How Do Soccer Players Use Highlight Videos to Get Noticed by Coaches?

Your highlight video might be the difference between getting recruited and getting overlooked.

College soccer coaches watch thousands of hours of footage each year, but they typically decide within the first 30 seconds whether a player is worth their time.

The point of a highlight video is to get a true introduction with a head coach or their staff.

The Hard Truth About Coach Attention Spans

College soccer recruiting moves fast. Coaches often review 20-30 highlight videos in a single sitting, especially during peak recruiting periods. If your video doesn’t grab their attention immediately, they’ll move to the next player on their list.

This means your opening sequence needs to showcase your absolute best moments—no warm-up clips or average plays.

Make the first seconds memorable.

What Coaches Actually Want to See

Effective highlight videos focus on game situations, not skills demonstrations. Coaches want to see how you perform under pressure against real competition.

Key moments to include:

• Goals and assists in competitive matches
• Defensive tackles and interceptions
• Set piece situations (corners, free kicks)
• Quick decision-making under pressure
• Leadership moments (organizing teammates, communication)

Skip the juggling tricks and cone drills (I know you wouldn’t do this anyways). Coaches know you can do those—they want to see game intelligence.

The Power of the “Every Touch” Video

Here’s what many players miss: create a supplemental “every touch” video alongside your highlight reel.

This longer video shows every time you touch the ball during 2-3 complete games, giving coaches the full picture of your consistency and decision-making.

Your every touch video will include your mistakes, recoveries, and best players…all rolled into one video.

Why coaches love every touch videos:

• Shows your work rate and positioning
• Reveals how you handle quiet moments in games
• Demonstrates consistency across an entire match
• Proves you can maintain quality when you’re not scoring

Send your highlight video first to grab attention, then mention your every touch video is available upon request or send it as a follow up the next week. This two-video approach shows you understand what coaches need to evaluate players thoroughly.

Technical Requirements That Matter

Poor video quality can hurt your chances of being seen. Coaches will immediately X out of it. Both your highlight and every touch videos should be shot in HD (or close to it) with clear audio when possible. Multiple camera angles help coaches see the full play develop.

Keep highlight videos between 3-5 minutes maximum, while every touch videos can run 15-20 minutes. Include player information (name, position, graduation year, contact info) in the first few seconds of both videos.

Strategic Timing for Maximum Impact

The best time to send highlight videos is during coaches’ active recruiting periods: late spring through early fall. Avoid sending videos during their competitive season when they’re focused on their current team.

A lesser-known insight: Many coaches actually prefer receiving videos after ID camps or showcases where they’ve already seen you play live. The video serves as a reminder and helps them recall your performance among hundreds of other players.

Following Up Without Being Annoying

Send your highlight video with a personalized email mentioning specific reasons you’re interested in their program. Mention that full game footage is available if they want to see more. If you don’t hear back within two weeks, one follow-up is appropriate.

Making Your Videos Work Harder

Upload both videos to multiple platforms (YouTube, Hudl, Vimeo) to ensure coaches can access them regardless of their preferred platform.

Also, add it to your CollegeNovo player profile that will have your player info on it already.

Include video links in your NCAA eligibility center profile and social media bios. Label them clearly: “Highlight Reel” and “Full Game Analysis.”

Ready to take your recruiting to the next level? CollegeNovo’s platform helps soccer players and families navigate the entire college recruiting process with expert guidance and proven strategies.