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Recruiting Video Guide
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During the process of being recruited, one essential tool that you must take advantage of is making a recruiting video composed of a skills session and unedited game footage.  This is a useful way to allow you to be seen by different coaches all over the country.

Make sure to put only the necessary skills and game footage on the video so you don’t get lost in the shuffle.  Coaches have stacks of DVD’s to evaluate and only have so many minutes per video allotted.  So, here are a few tips that will allow you show off in a very restricted amount of time.  Every coach is different and will want to see a variety of skills on the tape so there is not one way that will please every college coach.  The basic outline that mostcoaches have said they like to see is what you are best at immediately.  If you are a middle blocker, they don’t want to see you serving and then coming in for defense first.  Your best asset should be the first thing they see.  So, you should begin your video catching the eye quickly.  If you are a one-foot jumper and run back 1’s and slides very well – then you need to highlight quickly about 10-12 reps of that skill in (typically from game footage) first thing.  It should entice the viewer to see what other skills you have to offer.  Rememberthat this is your way of showing off what you do well in hopes that you will open the doors to an evaluation to get seen by the coach.  This is not a way to get an immediate offer from a college coach.  **Please note that it is okay to have errors in your game footage and/or skills.  Coaches know that you are not perfect so you shouldn’t be afraid to show your errors in the video.
The next piece to the recruiting video should be a 2-3 min segment of skills highlighted.  This could be done in the gym with about 3 players assisting you.  Remember that it is skill specific and should be brief.  Coaches will only watch about 3-5 min of your recruiting video so be quick and precisely display exactly what you offer a team.  If you are a middle, you will want to run about 3-5 swings each of the plays that a middle blocker would run.  For example: 3-5 swings of a slide, quick attack, and any other series you are capable of running.  You will then need to display your blocking ability and footwork.  Same for an outside hitter – you will need to showcase your ability to run a high outside ball, hut, 2’s from the outside and then you must display your ball handling ability as well.  Coach on three is a good way to show your footwork and out of system swing. For setters, the main goal is to see your accuracy to the pin, speed and footwork.  Be sure to include running a few plays with an audible middle and a right side/oh.  This allows for a coach to also evaluate your decision making.  Be sure to show a block transition to a set as if you are running a 5-1 and include defense in your video.  For all defensive plays and players this should be hard driven attacks from a coach.  Anyone can pass a free ball.  Coaches want to see how you fair against competition, after all isn’t that the goal?

Things to skip would be serving.  If you plan to include a serve in the skills video be sure to only show 2-3 serves.  Traditionally players will include an introduction.  Some coaches like this part and seem to have an idea of their personality and others don’t care for this part of the DVD.  It is up to the player if they choose to include an introduction segment.  Also avoid any glamour shots or a slide show of still shots.  Remember this isn’t a “keepsake video”, it is a “recruiting video” and players are recruiting for their ability to make the team advance athletically not by their beauty.

Last, be sure the angles are pleasing to the eye and you are able to see the entire court from a corner angle.  You don’t want the camera moving back and forth with the ball.  If you can set up your camera on a corner where there is not a line judge this is the best angle to take.  Be sure that you are always on the same side of the player you are highlighting.  If the player you are highlighting is on the right side of the court you will want to be in the back corner near the serving sidewhere you can see the entire court without moving the camera (near X).
X – to video a setter



X – to video an outside or MB
Be sure the line judge is not in the way


Remember to switch sides of the court entirely when the player switches sides.  You don’t want to film a player that is on the other side of the net.  Also be sure to highlight the player at the beginning of the video and if you are not sure how to do this you will want to make sure the coach knows the details of your starting position and your jersey number.

Once you have your video complete you will want to send this to college coaches and also upload this video to your University Athlete profile so that coaches can also view it online.  This is a great way to display your skills in a cost effective manner.  One last tip - film a practice and send it as an update along with a few sets of game footage to keep coaches updated as you progress.  You should not spend an arm and a leg on a video.  With someone who is able to assist you in this video should not cost more than $500.  That would be on the high end.  You don’t have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars if you have a camera, you can do it with some assistance.  Just use good judgment and apply the tips I gave you today and you will have a good recruiting video to help get evaluated.


-Jenny Krueger