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 played by her coach & had even been ‘demoted’ from a tier-1 team to a tier-2 team. She was going through the growth spurt typical of teenagers, and was awkward in her movements. She was having a rough couple of seasons, but in the end great things happened.
Recruiting process has its ups and downs
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 this girl was good enough to play collegiate soccer [& in my opinion D1] & that they should not let a coach & this season of her soccer life 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!
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]
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.
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 highlight videos, but after a while I was “why don’t I just teach them everything I know because it will save them $400+ and you can use the course with multiple people.
Get my College and DIY highlight video course and I promise it will be one of your best investments in soccer! Plus it’s on Sale for only $29.
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.
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, so you have to be careful you are not wasting time & money instead of saving it.
This is one of our advantages; not only have we played at collegiate & professional levels, but we stay plugged in to what college & professional coaches are looking for in a video presentation.
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.
Last week 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.
Sample of a good highlight video
A SAMPLE Highlight Video Featuring one of my favorite players.
Former ECNL Player during this recruiting time – Forward – Now at 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!
Use your video for a keepsake
Not only will a good 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.
FAQs
In case you skipped straight to the bottom for the summary :-), here are some FAQs:
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.
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 does a soccer highlight video help?
Learn how to receive a college scholarship or make a college team. TIP: You have to be seen!
No coach is going to add a player to the roster if they haven’t seen them. [I may be a little wrong there, because I know of a few stories where coaches give scholarship money to players sight unseen.
I know of a great coach who gave scholarship to 3 foreign players from word of mouth from a coaching friend. 2 of the players were very good and made an immediate impact and then the other one didn’t even make the practice team.]
It can happen but then again this was over 10 years ago when technology was not where it is now. 🙂
Again, if you don’t have a good highlight video you are losing out on so much opportunity each week.
Why use GFT’s soccer highlight video process?
I personally have the experience of creating several highlights and all of them get good feedback from coaches who recruited them.
My DIY course saves you money, [$29] whereas me doing it for you would cost $600. So I wanted you to have a less expensive option in teaching you everything I know.
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 when you see how to use the less expensive route. It’s what I recommend.
Different positions need specific content
Besides me teaching you how long each video should be, what coaches want to see or not see, how to cut each clip because each second matters, what a GK, defener, mid and forward need to put in the video.
Example: A defender doesn’t need to have content of them scoring goals.
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 video?
Your Sophomore year if you’re a boy.
Summer after 8th grade if you’re a girl – but be sure to update it as you age (more on this in my College Course, where you can get the first module free here).
What should go in a soccer highlight video?
Few position-specific examples:
If you’re a forward, you want to show that you’re good with your back to goal. Also going at defenders as well as scoring goals.
Defenders need to show they can defend, keep possession and their defensive shape.
Midfielders, can show crossing ability, movement off the ball, assists, tackling, tracking back, shooting from distance, switching the field.
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 can I get started?
Whether you’re in New Jersey, California, Florida or in another country… If you get my advanced skills course, it comes with the DIY Highlight video course as a bonus.
You’ll quickly learn how to shoot quality film & edit like a pro.
2 ways…
With an iphone in your pocket & for a fraction of the price of 1 highlight film.
or
Using an expensive fancy camera if you want this route.
PLUS I walk you through exactly what coaches are looking for in BONUS film.