A well-crafted highlight video is one of the most critical tools for junior beach volleyball athletes aiming to attract college coaches. It serves as your introduction to coaches, showcasing your skills, athleticism, and understanding of the game. To make your video stand out, you’ll need to plan, execute, and edit with precision—and tailor your approach based on where you are in the recruiting process.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you create a professional highlight video that captures coaches’ attention.

1. Planning Your Video Content

Before you hit “record,” outline the key skills and qualities you want to showcase. Tailor your content to your position and your strengths:

  • Key Skills: Focus on passing, setting, attacking, serving, and defensive plays. Highlight your position-specific strengths, whether you’re a defender, blocker, or split-blocker.
  • Game vs. Practice Footage: Game footage is preferred because it demonstrates your performance under pressure. However, practice footage is acceptable if it accurately reflects game-like scenarios.

2. Recording Tips

The quality of your footage is essential. Use these tips to ensure clear and professional-looking videos:

  • Camera Placement: Position the camera behind the baseline to capture the full court. This angle allows coaches to see your positioning and movements. Ideally with the behind you.
  • Stability: Use a tripod to avoid shaky footage. Keep the frame steady and avoid excessive zooming or panning.
  • Clarity: Record in high definition and ensure the lighting is sufficient to make your actions clear.
3. Editing Your Highlight Video

Coaches don’t have time to sift through hours of footage, so your video needs to grab their attention quickly:

  • Length: Keep the video between 3 to 5 minutes. Focus on your best plays, especially in the first 30 seconds.
  • Organization: Group similar skills together (e.g., all serves, then all digs) to highlight consistency. Start with your most impressive plays.
  • Identify Yourself: Use arrows, spotlights, or annotations to clearly identify yourself in every clip.
  • Contact Information: Include your name, graduation year, position, height, club team, and contact details at the beginning and end of the video. Add your coach’s contact information for credibility.

4. Tailoring Your Video to Your Recruiting Journey

Where you are in the recruiting process should influence your approach:

Early Recruitment Stage

  • Focus on skills that set you apart, like a powerful serve or consistent setting.
  • Keep it short and impactful, showing your potential.

Mid to Late Recruitment Stage

  • Be prepared to share full-match footage alongside your highlight video. Many coaches want to see the moments between plays—how you communicate, reset, and strategize.
  • Highlight your ability to perform consistently across multiple matches and adapt to various game scenarios.

Advanced Recruitment

  • Emphasize game IQ. Include footage that demonstrates your strategic decision-making, teamwork, and leadership.
  • Use polished editing to reflect your professionalism and commitment.

5. Tools and Apps for Video Creation

Modern technology makes it easier than ever to record, edit, and share high-quality highlight videos. Here are some tools to consider:

Recording and Editing Tools

  • Hudl: Popular among athletes for recording, editing, and sharing videos with recruiters.
  • Balltime: A volleyball-specific platform for creating professional highlight reels.
  • iMovie/Windows Movie Maker: Beginner-friendly, free editing software.
  • Adobe Premiere Rush: Offers advanced editing features for more polished videos.

Recording Assistants

  • GoPro Cameras: Ideal for capturing high-quality, wide-angle footage.
  • Tripod Attachments for Smartphones: Ensures steady and clear recording without expensive equipment.

Performance Analysis Apps

  • Coach’s Eye: Analyze clips with slow motion and annotations.
  • Dartfish Express: Tag and analyze game footage with professional tools.

Sharing Platforms

  • YouTube: Share highlight videos via simple links (set to “unlisted” for privacy).
  • Google Drive: Store and share full-match footage with detailed labels for easy access.
6. Full-Match Footage: Why It Matters

Highlight videos are great for catching a coach’s attention, but full-match footage provides essential context. Coaches often want to see:

  • Between-the-Play Actions: How you communicate, reset, and prepare for the next rally.
  • Court Presence: Your energy, focus, and composure during the game.
  • Competitive Performance: Matches against strong opponents to evaluate how you perform under pressure.

Organize full-match videos by opponent, tournament, and date for easy sharing. Be ready to provide them upon request.

7. Adapting to Feedback

Recruitment is an ongoing process, and your highlight video should evolve with it:

  • Update your video regularly to reflect your current skills and achievements.
  • Tailor the content based on feedback from coaches or recruiters.
  • Keep both highlight reels and full-match footage accessible to meet varying coach preferences.

By following these steps, using modern tools, and tailoring your approach to your recruiting stage, you can create a highlight video that effectively showcases your abilities and leaves a lasting impression on college coaches. This video is your opportunity to open the door to the next level of your beach volleyball career—make it count!

Photo credit

Beach education

About the Author

TJ Staples brings over 20 years of extensive experience as a player in both beach and indoor volleyball, coupled with 16 years of coaching expertise. As a Coach and Director, TJ has helped over 55 athletes secure Division 1 Beach Volleyball scholarships to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities, including UCLA, USC, TCU, Arizona, Texas, Stanford, and more. During his time as a Coach and Club Director he has led teams to over 20 Open Level National Championships across AVP, BVCA, P1440, and USAV. TJ’s club was named the Best Beach Club in the Nation for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023) and in 2023, his program made history as the first Club to earn medals in every age group at a single BVCA National Event.