Nowadays almost everyone has a soccer highlight video… The thing they have in common is the low quality of clips. You have to stand out from the rest. To do this it’s important to know what coaches want to see. College coaches are very busy, therefore are being bombarded by recruits contacting them via email and social media. Learn below what you need to do in regards to content, clip detail, length and more.
The recruiting process comes quick
It means a lot that parents trust GFT to play a role in their families lives to help develop, mold or encourage / call out certain abilities.
GFT is over 13 years old this year & one really cool thing about that is a lot of the younger kids who I trained at ages 9-10 are now in college or deciding what college to join.
It’s hard to believe kids I met at age 6 are now in college…
Childhood goes by quick!
This is why by 8th grade it’s good to start learning the process.
Some of our 16 year olds [high school juniors-seniors] haven’t decided what school they’ll attend, though they each have offers.
Don’t worry or stress. Keep working hard. Dreams will come true. Once they do – set new goals.
Recruiting process has its ups and downs
The power of a soccer highlight video [TRUE STORY]: When I first started Global Fútbol Training (GFT) in 2008, I trained a young girl with tremendous soccer talent.
I knew she could play collegiate soccer if she wanted to & stuck with her training.
Several years down the line, she was not getting playing time from her U-15 club coach & had even been ‘demoted’ from a tier-1 team to a tier-2 team.
She was going through the growth spurt [lost speed] typical of teenagers. Therefore, she was having a rough couple of seasons, but in the end good things happened…
During this time, her parents phoned & had a heartfelt discussion about continuing her training. If she should quit soccer, & what sort of plan, if any, could be made?
I encouraged them that she was good enough & that they should not let a coach & the current season define her future.
If soccer was what she truly wanted to do, she needed to stick with it.
This young player weathered those tough seasons and signed to play D-1 college soccer!
[Although, please know there are D2 schools better than D1, so don’t get wrapped up in that].
Anyway, upon receiving the news that her daughter had signed, the player’s mom phoned me and said, “I always trusted you and thought you were honest, but I really wondered there for a while if you were telling the truth or just keeping us in training [because we all had given up]. But you were right – THANK YOU!”
“I always trusted you and thought you were honest but I really wondered there for a while if you were telling the truth or just keeping us in training [because we all had given up]. But you were right – THANK YOU!” – Carol [Mom of Player]
Why coaches/scouts say most videos are not good
So one question I answer a great deal is whether or not soccer highlight videos are worth the investment.
Player highlight videos are vital for high school age players because you can then have the opportunity to introduce yourself to every coach in America.
Literally in just 20 seconds a coach can know if they like a certain player’s style of play or not.
If your video is not good [from the quality to the selected clips] than they are not going to finish watching it.
Of the players we have helped with highlight videos, 100% have received good feedback from coaches and gone on to play at D1, D2 & D3 Schools.
I used to help make H-videos, but after a while I thought “why don’t I just teach them everything I know because it will save them $500+ and you can use the course with multiple people. Plus, I just don’t have time anymore to create highlights.
Get my College and DIY highlight video course and I promise it will be one of your best investments in soccer! It’s on Sale for only $29 – Don’t miss out!
You don’t need a thousand dollar camera…
A good highlight video is the key
College Coaches only have a few recruiting trips they are allowed to take each year with thousands of good players to choose from.
The common thing we hear from the college coaches is that the video they receive are Not Good.
There are so many things that can make or break a video. You have to be careful you are not wasting time & money instead of saving it.
This is one of my advantages; not only have I played at collegiate & professional levels, but stay plugged in to what college & professional coaches are looking for in a video presentation.
Making clips
The other day I was on the phone with a college goalkeeper who wants to play pro…
He sent me his highlight for feedback…
My main critique was the unnecessary length of several clips… He would make a save, knocking the ball out of bounds and after, an additional 4-5 seconds would go by…
We ended up making a 4 minute video 2 minutes instead… BUT then it was too short because he cut a few good clips too short:)
In the end, it turned out good, but this is 1 example of how critical each clip is.
Each second counts!
4 unnecessary seconds x 20 clips = 80 seconds which frustrates a coach… They don’t have 1-2 minutes extra to waste in a day. Imagine all the kids sending them videos.
5 things you should know
- If you are on the opposite side of the field it’s hard to see anything. [this is frustrating to coaches] So, only put these clips if it’s an assist or goal.
- Get highlights from games where you’re playing high competition.
- Try to get 20-30 clips from 1-2 games. The fewer the games, the better because it shows you are consistent. A few clips from 4-5 games shows you only do a couple good things each game.
- Each second in your clips matters… Example: If each clip is 6 seconds it can total a 5 minute video, compared to 3 second clips coming under 3 minutes [saving the coach valuable time]. This doesn’t mean every clip should be short… Some of the best ones are long 15 second ones showing you do multiple things.
- Use a few captions… “physical or aggressive” , “running off the ball” , “goal”
Sample of a good highlight video
A SAMPLE Highlight Video Featuring one of my favorite trainees.
Former ECNL Player during this recruiting time – Forward – Penn State University
Top recruits story to play D1 soccer
Short story on this player [Rachel] and her dad one day when I was training at the same park they were.
As they were leaving and passing by my car I waived for them to stop so I could introduced myself.
The dad contacted me later that evening to set up training.
After 3 weeks her dad told me that she had improved more than they had seen in the last 3 years.
This is one reason I say that 10-13 years old is a great time to get serious with technical training outside of the club.
Rachel worked so hard and really wanted to improve year after year, so with her natural ability and desire the skill she learned really boosted her play.
She continued to improve and become one of the best players in Texas.
She is now playing for Penn State and was being recruited by UNC Tarheels, Princeton, Harvard, SMU, TCU, Alabama & Colorado.
One of the best parts for me is she still contacts me and wants to train in her off-season.
Congrats to the whole family as this is for sure a family effort!
How soccer recruits can save travel money
Highlight videos not only offer the opportunity for players to showcase their talent but to save thousands of dollars in trip fees.
Considering that you don’t have to drive or fly to several schools to be seen is a time & money saver.
Thanks to the internet you can review clips of a certain coach’s style of coaching to determine if you may be a good fit in terms of personality.
FIFA player agent says most video content is not good
This not only goes for high school kids and their parents trying to make a good video.
It can also be used for players wanting to get a pro contract.
A while back I met with my friend Itamar Keinan [FIFA Player Agent] at Total Football Soccer Agency, views over 30 videos every day and most of them, according to Itamar, are not good.
He showed me video of a college player wanting to go pro; the content was just not good. The player was putting in clips of him doing good things on the ball, but then not completing the pass.
We could tell that guy was a good athlete, but he demonstrated bad decision-making in the games.
You need to highlight that you are a complete player.
Is there a difference between a highlight & recruiting video?
Short answer: no.
This is more of a semantics issue; some people say that a highlight video is about showcasing your best work whereas a recruiting video is one that contains a broad scope of your work & what a college coach wants to see.
These are both valid approaches – I mean, why wouldn’t you want to present your best work?
You do also need to showcase your full abilities in the game.
There are some essential components that will help get you noticed but they need to accurately reflect your abilities.
Remember, you will be in a long-term relationship with this coach, school & team so honesty is always the best policy in representing your abilities.
Why a soccer highlight video helps both parties?
Not many coaches are going to add a player to the roster if they haven’t seen them.
Although, I know of a few stories where coaches give scholarship money to players sight unseen.
There’s a coach who gave a full scholarship to 3 foreign players from word of mouth… The referral came from a coaching friend. Two of these players were good, the third didn’t even make the practice team.
This hurt the coach and the player… Sure, he got a full ride, but never played competitive soccer again – when he could have gone to a lower level school for playing time.
If you don’t have a good highlight you’re losing opportunity each week.
Why use GFT’s soccer highlight video process?
I personally have the experience of creating several highlights… All of them get good feedback from college coaches who recruited them.
My DIY course saves you money, [$29] whereas me doing it for you would cost $600.
You also get teaching by Wes Wages, of Armosa Studios – a video guru – teaching the technical side in how to create it and what kind of camera to use.
Wes teaches how you can make a better video using a iphone vs. a $3,000 video camera. You’ll be shocked and happy when you see how to use the less expensive route.
Different positions need specific content
Besides me teaching how long each video should be. You’ll learn what coaches want to see or not see, how to cut each clip because each second matters, what a GK, defender, mid and forward need to put in the video.
Example: A defender doesn’t need to have content scoring goals. Although, if you do score add it.
Defenders need to show they can tackle, keep their shape, have a good first touch and pass as well as play strong in the air.
A forward needs to show at least 1 or 2 goals, if not then they need to let the coach know that they are more of a target forward and then show how they keep the ball up and create plays for teammates.
When is the best time to make a highlight vid?
There’s a difference in making your first highlight, compared to the “best time”…
The best time is your junior year…
Although, IF you feel you are playing at a high level make one as a Sophomore.
Most of the top players I see are committing their junior year, their senior year.
Only the top 10-20% of players are considered “the top” and they are signing at the Top 25 schools… Therefore, most of the recruits have a lot of other schools to choose from.
So don’t freak out!
Just because others are verbally committing before you doesn’t mean they are better players… Stay patient. Your time will come as long as you keep working hard on the field and off.
Make your first highlight video your Freshman year, but know that your junior year is the most important.
Be sure to update your videos as you age
There’s only so space I can share on this post, so get my College Course – only $29 – the first module free.
What should go in a soccer highlight video?
Few position-specific examples:
Forwards
- You want to show that you’re good with your back to goal.
- Going at defenders 1v1
- Scoring goals
- Movement off the ball
- Playing physical [remember you’re the first line of defense]
Defenders
- Need to show they can defend
- Show you can stay calm under pressure
- Switch the field possession
- Keep your defensive shape
- Win the ball in the air [headers]
- Show you work hard to support your other defenders by hustling back off the ball – even if you don’t get it, it shows you are disciplined and opening up space elsewhere.
Midfielders
- Can show crossing ability
- Movement off the ball
- Assists
- Tackling
- Tracking back
- Shooting from distance
- Switching the field
Goalkeepers
- Saves
- Dealing with crosses and corners
- Distribution
- A few goal kicks and punts
Of course there are other things but these are important and a coach can see in just a few clips how the player is in the position so each clip and each second is key.
How to get started…
Whether you’re in New Jersey, California, Florida or in another country… If you have my advanced skills course, there’s a bonus ‘DIY highlight video course‘.
You’ll quickly learn how to shoot quality film & edit like a pro.
2 ways…
- With an iPhone, for a fraction of the price of 1 highlight film.
- Using an expensive fancy camera – if you want this route.
PLUS I walk you through exactly what coaches are looking for in BONUS film.
Is a highlight video really necessary?
YES – 100%!
It is vital, cost-effective, & a great opportunity to showcase your true playing style & ability.
Unless you are one of the only few kids getting offered free rides to all the top 20 schools or already have committed to the school of your choice.
If you have 5-7 schools interested in you, that’s not that many when you think about it.
Those same coaches/schools are interested in 30 kids per year.
Make sure you are protecting yourself by getting more schools interested.
A highlight video can take you from 5 interested schools to 20 + scholarship money on the table.
There’s a big difference from getting a spot on the team, compared to getting money on the table.
Use your video for a keepsake
Not only will a good soccer highlight video allow you to share your talent Nationwide for College/Pro Coaches to see, but it will also be a cool keepsake.
I know a few parents who love taking video the same as some love taking regular pictures.
It’s just the time where technology has taken over. You can take advantage by doing this also.
If you are using Youtube to keep your videos, that’s great, but I would also back videos up on your own file too. You never know if a company will go out of business.
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