| In recent years, watching video of opposing | | | | your video to the program, then you simply copy |
| pitchers and hitters has become an invaluable tool | | | | and paste frames as you need them. At the end, |
| for major league and college baseball teams. It is | | | | you can even add your own music (keep in mind |
| also a fantastic way for hitters and pitchers to | | | | if you load to YouTube there are rules about |
| diagnose flaws in their own mechanics. Now more | | | | music). A YouTube account is free, takes about 2 |
| than ever, video is a huge part of the recruiting | | | | minutes to create, and allows you to share your |
| process. With the popularity and affordability of | | | | baseball recruiting video with the world. |
| digital video cameras, and the ease of which the | | | | Finally, a radar gun and stopwatch are vital. If you |
| formats can be uploaded, edited and emailed, | | | | do not have one, I recommend borrowing them |
| video is now a big part of the recruiting process. | | | | from your high school coach, or renting one for a |
| Having a recruiting video is not necessarily a new | | | | day. A JUGS or STALKER gun are preferred. |
| concept, but it has come a long way from | | | | There is a reason I recommend this so strongly. |
| bringing the bulky camcorder out, recording a VHS | | | | It is quite common for players, or even high |
| tape and sending out recruiting packs that | | | | school coaches to overestimate the ability of a |
| required a decent amount of postage. There are | | | | given player. College baseball coaches can be very |
| several ways to go about creating an effective | | | | apprehensive about this. It is one thing for a |
| video, and we can review a few in this article. | | | | pitcher to email a coach and say that he throws |
| First off, a player needs to decide who will | | | | 85mph. |
| actually be shooting the footage. For those with | | | | Now, if someone can hold a radar gun in front of |
| the means, a good sports videographer can be | | | | the camera as the pitcher throws showing the |
| hired. The advantage of this is that the | | | | reading at 85mph, THAT is something that will |
| cameraman will know which camera angles to | | | | excite a coach and can separate your video from |
| use, will have all of the necessary equipment | | | | that of another player! By the same token, a |
| (which will typically be high quality), and they will | | | | stopwatch can be used to show a player run |
| normally provide the editing, conversion to DVD | | | | from home to first, or a 60 yard dash (do this on |
| and add music or other effects. However, there | | | | a football field or somewhere that the distance is |
| are a couple of downsides. One is obviously price. | | | | clearly defined). If you can do this, it is much to |
| Ive seen anywhere from $200-$600 for this | | | | closer to what it is like for a coach to see you at |
| service. | | | | a showcase. |
| You can shop around in your area. To me, the | | | | Finally, once you have a video you are satisfied |
| bigger drawback is time. If you are looking to hire | | | | with, you need to determine how to distribute it |
| a videographer, you will usually have one day to | | | | to college coaches. There are many recruiting |
| work with them. You may even be limited to a | | | | services that can assist with this that have |
| few hours. This is fine if you are using workout | | | | different functions. Two popular services are |
| footage only, you just have to make sure that | | | | NCSA and Perfect Game, but you often have to |
| you get enough good footage to put on tape. If a | | | | attend their showcases in order to have the |
| player were to have their parents do this, they | | | | video posted on their site. If you are making your |
| could accumulate footage over a much longer | | | | own video, Baseball Recruits Online provides a |
| period of time. | | | | cheap way to email video to coaches and has |
| If you decide to create your own video, here is | | | | position by position tutorials on exactly how to |
| what you will need.o Digital Video Camera and | | | | make a recruiting video for a player with sample |
| Tape or Memory Cardo Tripod (video can be | | | | templates to follow. When you send the video to |
| done without a tripod if you have a steady | | | | a coach, the proper procedure to follow would be |
| hand)o Video Editing Softwareo YouTube | | | | to begin with programs you are interested in |
| Accounto Radar Gun and Stopwatch | | | | (don't send to every coach in America!), and then |
| Just to walk you through the necessary | | | | have the player (not parent) make a follow up call |
| components, the camera and tape are obvious. | | | | to verify that the coach received the video. A |
| Your equipment should come with a USB cord, | | | | good time to do all of this is before the player's |
| CD or memory stick that allows you to upload | | | | junior year of high school. |
| the video file onto your computer. Once the video | | | | Remember... don't expect your recruiting video to |
| is loaded, you will want to edit it. Coaches prefer | | | | get you a scholarship offer. You are simply |
| baseball recruiting videos to be about 5 minutes | | | | attracting a coaches attention in hopes that he will |
| long at a maximum. If you are taping a hitter for | | | | come see you at a game or showcase, or invite |
| example, you will want to move dead time on the | | | | you to campus for a workout. That is when the |
| video, bad swings, etc. Keep a coaches attention | | | | offers will come. Keep a good attitude, improve |
| with as much action as possible. Most computers | | | | your game, keep your grades up, and you will find |
| come with a program called Windows Movie | | | | a place to play ball at the next level. |
| Maker, which is very easy to use. You import | | | | |