You need to stand out from the competition … on the field and on the screen.
Simply put, if you want to be recruited to play lacrosse in college, a highlight video is essential. Why? Because the majority of college coaches don’t have the time or the budget to look at every player, everywhere. And if you don’t already have a highlight video, it’s hugely important to put one together. Here’s how:
Assemble The Footage
“Assembling the footage” doesn’t mean starting with the video your parents shot of your first goal. Instead, check with your coaches and use video from recent, varsity-level games that show off your skills and abilities. Emphasize game footage wherever possible, as your performance in the competition will provide college coaches a better picture of your ability when the pressure is on.
If you’re younger and don’t have too many highlights yet, you can also use a skills video where it’s simply you, your stick, a ball, a net, and perhaps a teammate to serve as an opponent. Choose several drills to show off your best abilities, such as shooting, footwork, ball handling, trick shots, and the ability to change direction and speed. Gear up like you’re getting ready for a game and go full speed. If you’re a goalie, make sure to have someone shooting on you who can push you.
Keep It Short
Your highlight video shouldn’t be a career retrospective. Remember that college coaches don’t have endless hours to watch every second of every video they’re sent. That’s why it’s important to limit your highlight videos to three to four minutes and include 20-30 clips that provide a full overview of your talents and abilities. Make sure that those clips should also demonstrate your athleticism, versatility, and lacrosse IQ.
What To Include
If you’re a goalie, make sure some of your highlight clips show off your leadership and communication skills. Big saves are a given but don’t overlook solid clearing passes that create offense, athleticism, positioning, and footwork.
Highlight videos for field players should demonstrate your on-field presence and, for an offensive player, your ability to score, transition, make assists, groundball play, your stick skills, and all-around athleticism. Midfielders and defenders should focus their highlight videos on their vision and defensive skills, faceoff acuity, transition acceleration, groundball play, ball-handling, and technical skills.
How To Shoot A Lacrosse Highlight Video
Make sure to include clips against several different games or opponents. Try to ensure all your game clips are shot from above, preferably from atop the stands or press box. If you’re shooting the game video yourself, try to use an iPad or video camera mounted on a tripod for stability. Remember to shoot in landscape mode and wide-angle to capture the scope of the play and make sure the video always stays focused on the ball, the progression of the play, or you. Finally, try to keep the video divided into shots of the offensive, midfield, and defensive zones
If you’re shooting your own skills video, you can shoot it anywhere you have space and the lighting, and it’s fine to shoot using a phone camera. However, as above, use a tripod for stable video and keep other distractions to a minimum.
Assembling Your Highlight Video
While your video should be three to four minutes at most, remember that you only have about 30 seconds to grab a coach’s attention. So start your video with a bang, whether it’s a big save, a great goal, or some impressive play that will grab a coach’s attention. If you want to make sure you stand out, add an arrow, spotlight, or circle so a coach can always distinguish where you are in the video.
In addition to those 20 or 30 plays, your lacrosse highlight video should also include a brief introduction of who you are and where you currently play, as well as a phone number and email address. Be sure to include that information at the beginning and end of the video to make it easy for an interested coach to follow up.
Finally, once you’ve created a highlight video, update it often and let coaches know when you do so. Doing so will hopefully show coaches your improvement and, if you post a highlight video as a 9th grader, they’ll also be able to see your progression as you grow.
Know Where To Post
If you have an online recruiting profile, make sure your highlight video is uploaded or embedded there to avoid the need for coaches to have to surf. Be sure to post your video on YouTube for added visibility and, if you have social media accounts dedicated to your athletic pursuits, include a link to your video with each of those accounts as well.
Finally, wherever you post it, make sure the title of your highlight video is simply “(Your Name) Lacrosse Recruiting Video Class of 20(XX)”. Then, when your highlight video is assembled and posted, start reaching out to coaches to introduce yourself, include the link to your video, and let the world see what you can offer a college lacrosse team!
Did you enjoy the article ‘Make a Highlight Video That Will Heat Up Your Lacrosse Recruiting’? If so, check out How to Make a Quality Highlight Video or more of our articles HERE.
