Highlight Videos
Highlight Video 101
Show the best things first. Big goal, big save, dominate tackle. This is like your subject line and tells your story in the first few clips.
This is an appetizer for a college coach to want to see more so it doesn’t need to be 10 minutes. The best highlight videos are shorter with the best clips leaving coaches wanting to see more. Some coaches won’t watch past the 2nd minute anyway but I usually recommend a 3-5 minute highlight video at most.
Pick the 5-10 best attributes of your game (see below for ideas.) Find a 2-3 clips on each and there you go.
Start with your snapshot info: Name, grad year, academic, team info and relevant soccer specific highlights, awards
Make it an easy video link and not some downloadable file or website with a password needed for access. Lots of recruiting websites want you to login as a college coach to view profiles. Half the time we just pass and go on to the next recruit. Recommendations: Youtube, Vimeo
Game film highlights are best. Individual trainings and self shot video is second best.
How long should my video be?
I usually recommend a 3-5 minute highlight video at most. Remember to keep all game film and if a coach wants to see a full game you can always pass that along. If you make your highlight reel and its at 10 minutes start eliminating the worst clips or if you have two of the same ones then go with the better video angle or better game. Remember less is more. Leave us wanting to see more.
Should I have multiple highlight videos?
I would recommend a highlight video for each year or season. With highlight videos being 3-5 minutes you can hopefully get enough out there to show your progress and also with each video you look better and better and it can show your progress. That being said, if you feel like you are in a position to have a professional put together a video or provide you film from an incredible angle or you have new exciting clips then go for it! Remember you want to make this easy for college coaches to see you and provide them your best stuff to get them saying ‘I need to see more!’
Pro Tips:
Video is more important that anything right now. Work to get something good no matter what, it can provide an edge.
Give context to coaches - this means show the game clips that are against the top team in the league and say that on the video. I don’t want to see you score the 11th goal in a 12-0 game.
Stable not shaky video is preferred. Make it easy on coaches to see you
Highlight yourself with a circle or arrow so we can track you each clip
Don’t overcomplicate and zoom in and out. When in doubt leave the camera out and keep the ball in the frame. We want to see other players and you, not just you
The higher the vantage point the better!
If you are a defender show defending clips first, if you are an attacker show your best scoring or goal creating clips first
Here is what college coaches like to see based on position:
0 - Goalkeepers
This is an acceptable space for individual footage to show multiple saves, range of saves and reps of good saves that are hard to capture in games. But don’t forget lots of game film saves as well.
Shot stopping from multiple angles and distances
Collapse diving, diving technique and range
Parrying vs saving potential
Angle play in goal and coming out off your line
Organizing your back 4
Playing out of the back with your feet in short and medium range and under pressure if possible
Goal kicks and punting range and technique: show full distance of kicking ability
Throwing range and technique
Coming for crosses showing judgement, range and preferably through a crowd
Footwork though cones/ladders or across a goal to show quickness and footwork technique
2/3’s - Outside fullbacks
Defending 1v1 vs a good player
Defending crosses from wide areas
Speed in defending and getting up the wing on offense
Showing you understand how to play in a backline and relationship to other defenders you play with
Playing out of the back with small, mid and long range passing. Passes that break lines are best
Crossing and ability to join attacks and beat players 1v1
Technical skills with the ball: taking in a long ball, receiving with both feet, playing with both feet
Winning headers even if you are a small player
4/5’s - Central defenders
Defending 1v1 vs a good player
Winning headers on goal kicks or crosses/corners
Scoring a goal off a header
Strong tackling ability
Using body to defend/win a ball
Organizing the players in front of you
Reading the game by intercepting a pass
Show range of passing in short, middle and longer distances with accuracy. Passes that break lines are best
Show speed or strength or both if you have it
6/8’s - Defensive center midfielders/Central midfielders
Defending 1v1 vs a good player
Winning headers on goal kicks or clearances
Strength of distribution both side to side and by passing through lines to attacking players in short, middle and long ranges
Ball winning ability showing speed or strength
Ball control and ability to play in tight spaces with pressure from opponents
Read the game by intercepting a pass
Your hard work/work rate defensively
Winning a tough 2nd ball
8/10’s - Central midfielders/Attacking midfielders
Show coaches how you can score and create goals
Score goals in different ways
Beating players on the dribble
Play in tight spaces with pressure from opponents
Show passing ability in short, middle and long ranges
Show creative runs and reading of defensive mistakes
Show good assists
Reading the game by intercepting passes or making a key pass by reading a defensive misalignment
7/11/9’s - Forwards/Wingers/Outside midfielders
Show ability to score and create goals
Crossing ability for wingers
Scoring ability for 9’s
Hold up play and collecting passes and retaining possession under pressure
Highlight speed or height or strength
Highlight 1v1 ability by beating players on the dribble
Ball striking should be features
Scoring from multiple ways: headers, both feet, different distances, different surfaces
Running behind a backline
Combination play with midfielders in tight spaces with opponent pressure