How to Use Athlete Highlights for Recruiting: A Complete Guide for Athletes, Parents, and Coaches

College recruiting has changed.

Gone are the days of mailing VHS tapes to college coaches. Gone are the days of waiting for a scout to show up at your game.

In 2025, recruiting happens digitally. On phones. With video.

If you're an athlete trying to get recruited, you need a highlight reel. Period.

This guide shows you how to build one, share it effectively, and stand out from the competition.

Why Highlight Reels Matter

College Coaches Don't Have Time for Full Games

A college coach evaluating recruits doesn't have time to watch your entire season.

They need to see:
- Your best plays
- Your athleticism
- Your technique
- Your competitive level

In 2-3 minutes.

That's what a highlight reel does. It showcases your best work, efficiently.

First Impressions Matter

When a college coach meets you at a showcase, camp, or tournament - you have ONE chance to make an impression.

If they ask to see film and you say "Uh, I can text you some clips" or "Check my Instagram" - you look unprepared.

Having a professional highlight reel ready shows you're serious.

What Makes a Good Highlight Reel?

1. Quality Over Quantity

DON'T: Include 50 clips of mediocre plays

DO: Include 10 clips of your absolute BEST work

College coaches would rather watch 10 elite plays than scroll through 50 average ones.

2. Show Variety

Depending on your sport, show:

Wrestling: Takedowns, escapes, pins, scrambles, different opponents
Football: Big plays, technique reps, different situations (games, camps, 7v7)
Baseball: Hitting, fielding, base running, competitive at-bats
Track: PRs, race footage, technique work across events

3. Competitive Context Matters

A great play against elite competition > a great play against weak competition.

If you're wrestling at a national tournament, that carries weight.

If you're hitting against a D1-commit pitcher, that matters.

Show yourself competing at the highest level possible.

4. Keep It Short

Ideal length: 2-3 minutes

Each clip: 5-15 seconds

If a college coach is interested, they'll ask for more. Start with your best stuff, concise.

How to Build Your Highlight Reel

Step 1: Collect Your Footage

Where does your footage come from?

Your coach filming at games/matches
Tournament livestreams (download and clip)
Practice footage (technique work, scrimmages)
Showcase and camp footage
Film from recruiting events

Gather everything. You'll select the best later.

Step 2: Select Your Top 10 Clips

Review all your footage. Be HONEST with yourself (or have your coach help).

Which clips show you at your best?

Athleticism
Skill
Competitive spirit
Technique

Pick your top 10. These become your highlights.

Step 3: Organize Your Highlights

With Coach Feedback:

Upload your clips to the app
Tag your top 10 as "Highlights"
Your public athlete profile is automatically created
You get a unique QR code to share

Without Coach Feedback:

You'll need to:
- Edit clips together (iMovie, Adobe Premiere, etc.)
- Export the final video
- Upload to YouTube or Hudl
- Share the link manually

The Coach Feedback method is simpler: tag clips, done.

How to Share Your Highlights

At Showcases and Camps

This is where the QR code shines.

Old way:
College coach: "Do you have film?"
Athlete: "Uh, yeah, I can text it to you..."
Fumbles with phone. Types in number. Hopes they actually watch it.

New way:
College coach: "Do you have film?"
Athlete: Hands them QR code card
Coach: Scans. Instantly watching highlights.

Professional. Simple. Memorable.

In Emails to College Coaches

When emailing college coaches, include:

Brief introduction (name, grad year, position, school)
Your measurables (height, weight, speed, etc.)
Link to your highlight reel (or QR code image)
Contact info

Example:

"Coach Smith,

I'm John Doe, Class of 2026, 160 lb wrestler from Point Loma High School (San Diego, CA).

Season highlights: 35-5 record, CIF finalist, 3x tournament champion

You can view my highlight reel here: [QR code image] or [link]

I'm very interested in [University] and would love to discuss opportunities.

Contact: john.doe@email.com | (555) 123-4567

Thanks,
John Doe"

On Social Media

Post your highlights on:
- Instagram (Reels)
- Twitter/X
- TikTok (if age-appropriate)

Tag relevant accounts:
- College programs you're interested in
- Recruiting services
- Your high school/club program

Use hashtags:

Recruiting2026 #WrestlingRecruit #[YourSport]Highlights

In Your Recruiting Profile

If you use recruiting platforms (Hudl, NCSA, BeRecruited, etc.), link your highlight reel.

Make it EASY for college coaches to find your best work.

What College Coaches Look For

1. Athleticism

Speed. Strength. Explosiveness. Agility.

Can you compete at the next level physically?

2. Technique

How sound is your fundamental technique?

Sloppy fundamentals = red flag
Clean technique = coachable athlete

3. Competitive Spirit

Do you compete hard? Do you finish plays? Do you show grit?

College coaches want competitors, not just talented athletes.

4. Consistency

One great play doesn't prove anything.

10 great plays across different opponents? Now you're showing consistency.

5. Upside

Are you still developing? Is there room to grow?

A wrestler who's technically sound at 160 lbs but projected to grow to 184? That's valuable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake 1: Too Long

A 10-minute highlight reel? College coaches won't watch it.

Keep it tight. 2-3 minutes max.

❌ Mistake 2: Low-Quality Footage

Grainy, shaky, poorly-lit footage makes you look unprofessional.

Use the best quality footage you have.

❌ Mistake 3: No Context

If you include a clip, add context:

Opponent name/level
Date/event
Your jersey number (if not obvious)

❌ Mistake 4: Only Highlights, No Contact Info

A college coach watches your reel. They're interested. How do they contact you?

Always include:
- Name
- Grad year
- Position/weight class
- Email
- Phone

❌ Mistake 5: Outdated Footage

Don't include highlights from 3 years ago when you were 30 lbs lighter.

Keep your reel current. Update it regularly.

For Parents: How to Support Your Athlete

1. Film Consistently

Bring your phone to every game, match, meet, tournament.

You don't need expensive equipment. Your phone camera is fine.

Film from a good angle. Keep it steady. Capture the whole play.

2. Help Them Organize

Athletes are busy. Help them:
- Organize footage by date/event
- Identify their best plays
- Build their highlight reel

3. Advocate Smartly

It's great to support your athlete. But let THEM lead the recruiting process.

College coaches want to hear from the athlete, not just the parent.

4. Use the Right Tools

Coach Feedback makes this process simple:

Coach films at practice/games
Athlete tags their best clips as highlights
Public profile is created automatically
QR code for easy sharing

Athletes use it FREE. No barrier to building a professional recruiting portfolio.

For Coaches: How to Help Your Athletes Get Recruited

1. Film Consistently

Make it part of your program culture. Film games, matches, meets.

Your athletes need footage. Help them collect it.

2. Give Them Access

Don't hoard the footage. Share it with athletes.

Let them build their own highlight reels.

3. Provide Guidance

Which clips showcase them best?

Help them select their top plays. Give honest feedback.

4. Connect Them with College Coaches

If you have relationships with college coaches, make introductions.

"Coach, I have a 170 lb wrestler you should look at. Solid technique, great work ethic. Here's his reel."

Conclusion

Recruiting is competitive.

Thousands of athletes want the same college roster spots.

You need every advantage you can get.

A professional highlight reel is non-negotiable.

It shows you're serious. It showcases your best work. It makes college coaches' jobs easier.