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Recruiting guide
Soccer recruiting video: highlight and full game
A soccer recruiting video is two things: a highlight of 3 to 5 minutes with your best clips first, and at least 1 full game. Coaches use the highlight to decide whether to keep watching and the full game to see how you play the other 89 minutes. Here is what to include for your position and how to post it.
By Kenneth Scott, Co-founder of REACH, former Utah Football captain
Updated November 10, 2026
How long should a soccer highlight video be?
Keep your soccer highlight video to three to five minutes, with your best clips in the first 30 seconds. Coaches watch a lot of film and often decide in the opening clips whether to keep going. Twenty to forty strong clips beat a long video, and each clip should start a few seconds before you touch the ball.
Start with your name, graduation year, position, club team and jersey number on one title card, then go straight to clips. Skip music if it distracts, and never use slow motion that hides your speed. General tips for any sport are in how to make a recruiting video.
Why do soccer coaches want a full game?
A highlight shows your best moments; a full game shows everything else. Coaches watch your positioning, work rate, decisions, communication and how you recover after a mistake. Send at least one recent full game against strong opponents, filmed from a high angle so the whole field and your movement off the ball are visible.
Veo and Trace cameras and most club livestreams record the whole field, which is what coaches want. Tell them your jersey number and the half or minute where you play best, so they can find you fast.
What clips should be in a soccer highlight for your position?
Show the work your position does most. Defenders: 1v1 defending, clearances, headers and passes out of the back. Midfielders: passing under pressure, switching play, winning the ball and assists. Forwards and wingers: runs behind, take-ons, crosses and finishing. Goalkeepers: shot stopping, crosses, distribution and organizing the back line.
| Position | Clips coaches look for |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Saves, high balls and crosses, 1v1s, distribution with hands and feet, communication |
| Center back | Winning headers, 1v1 defending, recovery runs, passes that break lines |
| Outside back or wingback | Recovery speed, overlaps, crosses, 1v1 defending |
| Defensive or central midfielder | Ball winning, passing under pressure, switching play, scanning |
| Attacking midfielder or winger | Take-ons, chances created, assists, runs behind the line |
| Forward | Finishing with both feet and head, runs, holding up play, pressing |
What coaches look for at each position is in how to get recruited for college soccer.
Where should you post your soccer recruiting video?
Post it where one link opens on any phone with no login or paywall. Hudl and an unlisted YouTube video both work, and many clubs share Veo or Trace links. Put the highlight link and the full-game link in your email signature and on your recruiting profile, and update them every season.
Name the files and videos clearly: your name, graduation year, position and club team. When you have new film, send it to the coaches on your list. A fresh highlight is one of the best reasons to follow up, as in how to email college coaches.
How often should you update your soccer recruiting video?
Update your highlight after each club season or showcase, and swap in a new full game whenever you have a better one. Coaches want to see how you're improving, so recent clips matter more than older ones. A new video is also a good reason to email coaches again with something new.
Keep older clips only if they show something your new film doesn't, and drop anything from more than two seasons ago. How film fits into the rest of recruiting is in club soccer and recruiting.
How REACH helps with your soccer recruiting video
Add your highlight and full-game links to your REACH profile and they go into every coach email, with your position and club team, at the soccer programs where your grades and budget fit. REACH doesn't score your soccer: coaches decide on film. More is on the soccer recruiting page.
Questions
Should I put music on my soccer highlight video?
You can, quietly, but many coaches watch with the sound off. Clean clips with you clearly marked matter far more than music.
Do I need a professional to make my soccer video?
No. A clear, steady game film from a high angle and simple editing are enough. Coaches care about what you do on the field, not the production.
Can I use clips from high school games?
Yes. Use your best film from any team, club or high school. Say which team each part is from.
- Should I put music on my soccer highlight video?
- You can, quietly, but many coaches watch with the sound off. Clean clips with you clearly marked matter far more than music.
- Do I need a professional to make my soccer video?
- No. A clear, steady game film from a high angle and simple editing are enough. Coaches care about what you do on the field, not the production.
- Can I use clips from high school games?
- Yes. Use your best film from any team, club or high school. Say which team each part is from.
Sources: NFHS, 2024-25 High School Athletics Participation Survey.
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