If you’re an athlete interested in playing at the collegiate level, creating a sports recruiting video is an essential part of your strategy. A well-crafted video can be the difference between getting noticed and having your talents go unrecognized, so it’s important to invest some time and energy into making sure you create the best one possible. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help you do just that. From what type of footage to include to how to keep college coaches engaged throughout the video, and lastly, how you can stand out with an individual player profile.

Why sports highlight videos are crucial in college recruiting

Highlight videos are one of the most important recruitment tools for college coaches today. With rising numbers of athletes vying for spots at top universities, having a highlight video can be the difference between being noticed and getting overlooked. This is especially true regarding online recruiting technology being rapidly adopted by coaches across all levels. These videos allow players to showcase their talents from anywhere and provide easy access for recruiters to evaluate prospects. Getting your skills seen on film is essential in today’s college sports landscape, so developing a highlight video early will surely give you an edge over those who wait until they have limited time left in their high school career.

When should I start to collect footage?

If you’re thinking of making an athlete highlight video but aren’t sure when to start collecting footage, the answer is now! Collecting footage throughout the season will allow you to put together an effective and comprehensive video that showcases your full skill set. Ultimately, any good highlight video needs a substantial amount of clips, so don’t procrastinate on getting your footage—the more clips you have, the better off you will be in showing who you are as an athlete. 

Find out more about the sports recruitment process here.

5 tips on how to make a college recruiting video

Showcase your best clips first

When creating a successful highlight video, it’s essential to start off with your best clips first. Doing so will immediately draw an audience’s attention and captivate them with the sheer power of your athleticism. It’s also a great way to demonstrate your skill level and show viewers what you have to offer as an athlete. Great highlights will also serve as visual proof for recruiters and coaches that you have the talent needed to make their program shine on the field.

Make sure you have a good quality video

When putting together a highlight video, it is important to make sure that you have the highest quality video possible. A good quality video showcases your abilities better and increases your chances of getting noticed. Poorly produced videos with weak sound and image quality not only fail to demonstrate a player's true capabilities but can also make it hard for coaches and scouts to evaluate a player's potential. The highlight video should showcase your talents in an impressive manner, and investing into good quality gear as necessary can help ensure this outcome.

Vary between different skills you showcase

It is also essential to show of a broad spectrum of skills.  Choosing clips that showcase multiple aspects of your playing ability will give the viewer a well-rounded look at what you bring to the table. Avoid filling your highlight video with long tapes of the same play - instead try to select only the best examples for each skill so that viewers get a comprehensive view of your talent. Showing variation in the plays you can make will undoubtedly impress potential recruiters and give you the edge when vying for scholarships.

Keep the length brief

Keep the length brief and aim for three to five minutes. A longer video may dilute the impact of your best plays, making it difficult for viewers to focus on what matters most. Therefore, consider being selective when deciding which moments should be included so that you can make every second count.

Keep it simple and sweet

If you want to create an engaging highlight video, it's best to keep it simple. Focusing on the key moments with clear visuals is important. Keep it simple and sweet, as this will help ensure that your highlight video effectively stands out from the rest. Going for more is not always better when it comes to creating an effective highlight video - sometimes less is more!

Be proactive with your sports highlights videos

Read more about how you can increase your chances of a sports scholarship.

Showing initiative and making yourself accessible to college recruiters is essential for landing your dream spot. Don’t wait for coaches to come find you - start making moves now so that you can secure the best possible spot on their roster. One way to do this is by creating a player profile that you can share with recruiters.

Create an individual player profile to showcase your skills

Finding college and pro-team recruiters can be challenging and daunting for many athletes. Luckily, with Veo, you have the power to create an individual player profile* where you can easily showcase your unique highlights. This eliminates any extra effort as it allows athletes to share their highlights directly from the Veo Editor. This gives them a platform to make much more than just an impression. The player profile can easily be shared with others by sharing the link. See how Veo’s Individual Player Profile works here:

Add your details and accomplishments

The player profile serves as a portal for others to view and get to know your skillset, stats and accomplishments. In the bio you can fill out information such as upcoming tournaments or playoffs, GPA, and notable awards. Investing in yourself by providing engaging content on your player profile will only expand opportunities and create great connections.

How to create a highlight video in the Veo Editor

*To create a player profile on Veo’s platform, you must record your games with the automatic tracking camera, Veo Cam, and upload the recordings to the Veo Editor. In the Veo Editor, the AI detects goals and period starts and ends. You can also easily create your own highlight clips.