When is the best time to send out a videotape? Is the fall of a junior year too soon? Also, should you send a tape before one is requested? TIA.
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Matters not the time but DO NOT send it unsolicited
so are you saying do not send it unless the coach knows it is on the way or dont send it unless the coach asks for it?
TRhit,
If a college has sent you a questionnaire, and ask for you to complete it and send it in. Are you saying that as part of a follow-up, if you send your spring schedule that you shouldn't send your videotape as well?
I noticed on some of the questionnaire's they ask if you have a videotape. I assume if you have one prepared you could send it in as part of a follow-up.
If a college has sent you a questionnaire, and ask for you to complete it and send it in. Are you saying that as part of a follow-up, if you send your spring schedule that you shouldn't send your videotape as well?
I noticed on some of the questionnaire's they ask if you have a videotape. I assume if you have one prepared you could send it in as part of a follow-up.
From my experiences,
On the questionaires if they asked if I had a video and I checked yes, the next time I spoke to the school they asked me to send it to them to view.
I'd send it as part of a follow up if the coach does or doesn't ask for it, just make sure to notify him that you are sending a VHS or a DVD to him. I wouldn't send it to them as part of your original contact letter.
But again this is just from my experiences.
On the questionaires if they asked if I had a video and I checked yes, the next time I spoke to the school they asked me to send it to them to view.
I'd send it as part of a follow up if the coach does or doesn't ask for it, just make sure to notify him that you are sending a VHS or a DVD to him. I wouldn't send it to them as part of your original contact letter.
But again this is just from my experiences.
As a college coach, if it is on the questionnaire send it! If the coach asks for it, send it. The unsolicited video tapes do get viewed but in what order of importance is a different story. A good program isn't going to promise anything to someone they only saw on video, however, there are many times that when a video is put together properly I might say...we need to take a look at this kid, he might be able to help us!
what makes a good video?What are some of the things i need to include.
I'm not sure if it qualifies as a good recruiting video, or not, but here is a link to my son's if you have high speed internet:
http://home.ntelos.net/~jtbaseball/web.wmv
I got primarily game action, and added BP at the end because some coaches asked for it. Hope it helps you out.
http://home.ntelos.net/~jtbaseball/web.wmv
I got primarily game action, and added BP at the end because some coaches asked for it. Hope it helps you out.
JT - thanks for posting that - it's a very well-constructed compilation - very helpful for those of us working to put one of our own together.
Thanks. Hopefully its enough to stir some coaches' interest, but not too over the top.
Just an FYI to everyone,
Skillshow is a company that puts together film of your son, I know for a fact that they do if at PG events, you might want to check them out and ask then some questions.
They made of video of me at an ID Showcase and it included different angles, different pitches and different speed of film, it would slow down from each angle so recruiters could analyze mechanics better.
Hope it helps
Skillshow is a company that puts together film of your son, I know for a fact that they do if at PG events, you might want to check them out and ask then some questions.
They made of video of me at an ID Showcase and it included different angles, different pitches and different speed of film, it would slow down from each angle so recruiters could analyze mechanics better.
Hope it helps
Doc
Great point--they were with us this for both of our showcase events and they will be back with us in 2006
They do a great job and they are super people as well
Great point--they were with us this for both of our showcase events and they will be back with us in 2006
They do a great job and they are super people as well
My son was at the College Select Showcase with TR in Binghamton, and we signed up for the Skillshow video presentation. I must say that it did get results!!!!
A head coach from New York had sent my son some information about his university, which was later followed up by his recruiting coach. It turnsout that when the recruiting coach had seen the video my son sent from Skillshow, the coach thought he remembered seeing my sons batting swing before. The coach read his name, and saw where he was from and remembered seeing my son play during his spring high school season here in Illinois. The recruiting coach from the university in New York grew-up in Illinois, and was in the Chicago area looking at players during the spring/summer high school seasons.
We also used this video presentation for other schools that my son was interested in, solicited or otherwise. Some gave feedback, some didn't. My son has narrowed his selection down to four schools, and will keep his options open to four others.
I have nothing to gain by promoting Skillshow, or TR's showcases, but my son has been contacted by several D3 schools in the East that are interested in him. This is a result, we feel, that has ocurred by attending a quality showcase, and by having a quality video presentation.
A head coach from New York had sent my son some information about his university, which was later followed up by his recruiting coach. It turnsout that when the recruiting coach had seen the video my son sent from Skillshow, the coach thought he remembered seeing my sons batting swing before. The coach read his name, and saw where he was from and remembered seeing my son play during his spring high school season here in Illinois. The recruiting coach from the university in New York grew-up in Illinois, and was in the Chicago area looking at players during the spring/summer high school seasons.
We also used this video presentation for other schools that my son was interested in, solicited or otherwise. Some gave feedback, some didn't. My son has narrowed his selection down to four schools, and will keep his options open to four others.
I have nothing to gain by promoting Skillshow, or TR's showcases, but my son has been contacted by several D3 schools in the East that are interested in him. This is a result, we feel, that has ocurred by attending a quality showcase, and by having a quality video presentation.
Good video !
I did it a little differently. I took several videos myself of games as well as indoor practice. I edited each video to remove wasted space so it just showed the important elements. I put it all on a DVD. I included news clips and awards , still photos etc.
I then did a synopsis of each video so the coach could decide which ones he would watch.I made comments about the team he was pitching against. Their time is important and I did not want to bore him. All of the still photos I included show key elements in his mechanics.
I sent them to several coaches, some unsolicited but only after contacting them by e-mail. On the e-mail I would insert pictures showing him on the mound at various games in various positions in his mechanics. Amazing shots like at the top of his lift with guy on 1st base, finishing with hand down by calf and leg kick head on target and all that stuff that shows him off. The response was incredible. He had offers from the video alone. Some asked if I could bring him there for a tryout and some just made an offer. The highest offer was $10,000 academic and $7,000 baseball. He did not go to that school mainly because it was a cold weather school and he had an offer from his second choice overall in negotiations. The caliber of ball was higher playing top teams like Florida ST etc.
I did not sit back and wait for the coach or coordinator to look at it I kept e-mailing with new photos that I imbeded in the e-mail. I called and asked if they had a chance to look at it. Every coach that I got to look at it called me back.
You do have to be proactive and believe that you belong there. I also made sure that my son chose that school to solicite because he felt it was a great school and wanted to spend his 2 or 4 years there. We had no problems going to JUCCOs and did not look down on them academically. They were probably the safest route to take.
I did not talk to one coach that was mad because I pushed him to look at the DVD. A couple even said they7 enjoyed them and wanted more. One guy I pushed the hardest for over a month came right out after looking and asked what we wanted without ever seeing him. a top 5 D1 JUCCO.
I did it a little differently. I took several videos myself of games as well as indoor practice. I edited each video to remove wasted space so it just showed the important elements. I put it all on a DVD. I included news clips and awards , still photos etc.
I then did a synopsis of each video so the coach could decide which ones he would watch.I made comments about the team he was pitching against. Their time is important and I did not want to bore him. All of the still photos I included show key elements in his mechanics.
I sent them to several coaches, some unsolicited but only after contacting them by e-mail. On the e-mail I would insert pictures showing him on the mound at various games in various positions in his mechanics. Amazing shots like at the top of his lift with guy on 1st base, finishing with hand down by calf and leg kick head on target and all that stuff that shows him off. The response was incredible. He had offers from the video alone. Some asked if I could bring him there for a tryout and some just made an offer. The highest offer was $10,000 academic and $7,000 baseball. He did not go to that school mainly because it was a cold weather school and he had an offer from his second choice overall in negotiations. The caliber of ball was higher playing top teams like Florida ST etc.
I did not sit back and wait for the coach or coordinator to look at it I kept e-mailing with new photos that I imbeded in the e-mail. I called and asked if they had a chance to look at it. Every coach that I got to look at it called me back.
You do have to be proactive and believe that you belong there. I also made sure that my son chose that school to solicite because he felt it was a great school and wanted to spend his 2 or 4 years there. We had no problems going to JUCCOs and did not look down on them academically. They were probably the safest route to take.
I did not talk to one coach that was mad because I pushed him to look at the DVD. A couple even said they7 enjoyed them and wanted more. One guy I pushed the hardest for over a month came right out after looking and asked what we wanted without ever seeing him. a top 5 D1 JUCCO.
does anyone else have an example of their recruiting tape?i am trying to get some ideas.bobbleheaddoll-so before the video tape were you not getting as much interest,and then when you sent it out then the interest was high?
We were not getting interest from the schools we wanted. The DVD was the deal maker. I had one coach who as I said I pushed for atleast a month. He evengot a little short with me I pushed so hard. He finally looked at it and asked how much we wanted. We actually waited too long to start our marketing because we had high interest from a school he really loved. We were shocked when they called and said they oversigned LHP out of JUCCOs. My son visited the school 3500miles away. and after they looked at the video that he gave them they called at 4:30 pm assuming he would be getting home from school. They said he was a grade a recruit and kept in touch every week by phoen and e-mail. We filled out forms etc and then we got the bad news.
We had to scramble to get hjis second choice and we got an offer from them and negotiated the final numbers.
Without the video we were not going to a school of his choice. We did have upwards of 14 schools showing interest and still have schools who are open to us if things don't work out. I hated to say no to some of the coaches as they were all so great to deal with.
I don't know what position you play but get someone to shoot video for you. Edit it make it short and to the point.. Put it on a DVD in separate captioned files along with news clips and awards, rosters of special teams etc . Email the coaches of the schools and let them know that you are interested in their program and that you are sending the video to their attention. Contact them once in awhile to see if they had received it and had a chance to view it view. My one daughter attends a Canadian U and she works in a classy restaurant. She keeps winning the top seller of wine. All the other waiters ask how she does it. She told them she dosen't ask if they want her to pour more wine. She pours it until they tell her they have had enough.
If you don't get proactive you are not going to get the results you want.
We had to scramble to get hjis second choice and we got an offer from them and negotiated the final numbers.
Without the video we were not going to a school of his choice. We did have upwards of 14 schools showing interest and still have schools who are open to us if things don't work out. I hated to say no to some of the coaches as they were all so great to deal with.
I don't know what position you play but get someone to shoot video for you. Edit it make it short and to the point.. Put it on a DVD in separate captioned files along with news clips and awards, rosters of special teams etc . Email the coaches of the schools and let them know that you are interested in their program and that you are sending the video to their attention. Contact them once in awhile to see if they had received it and had a chance to view it view. My one daughter attends a Canadian U and she works in a classy restaurant. She keeps winning the top seller of wine. All the other waiters ask how she does it. She told them she dosen't ask if they want her to pour more wine. She pours it until they tell her they have had enough.
If you don't get proactive you are not going to get the results you want.
Skill Show does a great job. I purchased it for my son at the PG National, figuring it would be a keep sake. When it arrived and we got the opportunity to sit and watch it, we were nothing short of amazed. One college coach was so impressed that it was done in "real time". he sat with a stop watch and started with the running segment, saw that his watch matched that of the video. He then went on to time "Pop Times" again impressed.
Skill Show did a great job and I let them know when I saw them in Florida a few weeks back.
Tom, again, Thanks.
Skill Show did a great job and I let them know when I saw them in Florida a few weeks back.
Tom, again, Thanks.
I noticed some people that have sent videos mention they put game clips, photos, ect. What is the best things to include. We recently purchased the Skillshow video from one of the PG showcase events. I also include some additional video shot at other positions. Is game clips helpful?
I've heard it said that it's not a great idea for a parent to be too "pushy" when dealing with college coaches. I'm glad it worked out for Bobblehead but I would think that being real pushy is a good way for a player on the bubble to lose out on his opportunity. I think the consensus is that coaches deal with parents as a necessary evil and a parent should be very careful about how hard they push. If I'm wrong someone please tell me! I'd hate to blow an opportunity for my son because I didn't "push" enough.
Pop, good point. I think there is a very fine line that a parent must walk in order to NOT get in the way. Being my first time, I'm doing all the research that I can and than the many posters for their advice.
Anyone looking for instruction on how to make a video can e-mail me at Looney73@aol.com. I got these instructions from a Baseball website and they are great as they tell us the best angles and give good tips on making the best video.
I am sure Skillshow turns out a very good product. In my opinion, you can make your own video and use that money you would spend (on someone else making the video) on software to cut and edit your own video.
I am sure Skillshow turns out a very good product. In my opinion, you can make your own video and use that money you would spend (on someone else making the video) on software to cut and edit your own video.
You can do your own. I set up the video on a tripod like another poster did. I shot from bothe side of the catcher out at my son. I got great video. I did not shoot every game and missed a perfect game he trew but you can't get them all and you really are not there to get them all. The coaches don't have time to watch everything. Use MS Movie Maker which I believe is free. I use Windows XP Pro Media Edition. It has been improved a lot over the last while and is certainly good enough for this work. You just chop out the unimportant parts and save the modified version in a file to contain the stuff you want to put on a CD or DVD.
As far as being pushy it is a fine line. I crossed the line a couple of times and had offers from both coaches. If your son is good you are doing the coach a favour and non of them reacted badly at least in the long run. If I were a coach and a kid had the balls to get in my face in a nice way I would have to look at him. My son is actually a very shy person who needed to be puished to show himselp off. He has 0 ego and looks up to other players but when he steps on the mound he is a different person. Keep you sense of humour and talk to the coaches. They want to win and you have to believe that you can help to do that.
My son got the news that he made the 25 man travel roster on his D1 NCAA school in the south a couple days ago. He was worried about making the 32 man roster but he went out and did what he does best.
However you approach the video issue get it done. If you are worried about the process call the coach or e-mail him and tell him that you are interested in his program and that you are forwarding a video in a format that he can view.
Good luck !
As far as being pushy it is a fine line. I crossed the line a couple of times and had offers from both coaches. If your son is good you are doing the coach a favour and non of them reacted badly at least in the long run. If I were a coach and a kid had the balls to get in my face in a nice way I would have to look at him. My son is actually a very shy person who needed to be puished to show himselp off. He has 0 ego and looks up to other players but when he steps on the mound he is a different person. Keep you sense of humour and talk to the coaches. They want to win and you have to believe that you can help to do that.
My son got the news that he made the 25 man travel roster on his D1 NCAA school in the south a couple days ago. He was worried about making the 32 man roster but he went out and did what he does best.
However you approach the video issue get it done. If you are worried about the process call the coach or e-mail him and tell him that you are interested in his program and that you are forwarding a video in a format that he can view.
Good luck !
If I can add a little insight to the Recruiting Video discussion...
We have filmed over 50,000 athletes in multiple sports around the country and we CONTINUE to learn and listen to coaches on what value they can get from "video".
The clearest knowledge we have is that video is a great tool to show 3 things:
1. athleticism
2. body type
3. basic mechanics
Remmber "video" is "information" just like stats, scouting reports, etc. When scouting a player, recruiters needs as much 'information' as possible, so video can be extremely useful.
Imagine paying to see movies in the theater without seeing a 30-second trailer first...you could waste time & money on something you never wanted to see. Now think of the time & cost of a coach/scout to travel and see hundreds to thousands of players! Our goal is to 'enhance the scouting process with video & internet technologies'. So far, we have gotten great feedback from the scouting community...but we never stop asking how to improve our service.
There is no exact way to produce a players video, but if you can demonstrate those 3 things in a presentation that is 5 minutes or less, then you are doing the viewer (coach or scout) a huge favor. If you can get it online with updated personal information, you can minimize delays in your recruiting process.
We have filmed over 50,000 athletes in multiple sports around the country and we CONTINUE to learn and listen to coaches on what value they can get from "video".
The clearest knowledge we have is that video is a great tool to show 3 things:
1. athleticism
2. body type
3. basic mechanics
Remmber "video" is "information" just like stats, scouting reports, etc. When scouting a player, recruiters needs as much 'information' as possible, so video can be extremely useful.
Imagine paying to see movies in the theater without seeing a 30-second trailer first...you could waste time & money on something you never wanted to see. Now think of the time & cost of a coach/scout to travel and see hundreds to thousands of players! Our goal is to 'enhance the scouting process with video & internet technologies'. So far, we have gotten great feedback from the scouting community...but we never stop asking how to improve our service.
There is no exact way to produce a players video, but if you can demonstrate those 3 things in a presentation that is 5 minutes or less, then you are doing the viewer (coach or scout) a huge favor. If you can get it online with updated personal information, you can minimize delays in your recruiting process.
Many of the players I coach have their video and resumes online with Skillshow, and it's really opened a lot of doors for them. I am extremely happy my booster club hired Skillshow to come to our school for a film day. The whole thing was really professionally done from start to finish and my players were excited to start contacting coaches all around the country. The college coaches I've talked to about what Skillshow has going think it's a great way for high school players to initially contact them. The best thing about Skillshow from a high school coaches perspective is it's teaching my players to be pro-active when it comes to the recruiting process.
http://www.newportbaseball.com
Thanks again fellas!
http://www.newportbaseball.com
Thanks again fellas!