The preferred way for coaches to evaluate recruits is to observe them in person at club tournaments, but that doesn’t mean they will have an opportunity to see every recruit that’s on their radar. That’s where a well-done soccer highlights video can play a big role. The video will serve two key purposes: Provide coaches with a way to make their initial evaluation of an athlete and, if the coach cannot see them compete in person, the video might be the only way that coaches will get to see a recruit play. Here’s how it typically works:

• In initial communications with college coaches, student-athletes should always include their soccer highlights video. This video should really focus on in-game action. Coaches want to see how athletes move in the game and what their ability to make plays is.
• If the coach liked what they saw in the initial soccer highlights video, they will likely reach out to schedule a time to evaluate the athlete in person.

In this article, we focus on what athletes need to include in the initial soccer highlights video that they’ll be sending around to college coaches. There are specific skills to showcase and different techniques to use to ensure athletes are making the best first impression with their video highlights.

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How to make soccer field player and goalkeeper skills videos

College coaches agree that one of the best ways to evaluate potential recruits is by seeing their soccer recruiting video. In the video below, former D1 player and D1 and NAIA soccer coach Lindsey Boldt breaks down what soccer field players should include in their soccer skills video, including:

• How recruits can showcase their full potential by setting up drills they’d run in practice and going game-speed at all times
• Why consistent strength training and fitness workouts let coaches know when a recruit is putting in the work—even during the off-season—to improve and stay in shape
• Where recruits are filming, from soccer fields and parks to backyards and driveways
• What equipment field players need to film, including common alternatives (e.g. water bottles instead of cones)

Soccer players interested in landing a goalkeeper roster spot shouldn’t be afraid to get creative with their footage. In fact, many of the technical skills coaches want to see—reflexes, hand-eye coordination and an innate ability to focus and react when necessary—can be demonstrated both indoors and outdoors, with or without a soccer ball!

NCSA Recruiting Coach Lindsey Boldt has watched hundreds of soccer recruiting videos as a former D1 player and D1 and NAIA college coach. In the video below, she provides a great overview of what potential soccer recruits should display when creating a soccer goalkeeper skills video, from their ability to perform multiple reps at game speed to their form and footwork skills.

In general, college coaches want to know how athletes respond in a game, so they’d prefer to see game footage over practice footage. Most coaches want to see how athletes see the pitch—they need to judge their decision-making and skills. Think about it: If a college coach isn’t going to have the opportunity to watch someone play in person, what’s the best way for an athlete to showcase their talent as a women’s soccer player? It’s showing their best game footage in their video highlights.

Find the right angle to film the recruiting video

When it comes to filming, finding the right angle and keeping the camera steady are the two most important things you can do. Here are some pointers on how to get the best shots:

• In order to get the best perspective, the video should be shot from a higher vantage point, at least several feet from the ground.
• A tripod is highly recommended to help stabilize the footage. Tripods are available for tablets and smartphones.
• When shooting video with a phone or tablet, shoot the footage in landscape format.
• Do not zoom in and out. Zooming in a little bit is OK when filming from the other side of the field.
• Don’t lose track of the ball.
• The wider the angle, the better. A wider view allows coaches to see the progression of each play, as well as athletes making the right choices and completing their passes.
• Imagine the field separated into thirds (offensive, middle, defensive). When the ball is in one of the thirds, film that entire section.
• Show enough of the field so that coaches are able to see the player’s vision, how the athlete runs with and without the ball, the athlete’s use of space, combinations with teammates, etc.
• Coaches also want to see foot skills and technical abilities, so do not lose focus on the primary player being recorded. 

Looking for more tips on how to gather footage for your women’s soccer highlight video? Watch former D1 and NAIA college coach and college soccer player Lindsey Boldt outline three of the most common mistakes women’s soccer recruits make when putting together their recruiting video (and what recruits should do instead)!

What to include in a soccer highlights video

The highlight video should be 3-6 minutes long and include 20-25 clips of game action for field players. Any longer, and it will run the risk of having the coach lose interest. For goalies, skills footage from training should supplement game footage.

Outside Back, Defenders:

Not sure what skills you should display in your women’s soccer outside back highlight video? Former D1 women’s soccer college coach Lindsey Boldt shares what attributes D1 college coaches look for when evaluating a women’s soccer outside back or defender highlight video. Essential skills include speed, physical strength, good defensive footwork and smart attacking plays, plus:

• Defending: 1v1, small groups, crosses and corners in the air, chasing down players, blocking shots
• Intercepting, running forward and getting into the attack
• Showing timing, defensive shape, technical abilities, a clean first touch
• Keeping possession with your distribution
• Wings: making runs forward

Defenders:

• Defending: 1v1, small groups, crosses and corners in the air, chasing down players, blocking shots
• Intercepting, running forward and getting into the attack
• Showing timing, defensive shape, technical abilities, a clean first touch
• Keeping possession with your distribution
• Wings: making runs forward

Midfielders:

• Both sides of the ball: blocking passing lanes and getting into the attack
• Reading the game with off-the-ball movement
• Working hard defensively

Wingers:

• Beating opponents down the line and turning the corner
• Crossing the ball, preferably with both feet
• Playing 18 to 18 with a good engine
• Making well-timed and creative runs
• Showing change of pace

Defensive center-midfielders:

As a former D1 women’s soccer college coach, NCSA Recruiting Coach Lindsey Boldt has watched a lot of highlight videos to identify top level players. Check out the video below to see what she says are the most common things college coaches are looking for when evaluating a player’s recruiting video. These include:

• A strong physical presence
• Technical control and versatility 
• A good understanding of the spacing of a game 
• Staying consistent and reliable
• Winning all balls in the air and distributing them to teammates
• Clogging up the middle and disrupting opponents’ attacks
• Clean first touch

Attacking center midfielders:

College coaches want attacking center midfielders to have great pace and creativity in their plays, remain calm under pressure and showcase their ability to run at players 1-on-1.

In the video below, former college soccer coach Lindsey Boldt breaks down the types of skills D1 college coaches are looking for when they watch highlight videos of women’s soccer attacking center midfielders, including:

• Playmaking ability
• Showing technical control in tight spaces
• Speed of play
• Clean first touch

Centers:

What do D1 college coaches look for in women’s soccer center back highlight videos? Watch former D1 and NAIA women’s soccer coach Lindsey Boldt cover what coaches are paying attention to, including:

• A recruit’s physical strength and height (on average, coaches want to see center backs who are 5’8” or taller)
• The ability to read different plays while maintaining their composure
• Overall speed and passing skills

Forwards:

What do D1 college coaches look for when evaluating a women’s soccer forward or women’s soccer outside midfielder? NCSA Recruiting Coach (and former D1 college coach!) Lindsey Boldt breaks down the essential skills to have, including a great overall pace, ability to finish and score goals and how creative and confident you are in your plays. 

• Goals and assists
• Getting behind the back line
• Dribbling, combining and timing runs
• Finishing with multiple surfaces
• Getting on the end of corner kicks and crosses and put them on frame
• Reading the play to know when your teammate is about to win the ball and check back into space to be an outlet pass
• Playing back to goal and playing others in

Goalies:

In the video below, NCSA Recruiting Coach Lindsey Boldt uses her experiences as a former D1 college coach to share what D1 college coaches want to see in a goalkeeper’s highlight video, including quickness off the line, ability to distribute the ball and overall technical abilities. 

• Skills footage and match footage; highlight skills that weren’t shown in match footage
• Shot stopping
• Extension and collapse diving to both sides, preferably in a variety of situations
• Collecting, parrying and boxing
• Breakaways, angle play and sliding saves
• Distribution: back passes, punts, drop kicks, throws, rolls
• Punting: follow the ball when filming to see the distance
• Goal kicks
• Showing footwork throughout the video

General tips to remember in the editing process

Once the footage is shot, the next step is to edit it down to the best 3-6 minutes, which includes 20–25 game clips for field players. To kick things off, start the video highlights off strong with the best plays. Recruits have about 30 seconds to make an impression on the coach, so pick opening plays or skills that will leave an impression. From there, make sure to add in other key skills that college coaches want to see. The goal is to get coaches hooked in the first 30 seconds so they continue watching the video to see the depth of the skillset. During the highlights video, athletes can distinguish who they are in each play by using a simple arrow, a circle, a spotlight—something clean and simple to alert the coach who they should be watching.

Remember that every touch and play doesn’t have to be perfect. Coaches are also interested in how players adjust to imperfect situations. Recruits should also include their contact information (name, email and phone number) and their coach’s contact information (name, email and phone number) at the beginning and end of their soccer highlights video.

Creating a soccer highlights video requires technical skills and an eye for editing. For anyone struggling to make a video that will create the right kind of impact, we have a team of video editing experts who know exactly how to make recruiting videos stand out. If you’d like to learn more, email our video team at [email protected].