College Bound Soccer Players Four Week Recruiting Plan — Part 3: Create a Powerful Highlight Video
The college recruiting process during the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has been on a virtual standstill, along with the wonderful game of soccer’s moratorium — and time is a critical issue for both collegiate coaches as well as college-bound players.
Read: Step 1 — SCOUTINGZONE’S FOUR WEEK COLLEGE RECRUITING PLAN FOR SOCCER PLAYERS: Step #1: Building Your Top 20 List
Read: Step 2 — SCOUTINGZONE’S FOUR WEEK COLLEGE RECRUITING PLAN – Step #2: Emailing College Coaches
This is Part 3 of the step-by-step guide from America’s top scouting platform ScoutingZone on how to emerge from the Coronavirus with a clear plan that can work.
The main intention of your highlight video is to pique an interest.
Read: BEST ADVICE EVER ON CREATING A GREAT SOCCER HIGHLIGHT VIDEO from SCOUTINGZONE on what makes a great Soccer Recruiting Highlight Video: The Worst Mistakes & Best Tips
Brooke Kentera and Tara Parker are the co-founders of ScoutingZone, the only online application college coaches pay for. Launched in 2015, ScoutingZone is the cutting-edge mobile app that has changed the college recruiting game. Official Scouting Partner of US Club Soccer, ENPL, US Youth Soccer, Surf Cup Sports, and countless other organizations, ScoutingZone also worked closely with the former U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
“As we all navigate these uncertain times, we wanted to do our part in ensuring college-bound players can keep their recruiting journey on track,” said Tara Parker. “We have put together a detailed 4-Week Recruiting Plan for players to follow — this is a four-step plan, you can do one step every week.”
“In times like this, when you are unable to connect with coaches on the field, it’s super important that you are still pressing forward with recruiting and connecting with coaches off the field,” said Kentera. “Remember, college coaches have a lot more time to spend in front of their computers at the moment… now is a great time to get in front of them!”
Youth Soccer Players’ Recruiting Plan Step # 3: Highlight Video
Your week 3 objective is to create a highlight video to send to college coaches that are on your Top 20 list.
During week 3, begin by gathering your game highlights over the past 6 months to compile them into a reel. Right now, since you are unable to play in front of college coaches, highlight video/clips have become an important part of the recruiting process. By sending coaches your “highlights” you are still staying in front of coaches. Here are some things to consider when creating your highlight video…
Brooke & Tara’s Advice on Creating Your Highlight Video:
- Keep it short (3-5 minutes): Highlight videos should be just that, your highlights. Not entire games, just clips showing your special moments. If they are kept within 3-5 min they will likely watch most of your video. If too lengthy, you will bore them and they will move on.
- It’s rare a player is offered a scholarship solely off of a video. However, your video gives the coach an idea if you are someone they want to continue tracking and see play live. Or remind them who you are after they have already seen you play. Give them the good stuff and the sweet spot is somewhere between 3-5 min.
- Keep it positive: This is a HIGHLIGHT video – show your positives. This is not the time to show that you’re human and make mistakes. Leave your bloopers off the reel and wow them with your talent.
- Intro to your video: A few must haves at the start:
- Name, Team, League/Level, Jersey #, Grad Year, & Your Email/Your Coach Email. Something to think about including … a quick 5-10 second intro of you speaking can show personality – and put a face to the player on the video. it’s nice to have a personal touch to help you stand out and give the coach a look at you, the person. This is definitely not a must have, but rather nice to add if it sees fitting to you. Also, DO NOT make it lengthy, if you do add a verbal intro- keep it to 5-10 seconds.
- Make your video relevant to your position: It’s helpful to have “sections” in the video that are specific to you/your position. For example: if you are a forward you can have sections for:
- Goals
- Assists
- Movement off the ball
- Set Pieces
- Make YOURSELF Visible:
- Remember, the scout doesn’t know who you are. Add a circle, arrow, light, some indication as to which player they should be watching.
- Even if you indicate your jersey # at the start, they are not going to scan the field for your jersey # on each clip. Make it very obvious who you are on every clip.
- Music: If you are going to use music, make sure it is tasteful (and definitely without profanity!).
- Cost: There are many resources and options to help create a video. Many players create great videos themselves. If you are looking for a video company to help put your clips together feel free to reach out to us for recommendations. Do not feel obligated to spend $1,000’s on this piece of the recruiting journey. Most importantly, you just need clear clips showing your highlights – not looking to win an Oscar.
- SZ Player Profile: Don’t forget to update your SZ Player Profile with your highlight video(s), on the Athletics Tab. You are able to upload up to 5 videos from all major video platforms onto your SZ Player Profile (so don’t limit yourself to just one!)
- You should include your SZ Player Profile link in all emails you send to college coaches so that they can easily access your details at any time. Update your SZ Player Profile.
✔️ Your To-Do’s:
- Write down what you want the coaches to “see” about you.
- A coach has only a few minutes to make a decision on you … so what do you want to come across as you, the player?
- Make sure your video contains the important stuff noted above and that it is produced in a shareable link (YouTube, Vimeo, and or Hudl).
- There is so much technology available today that you may be able to create one yourself.
- However, if you are interested in using an outside company to create a video, please reach out to us, just email us at support@scoutingzone.com and we will pass along a few of our preferred partners.
Read: Step 1 — SCOUTINGZONE’S FOUR WEEK COLLEGE RECRUITING PLAN FOR SOCCER PLAYERS: Step #1: Building Your Top 20 List
Read: Step 2 — SCOUTINGZONE’S FOUR WEEK COLLEGE RECRUITING PLAN – Step #2: Emailing College Coaches
