A recruiting video is like an elevator pitch in the world of athletics. For coaches, it is one thing to view a player's statistics on paper but another to see it in action. Using a professional video to showcase yourself can attract the attention you need to accelerate your athletic career. As high-school recruits, you are trying to get a college offer, so the quality of your video is essential. Plus, when it comes to recruiting videos, you only have a small window of time–so how can you make an impression? Here are four ways to make the most of your recruiting video.

1. Invest in editing services

A great resource for your highlight video is Hudl. This software company will give you the tools you need to prepare, study,  edit, and share footage of your games or practices. They also give you the option to send material directly to them. By doing this, you only need  24 hours or less to receive edited content and statistics. Aiding 150,000 teams and roughly 5.5 million users from a multitude of sports, Hudl has the capability and know-how to create a quality product people will want to watch again and again.

Related: Want to Wow Recruiters? Top 5 Platforms to Help You Create the Best Highlight Reel

2. Remember the details

If you choose to make a recruiting video on your own, make sure you cover all the bases. Include a title page for your personal information. This means your name, age, height, school, position, jersey number, etc. The video should be 3-5 minutes in length including 10-15 second clips of you demonstrating your athletic ability. Most importantly do not forget to include your contact information. If coaches like what they see, they will need your information to initiate a conversation. 

Related: Lights, Camera, Action! 4 Tips for Creating a Highlight Video That Will Wow Recruiters

3. Put yourself out there!

It's one thing to have an awesome recruiting video, but it's another thing entirely to get it out there. That's why you can't be afraid to reach out to coaches you're interested in during your recruiting process and send a video via email in your introductions. Be sure to follow up if necessary and don't take it personally if a coach forgets to get back with you–they're probably dealing with tons of emails on any given day. It also never hurts to promote your video on social media–just like in sports, persistence is key in recruiting.

Related: 3 Simple Tips For Social Media Use During the Recruiting Process

4. Make sure you need one

For most sports, highlight videos are important. After all, a baseball recruiter will want to see a recruit's swing, fielding skills, and baserunning capabilities in action so a highlight tape will be crucial to a baseball player's recruiting process. But a cross country athlete? Not so much. Be sure to do your research before you start making a highlight tape to be sure you actually need it (and if you do need one, know what to include).

Recruiting videos are an excellent way to make a statement without saying a word. Coaches and their staff are always looking for great athletes, so when they do, make sure you are prepared to deliver. 

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* Originally published on February 3, 2023, by Simmone Collins