Make a Recruiting Highlight Video Coaches Watch

Make a Recruiting Highlight Video Coaches Watch

You can have a great kid… and a bad video.

That sounds harsh, but it’s true. Coaches are busy. They might watch your college recruiting video on a phone between meetings or on a bus ride. If the first 10 seconds are confusing, they click away.

The good news: you don’t need fancy gear or a movie-trailer edit. You just need a clear plan. Below are simple, proven sports highlight video tips to help you learn how to make a recruiting highlight video that gets real attention.

Recruiting highlight reel basics (what coaches want)

A recruiting highlight reel is not a “best moments of the season” video for family. It’s a scouting tool.

College coaches usually want to answer a few quick questions:

• Can this athlete play at our level?
• What position(s) fit?
• Do they move well (speed, balance, change of direction)?
• Do they make good decisions under pressure?

A strong college recruiting video helps a coach see those answers fast.

The “fast yes / fast no” reality

Coaches often decide quickly whether to keep watching. Research on attention and video viewing shows people make judgments in seconds and are more likely to stop watching when a video feels confusing or slow. That’s why your first clips matter.

How long should a college recruiting video be?

Keep it short. If a coach wants more, they’ll ask.

Here are practical targets that work well:

• Most field/court sports: 3–5 minutes
• Goalies / pitchers / quarterbacks (more reps needed): 4–6 minutes
• Younger athletes (middle school): 2–3 minutes is plenty
• “Full game” add-on: 1–2 full games as separate links (not inside the highlight video)

Coaches love easy. One clean highlight video, plus optional full games.

What to include (and what to skip) in a recruiting highlight reel

Include plays that show “transferable skills”

Transferable skills are things that work at the next level, too—like speed, body control, vision, and toughness.

Good clips to include:

• Plays against strong competition (when you have it)
• Game-speed moments (not just warm-ups)
• Both sides of the ball, if you play both
• A few clips that show decision-making (not only scoring)

Skip the stuff that wastes time

These are common “click away” triggers:

• Long intros (keep it under 5 seconds)
• Slow-motion everything
• 30-second celebrations
• Fancy transitions
• Clips where we can’t tell who your kid is

If the clip doesn’t show a clear skill, cut it.

Camera angles and video quality coaches can actually use

You don’t need a $3,000 camera. A modern phone can work great if you do two things: steady and wide enough to see the play develop.

Best angles (simple rules)

• Most sports: film from higher up if possible (stands, balcony, top row)
• Keep the athlete in frame, but don’t zoom so tight that the coach can’t see spacing
• Landscape (horizontal), not vertical
• Use a tripod or fence mount when you can

Quick sport examples

• Soccer / lacrosse / hockey: higher and wider helps coaches see decisions
• Basketball / volleyball: mid-court angle, steady, follow the play early
• Baseball / softball: for hitters, show the full at-bat view; for pitchers, show from behind catcher or side angle (safe and legal at your venue)

Editing sports highlight video tips that make coaches stay

Editing is where most families either help the coach… or accidentally annoy them.

The “identify, then play” format

For every clip:

• Freeze or pause for 1 second
• Add a simple arrow or circle
• Then play the clip at normal speed

Keep it consistent. Coaches love consistency.

Put your best 6–10 clips first

Don’t “build up to it.” Lead with the plays that show:

• Speed
• Strength through contact
• Big defensive stops
• High-level skill (first touch, shot, pass, tackle, block, serve receive, etc.)

Use simple text overlays

In the corner, add:

• Name
• Grad year
• Jersey number
• Position
• Team name (optional)

At the start (very short), include:

• Height/weight (if relevant for the sport)
• GPA/test scores if strong (optional)
• Contact info (yours and your club/high school coach)

Music: what to do (and what not to do)

A lot of families add music to make it “exciting.” Coaches don’t need exciting. They need clear.

Here’s the safest play:

• No music at all, or very low volume
• Keep game sound when possible (it shows pace and communication)

Also, avoid copyrighted songs. Platforms can mute your audio or block your video. That’s the last thing you want when a coach clicks your link.

If you really want music, use royalty-free tracks from a trusted library (and keep it quiet).

Where to host your college recruiting video (easy for coaches)

Make it one click. No logins.

Good options:

• YouTube (unlisted is fine)
• Vimeo
• Hudl (common in many sports)

Make sure:

• The video plays on mobile
• The title includes your name + grad year + position
  Example: “Jordan Lee | 2028 | MF/W | Highlight Video”

How to send it to coaches (and actually get replies)

A great video still needs a smart send.

What to email (simple template)

Subject line ideas:

• “2027 OF — Recruiting Highlight Video + Schedule”
• “2028 Setter — College Recruiting Video (Link)”

Email body (keep it short):

• 1–2 lines on who you are (name, grad year, position, location)
• The video link near the top
• 2–3 quick stats or measurables (if you have them)
• Your schedule (next 2–4 events)
• Coach contact info (club/high school)

And yes—follow up. Many coaches miss the first email.

Second angle: different situations (because not every family is the same)

Scenario A: Your kid plays a “recruiting-heavy” travel schedule

If you’re at big events often:

• Update the highlight reel every 6–8 weeks
• Keep the main video 3–5 minutes
• Add 2 full-game links from recent tournaments

Scenario B: Your kid is talented but doesn’t have big exposure

This is more common than people think.

Do this:

• Use the best game footage you have (even local games)
• Add a short skills clip (30–60 seconds) as a separate link
  Skills clips help when game film is limited—but don’t replace game film.

Also, take care of the basics around tournaments: sleep, hydration, and simple fuel. It sounds off-topic, but it affects what ends up on film. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics youth sports nutrition guidance, kids do best with regular meals and snacks that include carbs (energy) and protein (muscle repair). And Nationwide Children’s Hospital game-day tips recommend planning easy-to-digest options before and after games. Better energy = better clips.

(If you want a simple tournament fuel plan, see our nutrition tips.)

Practical examples with real numbers (so you can copy the plan)

Example 1: 2027 soccer winger

• Total length: 4:00
• Clips: 18–22
• First 45 seconds: 6 best plays
• Include: 4 defensive recoveries, 6 1v1 moments, 4 crosses, 2 goals, 2 smart passes leading to chances
• Add-ons: 2 full games (separate links)

Example 2: 2028 volleyball libero

• Total length: 3:30
• Clips: 20–25 touches
• Must show: serve receive platform, reading hitters, pursuit, communication
• Skip: long team huddles, scoreboard pans
• Add-ons: 1 full set from a strong opponent

Example 3: 2026 baseball pitcher

• Total length: 5:30
• Clips: 12–18 pitches from 2–3 outings (not just one day)
• Include: fastball command, secondary pitch, holding runners, fielding a bunt
• Add-ons: 1 full inning (separate link)

Common mistakes that make coaches click away

These show up all the time:

• The athlete isn’t marked clearly (no arrow, no pause)
• Too much zoom (coach can’t see the play)
• Only scoring clips (no defense, no decisions)
• Old footage (a year+ old as your main content)
• Over-editing (flashy effects, loud music, slow motion)
• The link requires a login or permission
• No contact info in the video or email

If you fix just these, your video will already be better than most.

How to make a recruiting highlight video: simple checklist

Before you edit

• Pick 2–4 recent games with good competition
• Choose 15–25 clips that show real skills
• Write down your top 3 “selling points” (speed, IQ, toughness, etc.)

While you edit

• Put best clips first
• Mark the athlete on every clip
• Keep clips short (8–15 seconds usually)
• Use normal speed most of the time
• Keep intro under 5 seconds

Before you send

• Upload to an easy platform (YouTube unlisted works great)
• Test on your phone and a friend’s phone
• Copy the link into a short email with your schedule

If you want help building the athlete behind the video, our training guide covers age-appropriate speed, strength, and recovery.

Bottom Line (Key Takeaways)

• A great recruiting highlight reel is a scouting tool, not a movie.
• Aim for 3–5 minutes with your best plays first.
• Use steady, wide-enough angles so coaches can see decisions.
• Keep editing simple: identify the athlete, play at normal speed, cut the fluff.
• Avoid copyrighted music and hard-to-access links.
• Host it where coaches can watch fast, then send a short email with the link and schedule.