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Others will have a better answer than I, but don't buy a camcorder. Use an iPhone, iPad or similar. The results will be fine.
Have him ask around at school. There are kids who are very good at video editing. Borrow a camcorder. Shoot him batting (10-12 swings)....and catching (receiving, blocking, throwing to second, etc)....make the total video 3 minutes or less. If someone edits it...have them start it with
Name
School
Summer Team
Grad Year
on a header just as it comes on. Don't worry about music...coaches don't care. I'm sure you can find someone who will do it if you're willing to pay them...but I don't think you need to do that...coaches care about the player...not all the fluff that a lot of people want to add to their videos. Good luck!!
Here is a link to a website for a contributor to this forum:
I agree with Waffles, this is an intimidating thought for me. I also have a 2018 and I am wondering when is the best time to make a video? Is it after their Freshman year or is it better to wait until after Sophomore year when they are a little stronger, faster, etc.? Maybe it will be different for each kid and what level they are targeting for college. Any insight on timing would be greatly appreciated.
Waffles - sent you PM. Look for the "Dialogs" box in top right corner.
Rich Prado
PlayInSchool.com
Checked out the link. Good stuff.
If you ask 20 people you'll get 20 responses about how to make a perfect video.
The nuts & bolts of the info on that link is great.
My only gripe is with #1... the Introduction.
I am philosophically against a player intro. In my opinion it doesn't do anything to augment them as a prospect. In many cases it actually makes kids come across as nervous or robots (due to rehearsing 20 times).
And most importantly, it wastes 30 seconds of a coaches day.
Usually in the time it takes to do an intro my catchers have made 5 throws or 10 swings.
All pertinent info can be listed either on a website or an the body of the email.
Thats my 2 cents.
Here is an example of how I do it...
Not that it matters, but Tyler is committed to play at Vanderbilt.
You can see his hitting & 1B videos at http://www.playinschool.com/ev...ldcanes/solomon.html
Rich Prado
PlayInSchool.com/bus_tour
I agree with Waffles, this is an intimidating thought for me. I also have a 2018 and I am wondering when is the best time to make a video? Is it after their Freshman year or is it better to wait until after Sophomore year when they are a little stronger, faster, etc.? Maybe it will be different for each kid and what level they are targeting for college. Any insight on timing would be greatly appreciated.
How about making one now for practice? Then there must be a thousand on-line you can compare it to.
Do you think it is better to show live game footage instead of a "canned" performance?
Do you think it is better to show live game footage instead of a "canned" performance?
Game footage is fine...but you can't stand on the field to get the best angles for your video. It's much easier for a coach to evaluate a swing when you take the video from 15' away directly across home plate from the field....facing his chest....than it is for a video taken from the stands...or behind a fence. Pitching is a little easier...as you can probably get directly behind home plate to shoot the video. If you have some game footage, throw in a few of the better plays...but don't pass up the "canned" video....you get a lot more reps in the video...in less time...and gives the coach to see some repetition to the swings, fielding or throws
No music, get right to the point as most coaches only watch tidbits. Include contact info and any stats suck as 60 time, OF throw, velo etc. Shouldn't be too long. I would suggest starting a YouTube page and upload your edited game video there as a repository for referencing and viewing at a later date. Moviemaker by Microsoft is super easy to use as well as any apple product. My kid is a pitcher so i used an 1080P HD Flip video camera and it help up well over the last two seasons. Best of luck to you!
Do you think it is better to show live game footage instead of a "canned" performance?
My experience has been that you'll get different opinions about this amongst coaches, so I suggest you include both and splice them together so that the video doesn't sit on either style for too long.
My 2015 catcher did an approximate 2 minute video of catching (blocking, framing and throwing) and hitting. Taken with a front & side view for catching and side view for hitting. For the throwing he just showed the mechanics coming out of the position and not velo or pop. Sent it out to HC and RC via email with a short written intro which includes physical and academic info and did not use music or game film. Coaches will spend very little time looking. Got great response from many D1, D2 and D3 schools.
I have not recorded my sons yet, but here is how I plan to approach it...
Pitching Segment
4FBs in Bullpen - side angle
2 CUps in Bullpen - side angle
3 Breaking balls in Bullpen - side angle
4FBs in Bullpen - Filmed from behind catcher
2 CUs in Bullpen - Filmed from behind catcher
-3 Breaking balls in Bullpen - Filmed from behind catcher
Hitting Segment -
5 swings from side during BP
Fielding Segment -
2 grounders right at him
2 grounders to left
2 grounders to right
2 slow rollers
In Game Segment
about 5 pitches total
about 5 swings total
about 5 in field plays total
Im hoping to keep the video to about 3-4 minutes total. I'm pretty good with editing video on the computer so I plan on cutting it down to just the necessary stuff.
I was thinking of going into business, setting up a website to sell services cutting together kids recruiting videos.
I have not recorded my sons yet, but here is how I plan to approach it...
Pitching Segment
4FBs in Bullpen - side angle
2 CUps in Bullpen - side angle
3 Breaking balls in Bullpen - side angle
4FBs in Bullpen - Filmed from behind catcher
2 CUs in Bullpen - Filmed from behind catcher
-3 Breaking balls in Bullpen - Filmed from behind catcher
Hitting Segment -
5 swings from side during BP
Fielding Segment -
2 grounders right at him
2 grounders to left
2 grounders to right
2 slow rollers
In Game Segment
about 5 pitches total
about 5 swings total
about 5 in field plays total
Im hoping to keep the video to about 3-4 minutes total. I'm pretty good with editing video on the computer so I plan on cutting it down to just the necessary stuff.
I was thinking of going into business, setting up a website to sell services cutting together kids recruiting videos.
Joe....looks about right....though I wouldn't be afraid to up your fielding numbers to 3 or 4 from each spot....and up the hitting to at least 10-12 swings. If you're editing it, those extra swings only add about 15-20 seconds to the video. I would definitely show more than 5.
Think about this video as a full page ad for your kid in a baseball magazine.
What are the 2-3 big bullet points that you want coaches to see?
Beware of making the video look rote and boring.
If he has a great pop time, show that first with the watch. If he has hit a few bombs, show those. If he has great range in the IF, show that. If a pitcher, big wins, complete games (only a few pitches from it), striking out a top prospect, throwing 90+, web gem style defense, etc.
Don't show anything where he is mediocre. If you only have mediocre footage, why are you sending it? If this was for match.com, would you give your height and weight, or would you say that you like puppies and are looking for a soulmate? You just want to get them interested.
Many coaches commented (positively 
) on LittleSultan's youtube videos.
