might be the leading scorer on your high school team, you will likely need to make an impact in other ways on a college team. Showcase your defensive ability, your ability to help your teammates, etc. instead of just your ability to score
Creating the Perfect Recruiting Video Takes Experience
If you are struggling to understand exactly what should be in your recruiting video, you’re hardly alone. In most cases, it makes sense for you to let a professional video editor create your video.
Using my recruiting video services gives you a number of advantages. For one, I’ve worked in college athletics since 2001. I understand what coaches want to see in a video, and I communicate with them often to make sure I’m up to date on any changes, as sports evolves in a more analytic-driven environment.
I will always make a video that is appropriate for the athlete, and the coach watching the video. That means I will never up-sell to try to get you to pay more for a longer video that coaches don’t watch all the way through. I will always keep your best interests in mind, not the interests of my bank account.
If you need a recruiting video, use any of the contact options below to reach out with any questions, or to get started!