What College Coaches Look for in Highlight Videos

Your highlight video is often the first piece of footage a college coach sees. It’s their initial snapshot of your ability, your style of play, and your potential to contribute at the next level. So you need it to be polished, purposeful, and representative of your best skills.

In this guide, we’re going to break down exactly what recruiters are looking for in a highlight video — from content to length, to technical details — and how you can produce a video that stands out from the rest.

Why Highlight Videos Matter

For recruiters, highlight video is a huge time-saver. It lets them quickly determine whether you match their team’s needs and playing style — without having to travel across the country to watch you in person. That means your video must be a true reflection of your ability.

1. Lead with Your Best Plays

Your first 30 seconds should grab a coach’s attention immediately. That means putting your strongest highlights first — powerful kills, decisive blocks, aces — whatever shows your ability to make an impact.

Tip: Ideally, your first few clips should showcase your greatest skills. If you’re an outside hitter, for example, lead with a powerful attack or a dramatic block. If you’re a libero, start with a stunning dig or perfect pass.

2. Variety Shows Your All-Around Ability

Your video should reflect the range of skills you possess. Coaches want to see more than just scoring highlights — show them you’re a well-rounded, adaptable athlete. That might include:

• Attacks: powerful kills from different positions.
• Blocks: strong defensive plays at the net.
• Digs and Serves: ability to handle tough serves or make a key defensive play.
• Team communication: short clips where you’re organizing teammates or directing a play.

Tip: If you specialize in a particular position (like libero or setter), be sure to highlight skills that are key to that role.

3. Provide Meaningful Context

Don’t just show highlights — give context to help recruiters appreciate your level of competition and performance under pressure.

• Provide your jersey number and team color in a brief title slide at the start.
• Mention your graduation year, positions, and physical attributes.
• If you’re competing against strong opposition — for example, a state final or a well-known club team — consider adding a short note about it.

Tip: Keep context brief and clear — you want recruiters to focus on your highlights.

4. Keep It Short and Sweet (2–3 minutes)

Your highlight video should be between 2 and 3 minutes maximum. Coaches typically watch many videos a day, and you need to keep their attention.

Tip: If you have more highlights, consider making a separate, full match video or a “extended highlights” video. But send recruiters your short, polished video first.

5. Quality and Production Values

Your video should be clear, well-edited, and smoothly cut together. That means:

✅ Good resolution: at least 720p; 1080p is preferred. ✅ Slow motion: use sparingly to highlight key plays — not to fill time. ✅ Clean cuts: avoid lengthy pauses or needless footage in-between highlights.

Tip: If you can, film from a raised angle or from center-court for a clear view of all the action.

Summary

Your highlight video is your first, and sometimes only, opportunity to make a strong first impression on recruiters. Lead with your best plays, showcase your range of skills, provide context, keep it short, and make sure it’s well-edited and clear.

Ultimately, your video should answer the questions recruiters care about most: How much potential do you have, and how can you contribute to their team’s success?