Technology has altered the college lacrosse recruiting process and how it works today. As a result, it has become easier for a coach to see a player perform by watching game film or a highlight video. With the amount of players available for recruitment, there is simply not enough time for a coach to see all players. This is why highlight films are so important. Here are 12 tips that players should consider.
1) Keep the Video Short
A good introduction video should not be longer than 5 - 15 minues. A short video acts as an introduciton to convey your skills. If Coach is interested, he will ask for more.
2) Show your Best Games
First impressions are important. With so many recuits vying for Coach's attention, there isn't enough time for coach to watch every full game film that comes his way. Pick out your best performances to show Coach.
3) Understand What Coach & Team Need
Each and every team requires the addition of a certain skillset to make them successful. Understand the needs of the team and be sure to highlight how you can fill in the gap to make the team successful.
4) Show Strong Skillset
As you highlight how you fill the needs of the team, be sure to also highlight your abilities to be a all around positve contributor. Show your atthelticsm, agility, speed, sportsmanship, etc
5) Don't Send Full Games
As mentioned before don't send a full game until a coach requests it. Most coaches don't have time and would much rather have a strong introduction video to see first.
6) Video Quality is important
A clear video is of utmost importance. You want Coach to be able to see clearly, the entirety of the game. Don't frusterate Coach and ruin your chances with poor video quality.
7) Skip the Special Effects
Coaches want to know how you will be able to contribute to their squad. Coach does not need music and special effects. Skip all the fancy video mumbo jumbo.
8) Don't Send a Shaky Video
Tripods aren’t expensive and are available at most major retailers. Tripods allow for still recording and make watching the video more bearable. There is little worse than getting motion sickness viewing a shaky video.
9) Good editing is important
You don’t want to send in a video that is choppy or has much dead ball action etc. Good editing can highlight an athlete and their skillset. Editing doesn’t have to be expensive and can go a long way in a producing a good video.
10) Get Elevated
Being able to record the entire play is important to highlight a player's field IQ and how they see plays developing
11) Proper Angles
It is important to be able to see the field clearly and the entirety of what is going on. Understand the angles to get the best out of your video quality.
12) Don’t Isolate
It is really not good to keep the video focused on the player. It describes nothing of the player if coach can not see how the play is developing or what the player can see. Make sure to record the play as it develops.
13) Write Player, Contact and Transcript Information
Remember to iinclude a note with your video tape so the coach knows who exactly they are watching. Include number, name, contact information and acadmic information for good purposes.
ESPN RISE: What role does the highlight tape play in recruiting?
Kevin Corrigan, Notre Dame“A good film is huge. I would advise any kid that is interested in playing college lacrosse to put together a good film. We like to see a few minutes of highlights followed by at least a quarter, probably a half of a game. The highlight is good for showcasing what a kid’s particular skills might be, but it’s tough to judge in a vacuum – that’s basically what a highlight is.”
Matt Kerwick, Jacksonville University“If I see a young man who is competitive, runs hard and has good speed and looks to be a good athlete, then we’re going to pursue him. We don’t just want to see the highlights, we want to see him in the flow of a game and how he’s reacting to the different situations in the game – not just when he has the ball in his stick.”
Dave Pietramala, Johns Hopkins“Lacrosse is more in person scouting and evaluating. We’re permitted many more opportunities to evaluate in perrson then football and basketball.”
Bill Tierney, University of Denver“Films, DVD and YouTube clips are more of an introductory piece. If we don’t see a kid during the summer and he sends us a DVD, it can either make or break him, but at least it gives us an idea if we need to see him in the fall.”
