How to create a compelling highlight video

Back in the summer, I encouraged you to start thinking about whether you have what it takes to be a recruited athlete at one of the service academies.  After all, this is one of the most direct and reliable ways to get an appointment to one of these schools. 

Remember, this spans Div I-level athletes looking at the Naval Academy and Div III-level athletes looking at the Coast Guard Academy, for instance.

At this point, midway through your sophomore year, if you think you have a shot at becoming a recruited athlete at your service academy of choice, you should start reaching out to coaches to get on their radars. 

GET ON THE RADAR

Depending on your sport, this means sending an introductory email to the appropriate service academy coach(es) with your “times” or with a highlight video.

For sports like swimming, rowing, and track & field, your “times” in your events will be what most coaches want to see. For example, if you’re a swimmer, and you want to swim for West Point, you should first compare your best time in your best event to the times of a West Point swimmer and see where you stand. 

Are you even close? 

I wouldn’t panic if their times are much faster than yours because some of those swimmers could be 5 years older than you; but, you should try to get a ballpark idea about the level of competition and how you might fit in. 

Do you think you have what it takes to be a competitive swimmer at that level? 

Will the coach think that you have the potential to be a competitive swimmer, or runner, or rower? 

That’s what you’re trying to find out. Ultimately, the coach at a given service academy should help you figure that out as well. 

If you play a sport like basketball, football, soccer, field hockey, water polo, lacrosse, or tennis, which is more visual, you’ll want to send a highlight video showing how you excel in these areas. In these sports, coaches will want to assess your skill, instincts, spacing, timing, and intangibles. 

WHY COACHES LIKE VIDEO?

Let’s say you play water polo, and you think that you have the potential to play at the Naval Academy. 

What should you do? 

First, you need video footage. You’ll want to send a highlight video to the Naval Academy water polo coaches so that he or she can get their eyes on you - in the water. 

• How do you move?
• What position do you play?
• What type of player are you?
• Can you defend?
• Are you right or left-handed?
• How do you operate in close quarters?
• Do you win 50/50 balls?
• Do you get other players involved? 

The best way to do this, other than seeing you live, is through video. 

Bottom line: if you don’t yet have video footage, you need to get some. 

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO BEST PRACTICES

I would stick to a 2-3 minute video (tops). As a sophomore, you don’t want it too long. This video is more of a teaser than anything else. You want the coaches to click the video link, and if it’s too long they probably won’t. 

You also don’t want them to get bored. 

You want to pique their interest and get them excited to see the next one. You also don’t want to give them so much that they start to critique you. Remember, you’re only a sophomore. Chances are that your form, stroke, and skills are not fully developed yet, so don’t give them the opportunity to pick you apart. 

Your goal is to get their attention and get on their radar. 

I like to provide coaches with some variation in a highlight video. Don’t show them the same shot, from the same spot, over and over again. That’s boring. Mix it up. Show some offense, some defense, sprints, some 50/50 balls. 

Give them an idea of the breadth of your skills.  Remember, the coaches may envision you playing in a different position in college, so don’t pigeonhole yourself.  

If you want to use music, use music. Just try to pick a song that’s not distracting, or obnoxious, or inappropriate. 

Make sure you have a still image, upfront, that provides your name, high school, height/weight, position, year in school, and some academic information. Make sure that still image slide sits on the screen long enough for coaches to read it, digest it, and write it down. 

Don’t leave it on the screen for a milli-second so that if the coach blinks at the wrong time they miss your name and vital stats. 

Remember, this is a marketing tool. 

You want them to see your name and imprint it in their head. Also, if it’s not immediately obvious in the video where you are on the field, or court, or pool, try to point out where you are to make it easier for coaches to identify you. 

Obviously, it’s nice to have clear footage, with good lighting, and a good angle. I know that’s not always possible but keep that in mind going forward as you continue to collect more footage. 

SPECIAL SKILLS

Depending on your sport (and skill level), I often like to include some footage at the end (and sometimes integrated throughout) that shows your athleticism, at-home training regimen, or other unusual skills. This could be you executing cone drills in the backyard, running hill sprints, doing pull ups, or dunking a basketball. 

Not only does this show off your skills, but it’s also memorable. Coaches see a lot of highlight videos. 

What will make yours stand out? 

What will raise an eyebrow or two? 

Can you climb a 30’ rope, scale a 10-foot wall, do a standing backflip, walk on your hands, do a muscle up? 

These are interesting things that will get the coaches’ attention. 

If you have footage of you in a particularly competitive game, you may want to call that out in the video. For example, if you’re playing in a CIF championship game, and you’re a sophomore playing against a Div I commit, and you lock them up consistently on defense, you may want to call that out in the video. 

Let coaches know that you’re not playing some no-name player. 

Sometimes coaches appreciate when your best footage is against strong competition, as opposed to weak competition where almost anyone would look good.

Make sure your last graphic shows your name/email/phone as well as your coaches names, emails, and phone numbers in case they want to get in touch with any of them.

This information should also be included in the email, but it doesn’t hurt to repeat the contact info. 

VIDEO EXAMPLE

Here’s an example of a highlight video of a water polo player…

Sophomore Year 

WHAT SHOULD THE EMAIL SAY?

Let’s talk about what the actual email should look like:

First, it’s pretty easy to find the coaches email by googling them.

I would email the head coach and cc the assistant. 

The assistant coach is probably in charge of the logistics of recruiting so you may as well keep them in the loop from the outset. 

Make sure you have a strong Subject line because that is what they will see first and it’s how they’ll search for your name later on. 

Give them the details that they care about and what’s gonna make them take a second look?

I’ll use my son’s email as an example, his Subject line read something like: 

Subject: Kiefer Black, 6’7”, lefty, attack, La Jolla, CA, Class of 2023

In terms of the body of the email, keep it short and sweet. 

A few short paragraphs introducing yourself should suffice. 

You can include your statistics, high school, GPA, etc.

Don’t forget the link to the video (and make sure it’s a public video).

It doesn’t hurt to let the coaches know that you don’t expect a reply, but hope to talk to them this summer. 

Keep in mind, since you’re only a sophomore, technically, the coaches in most sports should not be communicating with you - not even by email - until June. 

For this reason, don’t be disappointed if they do not respond to your email and highlight video. 

In my son’s case, the coaches often did reply but only to acknowledge receipt and to reiterate that they cannot reply in detail until the summer. That seemed to be a common theme with many coaches. 

Be patient. You’re simply laying the groundwork. 

Most other players won’t be sending emails until the summer which will allow your email to stand out. 

Get that video and email together, and send it.