How to Make a Recruiting Video
Discover how a standout college recruiting video can help you catch the attention of coaches in the USA
How do you get discovered and recruited by a university coach across the Atlantic? An essential part of the process is your recruiting video! Olivia Appelberg, one of Keystone Sports’ ambassadors, was recruited by a university coach and received a football scholarship. Since the autumn of 2023, Olivia has been living in Virginia, playing university football, and studying Communication at Averett University. In this post, Olivia shares how to create a video that captures coaches’ attention and offers tips to avoid common pitfalls!
The process of university recruitment and studying in the US can feel long and complex, but knowing what to expect makes the journey much easier! A crucial step in securing a sports scholarship is promoting yourself to university coaches. To be recruited by a coach for their university team with the help of Keystone Sports, you will need a highlight video. But how do you create a recruiting video, and what should it include?
What is a Recruiting Video?
First and foremost, what is a recruiting video? It’s a video created to promote you as a player to coaches in the US. Since coaches won’t be able to see you play and compete in person, you need to start filming your matches and tournaments to collect footage, which you can then compile into a video. Coaches want to see the student-athlete they’re investing in, focusing on who you are as an athlete and what strengths you possess. As soon as you decide to study and play sports at a US university, it’s important to start creating your highlight video.
What to Include in a Recruiting Video
What the recruiting video should include depends on your sport and position. For football, for example, if you’re a forward, coaches will want to see you score goals, assist teammates, take shots, and counter-attack. However, don’t forget that they also want to see the whole picture—they want to see you defend, win back the ball in duels, and make long runs back to help your team. Therefore, try to film as many matches as possible. Remember, the more material you have to work with, the better!
Once you’ve gathered footage, it will take time to review and select key sequences that highlight your performance. Since this is a way to market yourself as an athlete, you naturally want to include your best moments! As a Keystone Sports client, you’ll receive a helpful template and sample videos to use as inspiration when creating your own.
It’s also a good idea to film a short clip where you introduce yourself, briefly explain why you want to study in the US, and “welcome” coaches to your highlight video. For example: “Hi, my name is Olivia. I am 19 years old and live in Sweden. I’ve always known that I want to study in the US because it seems so exciting to combine education and sport. To give you a sense of who I am as a player, I’ve put together a video from some of my matches. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you!”
Since the recruitment video is such an important tool, it needs to be of good quality. This doesn’t mean you need to hire a professional editor, but you should be able to compile your clips effectively, clearly show who you are on the pitch, and ensure the video looks as professional as possible.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Creating a Recruiting Video
- Poor Video Quality
While you don’t need to be a professional editor to make your video, it’s crucial that it is of the best possible quality. Keep this in mind when filming matches and competitions. Try to use the best camera available to avoid poor resolution, ensure the person filming holds the camera steady, and film in good lighting conditions. - Video Too Long or Too Short
The purpose of a highlight video is to promote yourself to coaches and catch their interest in recruiting you. Therefore, it’s important that the video isn’t too long or too short. A video that’s too long risks losing the coach’s attention, causing them to miss important moments. Conversely, a video that’s too short may not include enough footage to showcase your skills. A good target length for a recruiting video is between 3 to 5 minutes. - No Introduction
As mentioned, it’s a good idea to start the video with a brief introduction of yourself—your name, age, where you live, and why you want to study and play sport at a US university. Coaches receive many highlight videos, so another helpful tip is to include your contact information in the video, making it easy for the coach to reach out to you afterwards. - Over-Edited Video
While some editing is necessary for creating a recruiting video, be careful not to over-edit. Fast cuts, music, and video effects can distract from the most important part of the video—you! Keep the focus on your performance. - Outdated Footage
Coaches expect to see a current picture of you as an athlete. It can be challenging to gather footage if it’s the off-season with no matches, competitions, or tournaments, but using outdated footage can give a misleading impression of you as a potential student-athlete. As an athlete, there can be significant differences between old and new footage in terms of skill, physicality, and competition level. Therefore, include sequences that provide a good, up-to-date picture of your performance level and, most importantly, demonstrate your potential!
Creating a standout recruiting video is crucial for getting noticed by university coaches and securing your dream scholarship. With these tips, you’ll be able to showcase your skills and make a strong impression. Focus on quality, highlight your best moments, and include a brief introduction to help coaches get to know you!
Ready to find out if you’ve got what it takes to earn a sports scholarship? Apply for a free evaluation with Keystone Sports, and let us help you take the next step towards playing university sport and studying in the US!
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Paulina Romo
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