Six Tips for Creating a Soccer Video to Submit to College Coaches

If you want to attend soccer in college, you need to get in front of coaches, but that isn't always possible. A good alternative is to create a video.

Some players submit videos to coaches on a DVD, but it's becoming more popular to create a YouTube Channel and simply send the coach a link. This saves you time and money, and if you link to the site from your team website and on a recruiting website, you might get interest from coaches at schools you hadn't considered.

A team or high school might hire a videographer to tape a game, but sometimes a parent creates the video. If that's the case for you, here are a few things to consider.

1. Videotape competitive games. Coaches will be more impressed in watching you play a strong team than a video of you scoring five goals against a weak team.

2. Provide pertinent information at the beginning of the video, including when it was shot and the teams that are playing.

3. Include your name, the color of your uniform and jersey number. A good way to let the coach know who you are is to have your photo (preferably an action shot) in your uniform, with your name, team name, and jersey number appear for a few seconds at the beginning of the video. That makes it easy for the coach to know which player they're supposed to be watching.

4. Show the entire sequence of play, not just finishing shots. This won't provide the coach with the information that he needs. He wants to see how the play develops, the way a player positions himself, how he moves for the ball, etc.

5. Make sure the coach can identify you in every sequence of play. Stop the video and insert an arrow pointing to you, or circle your image on the video at the beginning of every sequence. This will help the coach locate you on the field.

6. If possible, include video from more than one game.

These videos can be posted on soccer recruiting websites if you become a member, and on Facebook or your own YouTube channel. Wherever you decide to post your video, be sure to include the link in emails or letter you send to coaches. Include the link on your player page at the team website as well, and on your résumé.