During the list building phase of the recruiting process college programs are evaluating the players that are recommended to them. Your highlight tape, along with your transcript, is typically your first impression on a college coach. You can learn more about the college recruiting process by visiting the Recruiting Academy.
Putting together a quality highlight tape is crucial to getting your name on the top of the recruiting board.
We’ve spoken to hundreds of coaches and our coaching advisory board in order to give you the best recruiting tips. Here are our expert tips to make your highlight tape stand out:
Know Your Audience - These coaches are sent dozens of tapes a day and have a limited time to devote to them. If your tape is long not everything will be seen. Typically, the coach will look at the first couple of plays, if he sees nothing of note he will move on to the next tape.
Compile Your Highlights Wisely - The viewers time is limited, so put your best play first. Put your second best play second, and so on. Highlight your best plays only, stop the tape when the plays are no longer great.
Know What To Focus On - As we have discussed in our previous article [click here to see the article], college coaches are looking for play-making and athleticism from potential recruits. Focus on the big plays that showcase these two attributes as you put together your highlights.
What Else Can You Show Off - Can you run under 11 seconds in 100m dash? Can you do a back-flip? Can you dunk a basketball? Do you have a 36 inch vert? Are you a monster in the weight-room? You can add a clip showcasing your athletic prowess off the football field to your highlight tape.
Once you’ve completed your tape, share it with your high school coach and let them tell you what they think. They know you and your play-making best, and therefore they will be your best resource. When it is ready, package it with your transcript and have your high school coach send it to college coaches he trusts for feedback.
If you have any questions regarding the recruiting process you can visit our FAQ Page where we answer the most frequently asked questions by athletes and parents.