what you need to know about recruiting videos
A recruiting video is key to helping open doors if you’d like to play volleyball in college. Here’s what you need to know.
There are three types of recruiting videos, each showing off different things.
Game Video – Just a video of a match, no editing needed. Ultimately this is what will give coaches the best idea of who you are as a player, and this is the preferred type of video for most coaches. This is one video that every player should have ready for coaches because they’re probably going to ask for it.
Skills Video – A video that is done in a controlled environment and shows a variety of skills during drills. The video usually requires some editing to at least put the different skills together into one video. This video is usually done in a practice environment, where a coach works out one player or a group of players individually (meaning one player may perform a drill for 5 minutes and then another player will do it).
Highlight Video – A video that combines highlights from game video to showcase the best of a player. The video requires a lot of editing, but shows the absolute best of a player in games.
Skills and highlight videos are not necessary to be recruited, and rarely will a coach ask for one specifically. These are extras that are perfect to attach with an introductory email as a way to get the coach interested in recruiting you. Neither video should be more than 4-6 minutes. It’s kind of a like trailer to a movie; show what you’re good at, and see if it fits what a coach needs. These videos can also benefit a raw athlete, who can show what they are capable of, even though they may not be particularly consistent or have the volleyball IQ of a more developed player.
A game video is much more valuable to a coach as they can make more of an evaluation off of it since they are seeing you perform in a game just like they would if they came to watch you. They can see not only your level of physical skill, but how you read and process the game. It’s very hard to hide your faults in a game video relative to a skills or highlight video, so this is something a coach can use to really understand your game.
With any video you create, you may want to consult with one of your coaches to look at it before sending it out. College coaches are going to expect skill and highlight videos to show your best. If you pick examples that don’t accurately portray your strengths it may not catch a coach’s eye the way you intend.
With a game video you want to identify a game against good competition where you play well. I would err more on the side of tough competition with a solid performance than weak competition and great performance.
With all three videos there are some commonalities. All three can be taken on a phone or tablet camera (using a tripod is a definite benefit), and uploaded to YouTube. A game video requires no editing at all, but a skills or highlight video will require some editing. If you are comfortable with technology you can find some free software and/or apps that will meet your needs to simply cut up the film and put it back together. I believe all Macs come with some basic video editing software, and Windows Movie Maker is free as well I believe. I’m sure there are some apps on your phone or tablet that can handle most of it as well.
Another key is to make sure that you are easy to identify in the video. Your number, where you start, what side of the net you’re on, any distinguishing feature or piece of apparel that a coach can use to track you are all beneficial when sharing the video so that the coach knows who they are watching. Just let them know how to identify you in the e-mail when you send them the link.
All three videos benefit from using a tripod and not needing to be moved back and forth to follow the ball. You really want the camera in a set location where it can see all of the action, player numbers, etc…. The best angle to film at is typically behind the endline from a vantage point above the height of the net. This is especially true of a game video. For a skills video you can get away with being floor level behind the endline. If it’s not possible to get high endline, but you can get high sideline where you can see the entire court at one time this can be a decent backup option but is usually hard to find this scenario. The next best option is behind the endline at court level on a tripod positioned behind your side of play that can see that entire side of the court without having to move.
I would also suggest making sure people are aware of the filming going on. Nothing is worse than watching a film and hearing parents bashing other players, teams, coaches, etc…. This is not what a coach wants to bring into their program. If you add music to the video, keep it to elevator music – nothing with provocative language etc... that could cause anyone (probably significantly older than the athlete) to cringe. While most coaches won’t read too much into it, every year I hear at least a handful of coaches comment about how they stopped recruiting a good athlete because of the music they chose on their video.
When it comes down to whether or not you should pay someone to help, this is my advice. First off, the tape that most college coaches would prefer is a game tape. This is relatively easy to get and requires no editing. Talk to the other parents on the team and film a number of matches throughout the season, put them on YouTube and then share it with the other players and parents on the team. There is nothing individual about it, so if someone can provide a phone and/or tablet and a way to attach it to a tripod, you should be good. The more games filmed, the more choices you have of what to share, and if multiple people film then you can pick the best view and not worry about the ill-timed error that will always occur.
If you decide you want to put together a skills tape, you can place your camera on something sturdy, prop it up in the right direction and run the drill. At the end of the drill pause it, and repeat with a new drill. Showing a block of repetitions that is unedited lowers the expectation of a coach. For instance if you pass 15 straight balls unedited, the expectation isn’t they are all perfect. You can do a few takes to get a good stretch that is indicative of your ability. The editing required is just to put the videos together, and should be relatively simple. If you really get stuck, try asking other players or parents on the team and someone can probably give you 5 minutes worth of help to get it moving. A highlight video however will require more work, and if you don’t have the time and tech answers it may be easier to pay someone to get it done. Remember a highlight and skills video is really not needed. It’s just an extra perk.
If you decide to put together a highlight or skills video, here are some tips:
4-6 minutes long maximum.
Pick 3-5 skills that you are strong at, and are related to the position you are trying to play in college. So if you are 5’6 and planning on playing libero, you can skip the blocking, front row attacking, etc…
It’s ok to add a little personal touch. I remember the intro of one video with a player riding up to introduce herself on a horse. Another player dunked a volleyball in a basketball hoop, then walked over and introduced herself.
Show some variation within the skills.
Hitters should hit multiple sets (location and tempo). If you are capable of hitting to different locations (i.e. line, cross, etc…) then do that as well. Don’t be afraid to add transition work before your attack to demonstrate a more developed game.
If you are serving, show your ability to hit short and deep, straight ahead and different angles.
If you are blocking, show your footwork moving each direction.
If you are serve receiving, move your location and the server’s location.
If you are setting, then set different locations, show your ability to attack (if you can), and make sure the quality of tosses or passes are varied. If you can jump set well, do so.
If you are playing defense, make sure you’re challenged. If you are a defensive specialist then show defense from multiple positions if you can. Make sure it’s realistic to your level of skill, but don’t just have someone toss easy balls right at you.
Basic recommendations based on positions:
All players: Serving.
Hitters: Blocking and hitting. Serve receive if you are comfortable with it. A defensive drill to show your effort and touch on the ball.
Setters: Setting, blocking, defense.
Libero/DS: Defense, serve receive and setting (high balls to the outside and right side hitters).
Remember, more than anything highlight what you are good at. If you are a great athlete, but are new to the game, make sure you show your athleticism. If you are a really well rounded player and can do most skills at a high level, then show that as well. If you can’t serve receive effectively, then don’t show it.
Once you get your video put together and uploaded to YouTube e-mail it to coaches along with a personal note thanking them for their time. Review our Recruiting FAQ on other best practices when contacting coaches.
Good luck!
