Proven Method: how to get a college coach to watch your highlight video
A college recruiting video is like a resume. It won't guarantee you the position, but it will certainly help initiate the conversation! Your "resume" should showcase all your talents, not just one. In the context of soccer, ensure your highlight video doesn't solely focus on 5 minutes of passing the ball. While those passes might be impressive and of top quality, you certainly don't want a college coach to perceive you as a one-dimensional player.
I've personally observed Division 1 coaches seated before their computers, sorting through emails sent by aspiring college players with their college recruiting videos attached. Due to time constraints, they can't watch every video! So, how can you ensure they won't immediately hit DELETE on your email? Or become disinterested before you get to the best highlights?
There's no secret formula when it comes to capturing a college coach's attention. Based on feedback from college coaches, it's crucial to incorporate the following aspects into your college recruiting video, as they have proven to be highly engaging:
GATEKEEPING
Avoid withholding your best highlights for later in the video. If you don't start by grabbing a coach's attention, there's a strong chance they'll close your video before the best moments even appear. Regardless of the video's segments, lead with your top highlights.
NO DOWNLOADS
Steer clear of requiring coaches to download a video. When coaches have to download instead of simply clicking a button to watch, their interest tends to wane. This behavior is typical. College coaches are pressed for time, so help them out by providing a direct link to your video—no downloads required!
SEGMENT YOUR VIDEO
Organize your video into clear categories based on specific positions. For instance, if you play as a forward, create a selection of clips tailored to your position for your college recruiting video.
Examples include: Goal Involvement, dribbling, passing ability, and perhaps one other segment.
DO NOT SEGMENT OUT ON A GAME-TO-GAME BASIS; THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO!
CUT TO THE POINT
Lengthy videos, those exceeding 5 minutes, are not ideal. A recruiting highlight video should be concise and to the point. Include 4 to 6 clips per segment. Provide college coaches with a glimpse of your abilities; leave them curious to discover more.
IDENTIFY YOURSELF
Quickly introduce yourself! Within the initial 10 seconds of the highlight tape, a college coach should have a complete understanding of you—your position, jersey number, recruiting year, and test scores. Different colleges have different recruiting strategies—some emphasize academics, others prioritize positional needs, and some are looking for a specific graduation year. If an element of your player profile aligns with their current recruiting strategy, they're more likely to keep watching.
Any advantage you can gain to capture a college coach's interest is beneficial! Remember, you're competing against thousands of other players, all vying for the same roster spots and scholarships. Any edge, including an outstanding college recruiting video, could be the crucial factor that propels your name to the forefront!