The Importance of Video in College Recruiting

 The Importance of Video in College Recruiting

    Technology has become both a boon to and the bane of many aspiring athletes. Coaches will utilize video after games or sessions and some organizations will even require video footage before admitting a new athlete. On the college front, recruiting has always been a labyrinth of unspoken rules and hard deadlines. Without knowledgeable leadership within your youth organization, many kids will find themselves falling behind in the recruiting process. So how can video footage help your athlete get ahead?

Image from the official Veo website. Image depicts an extended Veo Cam 3 recording a game.

    When Does Video Matter?

    Starting in an athlete's freshman year, your club coaches should begin to provide video footage of games for players to analyze and compile for recruiters to evaluate. Frequently, athletes are asked to submit optional footage to recruiters before college showcases, recruiting seminars, ID Camps, etc. so that the prospective college can get a holistic view on the best a player has to offer. 

    By the time a student is a Sophomore or a Junior, they should have an established and current highlight reel and should be contacting their target schools for more information. Many colleges look to finalize recruiting class commitments in these years, so it is best to be prepared at this point.

    However, this doesn't mean that an athlete has no hope of committing as a Senior. In fact, this is a year where video footage can make the greatest difference. If an athlete has been uncertain about committing to a college up until their final year of High School, a particularly compelling highlight reel can persuade colleges to extend a late offer. 

What Can I Use to Capture Video?

    Your athletic organization will generally utilize footage captured on a VEO, Hudl, Trace, etc. to offer players a professional and standardized format for their footage. These cameras utilize AI and motion sensors to track a game as it progresses, with the added benefit of being able to capture the entire field or court. These cameras and platforms have the benefit of offering tech services such as player analytics, team analytics, highlight reel clip creation, and even live streams.

Some organizations will use less costly technology such as GoPros or generic AI cameras. In the absence of these, cellphone footage with video enhancing clip-ons have become increasingly popular for parents to use. These are not necessarily a bad choice for a sports team on a budget, but the downside is that the video quality can be lacking without the proper add-ons and there may not be built-in reel creation services available for these devices. 

What Do I Do Now?

    Once you have your athlete's video in hand, what's next? Now is the fun part! Your athlete is now able to submit their highlight reels to their target colleges for review. This is a great opportunity for your child to take initiative, introduce themselves to prospective coaches, and encourage their recruiters to come watch them in person. Tell your athlete to be patient when waiting for a response--especially while the team is in season--but be ready to advocate for themselves. 

Can I Be Recruited Without Video?

    The short answer: absolutely. With not all programs offering video capture services, many colleges will be forgiving of athletes without the resources to acquire one. This is where open communication, involvement in recruiting activities (such as ID Camps, showcases, and college visits), and advocating for yourself come into play. 

Recruiting can be stressful, but at the end of the day tools like video footage can be one more ace up your sleeve when it comes to committing to the right college.