Promotional Video Release Questions

quote:

but I was thinking of also just posting on YouTube and sending the link from his email address.

RAB90 - I like that idea. No need to create a DVD when you can simply e-mail them the link.

I don't think it is too early to start now. Don't be bashful.

Rab90, Good question. I think I would do both. Compare getting your son “hooked up” with a college baseball program as “marketing” your son. A successful marketeer never relies on just ONE tool to market anything. Players are “noticed” from summer teams, high school teams, a showcases, camps, internet, DVD, newspapers etc. Stands to reason once a player has drawn some interest from a coach (no matter how or where he noticed) a second exposer will only help validate that interest. If you think the cost of burning and mailing a DVD would be expensive then your son needs to narrow his list of colleges.
Good Luck,
Fungo
PS: make the DVD and/or the youtube video SHORT!

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
Rab90, Good question. I think I would do both. Compare getting your son “hooked up” with a college baseball program as “marketing” your son. A successful marketeer never relies on just ONE tool to market anything. Players are “noticed” from summer teams, high school teams, a showcases, camps, internet, DVD, newspapers etc. Stands to reason once a player has drawn some interest from a coach (no matter how or where he noticed) a second exposer will only help validate that interest. If you think the cost of burning and mailing a DVD would be expensive then your son needs to narrow his list of colleges.
Good Luck,
Fungo
PS: make the DVD and/or the youtube video SHORT!

On the other hand, that is a good tip too!

Thanks for the advice... I was figuring on DVDs the the schools that is on his "short list", so it sounds good to do a little (or a lot!) of both.

The video is not "perfect" yet since it only has summer stuff. I plan on getting a bunch more video this fall too. I need him to throw a guy out at home while I am filming!

On videos, how long is "too long"? I was figuring 5 or 6 minutes max. The current one is just over 5 minutes and I have it broken down into fielding, baserunning, defense, and showcase (showing his 60 run, throw from home, and hitting).

RAB90,
We did it almost exactly as you planned to do it. We did have film of him hitting in a cage from the side and back as well as game footage. 5 or 6 minutes is about right in my opinion. My wife would put script at the bottom of his 60yds telling the time he ran it in and where it was at (Padres tryout camp, Sam Houston State showcase, etc.) We asked to send videos to the colleges we were most interested in and directed them to his website for more video. Younger son has everything on his site. Don't forget to list academia and other accomplishments on the site also.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
RAB90,
We did it almost exactly as you planned to do it. We did have film of him hitting in a cage from the side and back as well as game footage. 5 or 6 minutes is about right in my opinion. My wife would put script at the bottom of his 60yds telling the time he ran it in and where it was at (Padres tryout camp, Sam Houston State showcase, etc.) We asked to send videos to the colleges we were most interested in and directed them to his website for more video. Younger son has everything on his site. Don't forget to list academia and other accomplishments on the site also.

Three Bagger,
How well did it work for you? Is he playing college ball somewhere now? What position does he play?

Thanks!

RAB90,

Yes, he is playing ball at a very good DII in Mississippi--Delta State. He is a centerfielder although the twice all conference centerfielder is coming back as a senior this year on his team. Maybe he'll force a move to right!

I think the videos and websites help but you must also attend various showcases and tryout camps. But most of his offers came from colleges that had also seen the videos and live play.

By the way, last year there was a junior infielder on his college team from Sugar Land that had transferred from the University of Houston in Victoria TX, the year before.

quote:

Originally posted by RAB90:


On videos, how long is "too long"? I was figuring 5 or 6 minutes max. The current one is just over 5 minutes and I have it broken down into fielding, baserunning, defense, and showcase (showing his 60 run, throw from home, and hitting).

Half of that. Coaches won't make it to the 3 minute mark. All they want to know is if there is enough there to get them interested enough to take the next step in the recruiting process.

If it were me. I would build a website for junior. Have google host a calendar with his game dates on it and then have google or youtube host the video. That way, you send a link to juniors website, it has all his info there...coaches names and numbers, most recent stats, school info, photos, links to articles or pages of scanned articles...and then they can peruse the site at their convenience and play the videos right within the site. Also, the calendar has a function where you can put the address of the game site into it and it can bring up directions and such to get the coach there.


Make the website a one stop shop for anyone recruiting junior. And when you think you've got it perfect, cut it in half and it will be the right size...

He is doing the Select, Showcase, and camp stuff so we have that covered. That is the good thing about Texas, plenty here to go to.

As for websites, what are some good hosting sites?

Thanks for all the replies!

Thanks Cleveland Dad. You and I both know there is no cookie cutter approach. I might add that all the time I spend (spent) making videos and DVDs I never sent the first one to a college coach. I had planned to, even had the DVD burned but the situation where I thought a video would help the situation never happened. Now that his baseball playing is over I still like to make videos. Let me bore you with the one I made for he and his new bride's rehearsal dinner this past new years eve.
VIDEO

Two big thumbs up, Fungo. Great looking kids. Loved the video....but the cow? Really?

Fungo, I bit. What a great video! They are quite a handsome pair. Also liked the song at the end ... we don't hear 'Dixie' near enough around here.

I bit too...nice video Fungo! Great looking kids! Congratulations to them both...

Fungo, what a super video, made me teary-eyed. Such a good looking couple, and they seem very happy together. I predict some beautiful grand-kids in your future!


Julie

Awesome video Fungo! I thoroughly enjoyed that!

We did the video and my son sent it out to coaches summer after jr year. Seems like noone really looked at it at that time. After this summer in PG 17u and 18u and after some camps and showcases, many coaches followed up and asked for transcripts and film. Luckily we had it ready to go.
Good luck!
Swck

Thanks for all the replies...

After a couple tries, I have one that I feel comfortable in sending out if it is requested.