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Essential Recruitment Tool

Make a Highlight Video
Coaches Will Watch

Coaches cannot see every athlete in person, so a short video is often their first look at you. You do not need expensive gear: a phone, a tripod and a free editing app are enough.

3 simple parts
Tips by sport
Free tools
Last Updated: October 2026
The Basics

Three Rules

Coaches often decide in the first 30 seconds whether to keep watching.

Best plays first

Open with your 4-5 strongest clips. Do not save the best for last.

Make yourself easy to find

Mark yourself with an arrow or circle at the start of each clip, and say your jersey number and color.

Keep it short

3-5 minutes of real game footage. Shorter is fine if every clip is strong.

Technical

Video Settings and Where to Post

Settings

Length: 3-5 minutes
Quality: 1080p HD if possible (any recent phone)
Orientation: landscape (sideways)
Music: optional, no explicit lyrics

Where to Post

YouTube Recommended

Free and opens on any device. "Unlisted" keeps it out of search but anyone with the link can watch.

Hudl

Used by many high school and club teams. Coaches know it well.

Send a link, never a video file.
Put the link in your emails to coaches, your recruiting profile and your social bios. Post a new version after each season.
Structure

How to Put It Together

1

Title card

5-10 seconds
Full name Class of [year] Position, height Club and school team GPA Email and phone
2

Highlights

3-4 minutes
Include
  • Recent games against good opponents
  • A range of skills for your position
  • Decision-making, not just finishes
  • Defense and effort plays
Avoid
  • Long dead time before the action
  • Clips where you are hard to see
  • Lots of slow motion or effects
  • Celebrations and repeats
3

End card

5 seconds

Repeat your name and contact details, plus your coach's contact and a link to your profile.

By Sport

What Coaches Want to See

Many coaches also like one full, unedited game or match as a second link.

Basketball

  • Shooting from different spots
  • Handling and passing under pressure
  • Defense and rebounding

Soccer

  • First touch and both feet
  • Passing range and 1v1s
  • Off-ball movement and defending

Volleyball

  • Skills for your position first
  • Serving, passing, attacking, blocking
  • Film from behind the end line

Football

  • Position-specific plays
  • Speed in the open field
  • Technique: blocking, tackling, routes

Baseball / Softball

  • Hitting against live pitching
  • Fielding and throwing at your position
  • Pitchers: show velocity and pitch types

Swimming / Track

  • Your times matter most: list them
  • Video of full races helps with technique
  • Show official results links
Production

Filming and Editing

Filming

  • Film from up high, such as the stands
  • Use a tripod or steady hands
  • Keep the whole play in frame, not just you
  • Film several games for variety

Editing

  • Most clips 5-15 seconds
  • Simple cuts, no fancy transitions
  • Short text for context ("vs. state champions")
  • Watch it on a phone before sending

Editing Apps

Free
Computer
  • iMovie (Mac)
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • Shotcut
Mobile
Phone
  • CapCut
  • InShot
  • iMovie (iOS)

Tips for International Athletes

Say what level the game is (for example "U18 national league" or "national youth team")
Give height in feet/inches and in centimeters
Write your phone number with the country code
Commentary in another language is fine
Final Check

Before You Share

3-5 minutes long
Title card with name, year, position, contact
Best plays at the start
You are marked in every clip
Game footage, not only drills
Link tested on a phone and a laptop
Do it in Play2College

Host your highlight video on your profile

A shareable athlete profile puts your video next to your stats, academics and contact details on one link you can send to any coach.

See the Athlete Profile tool

Video Ready?

Send it to coaches at schools that fit you.

Email Templates Find Colleges Recruitment Timeline
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