Recruiting video
Also known as: recruiting highlight video, college recruiting tape, athlete highlight video
A short highlight video a high school athlete sends to college coaches so they can judge ability quickly and decide whether to watch more.
Updated
What it means
Coaches get far more videos than they can watch in full. A recruiting video is the first filter: a few minutes that show whether a player is worth a closer look, a call or a visit.
It is evidence, not entertainment. Where a Mixtape celebrates style, a recruiting tape has to show decisions, footwork and effort in situations a coach recognizes, often across several positions or games.
Most coaches who like what they see then ask for full Game film. The highlight opens the door, and the unedited matches confirm it was not a lucky afternoon.
How it works in practice
Put the strongest plays first. Many coaches stop after the opening half minute, so the best three clips belong at the very start rather than saved for a finale.
Make the athlete easy to find. A jersey number at the top and a short freeze before each play help when twenty bodies share the frame, and a Title card carries the name, position, school, grad year and contact details.
Keep it short. Three to five minutes is a common ceiling. For a younger player, footage from Youth soccer or club tournaments still works if the camera stayed wide and steady.
What to watch out for
Music matters less than parents think. Many coaches watch muted, and a loud track can make the tape feel like a mixtape instead of an evaluation.
Footage that has been sharpened, upscaled or otherwise touched by Generative AI tools can raise doubts about whether the plays are real. Clean original footage is safer.
Bad sharing loses chances. A link that asks for access, or a file too large to open on a phone, often ends with the coach simply moving on, so check Google Drive link sharing settings before sending.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip can find the plays inside long match recordings, which shortens the hunt through hours of footage. It does not add the jersey arrows, freeze frames or contact cards a recruiting tape needs, so treat its highlight as raw material for a Cut-down you finish yourself.