Padhye’s Passing - So you want to play college football? Part 2

Highlight Films......

The first and most important tip I can give you about making your highlight film, is that you must always make sure that your information is included with your highlight film.  Do not assume that the coach will be able to figure it out from your mailing package, and just writing on your DVD is not good enough.  If you are sending out a DVD to a coach, make sure to include an information sheet that has the following: contact information (name, address, email, phone number, etc.), physical attributes (height, weight, bench, 40yd time, etc.), high school information, coaches name, year in school, GPA, test scores, and any other stats and awards that you may have.  If you are using a recruiting website such a Webletes.com then this information should be updated on there for the coach to see.  The more information you can provide the coach the better.  It is also a good idea to put your contact information at the beginning and end of the highlight film in case the coach happens to lose your information sheet.  Remember, if the coach can’t contact you, he can’t recruit you!

The 2^nd tip is to make sure that you are easily identifiable on your highlight film.  Most of today’s highlight film programs allow you to point an arrow or put a circle around the player to highlight where they are.  Do this on every play before the snap so the coach who is watching the film knows where you are so he can watch you the whole play.  Coaches are strapped for time and it is very frustrating to have to continue to rewind a play to figure out if they are watching the right person.  They can’t evaluate you if they can’t figure out which person you are on the field.  And if they have to do this for every play, it will not be long before they turn the film off and move on to the next recruit.  If you do not have a program that can highlight the player, make sure that you are very clear about what jersey number you are wearing, what color jersey, and what position you will be playing.  Remember, if the coach can’t see you, they can’t recruit you!

The next thing to consider when making your highlight film is to put your best highlights at the beginning of the film.  Every coach has their own style when it comes to watching and evaluating recruiting film.  Some coaches will watch a highlight film in its entirety and then make an evaluation.  Other coaches will watch a highlight film and if they don’t see something they like in the first 5 plays, they will turn it off and move onto the next film.  So I suggest you go through all your highlights and find your best 3-5 plays, and then put those at the beginning of your highlight.  This doesn’t mean that you should just throw any big play you had in the first 3-5 clips and move on.  For example if you are Defensive Lineman and the QB fumbles and you fall on it, it may be a big play for you and your team, but it doesn’t show the coach watching your film anything.  I mean anyone can fall on a football.  I’m talking about plays that show that you are athletic, that you can make plays, and that you have what it takes to play at the next level.   For example if you are a Defensive Lineman and you get off the ball quick, make a good pass rush move, and sack the QB or force a bad pass, that’s the kind of highlight that will stick out.  While fumble recovery may have been a huge play in the game, the sack or QB hurry highlight shows the college coach what you are capable of.  So again pick your best plays, not the biggest plays, your best plays, and put those at the start of your highlight film.

Highlights for multiple positions/offense/defense (Separate)

The next tip to making a quality highlight film has to do with what position or positions you play.  Unlike in college, most high school football players tend to play more than one position.  They usually play both sides of the ball as well as on many of the special teams.  If you happen to be a player who falls into this category, then it is very important to do the following.  Make sure that your highlights are separated based off what side of the ball you are playing.  Most DVD making programs allow you to create different chapters, so you should take your highlights based on position an create them in different chapters so the coach watching your film can easily locate what he is looking for.  If you are getting recruited to play Quarterback, the coach wants to watch your highlights as a quarterback.  The less they have to search through your highlights

Make a highlight film, not a movie

No slow motion or fast forward

Don’t repeat the same play over and over again

Make sure your highlights are actually highlights.  Don’t waste time with unnecessary clips.

Do not send game film unless it is requested by the recruiting coach