The coronavirus pandemic has created new challenges for high school student-athletes and coaches alike. But with the right tools, the dead period can also create new opportunities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the sports world at all levels, but the college sports landscape may have been hit the hardest. From both a competitive standpoint and a recruiting perspective, coaches and prospective student-athletes are navigating a socially distanced, technology-driven new terrain.
The NCAA for the fifth time this year has extended its dead period, now to September 30th, which means; "a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write and telephone student-athletes or their parents during a dead period," This means communication is still possible - it just can't happen in person.
Contrary to popular belief among many players and parents, recruiting is not dead during a "dead period." Many coaches are committing players without ever seeing them play in person, and video has never been more critical in the process.
At CSA, we craft expert recruiting videos and game tape highlights for each of our student-athletes. While there is a great deal of nuance in tailoring these videos to the player and their strengths, there are still many best practices that apply across the board.
Here are some of our essential tips for capturing top-quality recruitment videos.
Always capture video in landscape (horizontal) aspect ratio.
Make sure the screen angle is straight.
Watch the screen - not the game - as you capture the video to maintain the camera's focus and angle.
Do not follow the ball flight or base runner. Keep your shot still.
Start and stop each clip with a new at-bat/hitter.
Hitters:
Film from directly behind home plate OR the open side (first base side for a right-handed hitter / third base side for a left-handed hitter).
Place the camera directly against the screen/fence to minimize obstruction OR capture the shot with good depth behind the screen/net, so it is not in focus.
Pitchers:
The behind-home plate view is preferable
If you capture the open side (first base side for a left-handed pitcher/third base side for a right-handed pitcher) keep the shot tight on the mound only
Place the camera directly against the screen/fence to minimize obstruction OR capture the shot with good depth behind the screen/net, so it is not in focus
Tag us in your videos at @collegesportsadvisors on Instagram or Facebook, or @CSA_Advisors on Twitter, and we’ll repost our favorites!
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