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- So You Want To Play College Soccer? - July Soccer Camps: Your Last Chance to Impress College Coaches This Summer!
So You Want To Play College Soccer? - July Soccer Camps: Your Last Chance to Impress College Coaches This Summer!
Your First Step to College Recruiting: Crafting a Standout Highlight Video
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In Today’s Daily Edition
Welcome to our essential daily blog series on college recruitment! Whether you're just beginning your journey or are already deep into the process, this series is designed with you in mind. We'll delve into crucial topics like crafting an impressive highlight video, developing a strategic college list, and mastering the art of securing scholarships. Regardless of where you stand, our series is filled with essential tips and guidance to propel you towards success. Join us every day as we equip you with the insights and tools necessary to confidently navigate the recruitment landscape.
July Soccer Camps: Your Last Chance to Impress College Coaches
Your First Step to College Recruiting: Crafting a Standout Highlight Video
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July Soccer Recruiting Camps: A Key Opportunity for Student-Athletes
For student-athletes striving to play soccer at the collegiate level, July is a pivotal month. With the recruiting calendar nearing its summer peak, July offers one final window before college coaches shift their focus entirely to preseason preparations in August. This makes it an ideal time to make an impression, attend ID camps, and connect with programs that align with your goals.
Multi-School Soccer Camps in the Northeast
Boys Multi-School Camps
Girls Multi-School Camps
School-Specific Camps and Additional Resources
While multi-school camps are perfect for broad exposure, school-specific camps are ideal for athletes targeting a particular program. These camps often provide a deeper look at the team culture, coaching styles, and facilities. If you’re considering this path, here are some helpful resources to start your search for school-specific opportunities.
Tips for Making the Most of Summer Soccer Camps
Do Your Research
Before committing to a camp, research the list of attending schools and ensure it aligns with your recruiting goals.Create a Highlight Reel
A polished video showcasing your strengths can set you apart from other players even before the event starts. Make sure to reach out to College Coaches prior to attending.Take Advantage of Networking Opportunities
Engage with the coaching staff and make a lasting impression.Follow Up
After the camp, send thank-you emails to coaches you connected with.
Final Thoughts
July is a crucial month for student-athletes to take charge of their soccer recruiting journeys. With preseason just around the corner, this is your last chance to make an impression on college coaches for the summer. Multi-school camps are a great way to gain exposure while accessing invaluable feedback to enhance your game.
Start preparing now, research camps that align with your goals, and approach each event with confidence and focus. Whether through multi-school showcases or targeted school-specific camps, the effort you invest in July can pay off greatly when it comes to achieving your dreams of playing collegiate soccer.
Good luck, you’ve got this!
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Your First Step to College Recruiting: Crafting a Standout Highlight Video
When it comes to college recruiting, a standout highlight video can be your key to opening doors to exciting opportunities. This essential tool showcases your talent, grabs the attention of busy college coaches, and helps you stand out in a competitive field.
A great highlight video isn’t just about featuring your best moments—it’s about presenting a compelling snapshot of your abilities and potential. This guide will walk you through the steps to create a professional, effective highlight video for college recruiting.
Why Start with a Highlight Video?
The recruiting process can be overwhelming, but the best starting point is creating a quality highlight video. College coaches often rely on these videos as an initial introduction to prospective athletes.
Coaches are extremely busy and can’t attend every game in person. Highlight videos save time by providing a concise and focused showcase of your abilities. Here’s an impactful statistic to consider: profiles with highlight videos get 10 times more traffic than those without.
Even if you’re a freshman, it’s smart to start collecting footage now. Whether it’s practice drills, scrimmages, or games, building a library over time allows you to document your growth and development effectively.
10 Tips for Crafting an Effective Highlight Video
1. Include the Right Footage
Your highlight video should feature impactful moments that demonstrate your skills, such as goals, assists, smart decisions, and technical abilities. Focus on gameplay that shows your capabilities in key areas like ball control, passing, shooting, and defensive tactics.
2. Keep It Concise
Aim for a video length of 3–5 minutes. College coaches have limited time, so ensure every second counts.
3. Lead with Your Best Clips
The first 20–30 seconds are critical. Start with your strongest plays to immediately capture interest.
4. Use Freeze Frames and Spot Shadows
Make it easy for coaches to identify you on the field by using visual aids like freeze frames, arrows, or spot shadows. These tools help coaches quickly understand your role in the play.
5. Showcase a Range of Skills
Highlight your versatility by including clips that display different strengths. For example, show passing accuracy, tactical awareness, leadership, and transitions between defense and offense.
6. Add Position-Specific Highlights
If you're a defender, include clean tackles, aerial interceptions, effective ball distribution, and moments where you demonstrate strong positioning under pressure.
7. Focus on Quality Production
Ensure your video features clear, professional-grade footage. Avoid shaky or blurry clips, as poor quality can distract from your performance.
8. Avoid Over-Editing
Keep the editing simple and professional. Avoid flashy effects or distracting background music. Simple soundtracks or no music at all are often best.
9. Include Key Information Up Front
Open your video with a title screen featuring essential details, such as:
Your full name
High school
Jersey number
Position
Graduation year
Contact information (email or phone number)
10. Learn from Successful Examples
Study high-quality highlight videos created by current or former recruits in your sport. Use their structure as inspiration and note effective strategies, such as smart transitions and clear markers.
Common Questions About Highlight Videos
How Many Videos Should My Athlete Make?
Start with a single “best-of” video showcasing your top highlights. Over time, consider creating additional videos for specific events, tournaments, or impressive games.
How Often Should the Video Be Updated?
Update your video whenever you capture new footage that showcases growth, improvements, or major achievements. This keeps college coaches engaged and demonstrates your ongoing development.
From Highlights to Scholarships
A standout highlight video is one of the most impactful tools in the recruiting process. It serves as more than just a highlight reel—it’s a representation of your skills, ambition, and commitment to pursuing a collegiate athletic career.
By following these steps, you’ll create a professional and compelling video that grabs the attention of college coaches and positions you as a serious recruit. Remember, preparation and thoughtfulness go a long way in making a powerful first impression. Good luck!
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About: Steve Coxon College Soccer Network
Steve has 20 years of college-level experience, 17+ years in D1 as the Head Recruiter. He has facilitated more than $30 million in college scholarships.
Location - Connecticut, USA