PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS:    If you are unable to attend a tryout and would like to submit a Video Application to our Coaching Director, please print this form and send it with your video.  Click on your position below to view what to include in your video.

Producing a Highlight Video
(text from the High School Player's Guide to College Recruiting)

A highlight video allows us to evaluate your skills accurately.  By watching you on tape, we can assess your speed, arm strength, hitting, and fielding abilities.  The footage doesn't lie!

We are not critiquing your video editing skills, so don't worry about making yours look like a segment on ESPN.  Here are the steps you need to take:

• You will need two people to help you:  A cameraman and someone to play catcher (if you're a pitcher), play 3B (if you're an outfielder), or 1B (if you're an infielder). 

• Shoot the footage in a practice setting.  Do not attempt to get game footage -  it's too difficult to get useful shots.  Use your local field, gym (if it's too cold), or a batting cage.  If you already have good game clips, you can include them.  This usually works best for pitchers.

• Get right to the action!  Edit out all dead time periods where there is no action (i.e. the five seconds you take adjusting your batting gloves and getting ready in between cuts). 

• Limit the length of the tape to four minutes.

• Use a tripod at all times so the camera doesn't shake. 

• Tell the cameraman or anyone within earshot to avoid "cheerleading" by saying things like, "Great hit!" or "Cannon arm!"  The only sound should come from the crack of the bat or the ball popping in your glove.

• Make sure to shoot from angles we recommend.

• If you have access to video-editing software, you can shoot all the footage and edit it at home on your computer.  If you don't, you will need to record over clips you do not want to include (i.e. a grounder that goes through your legs).  The tape should only feature your best performances. 

• Convert the finished tape to VHS format.  Use a sticker to label the tape with your name, graduation year, position, address, and phone number.  Make sure to write the title - i.e. "Jeff Wilson's 4-minute highlight tape ('03 Grad)"

Introduction

Place the camera on a tripod a few feet away and introduce yourself.  Speak clearly and confidently. Include:

• Full name and date of birth

• School name and your coach's name

• City and state where you live

• Height & weight

• Position(s)

Click on your primary position:

PITCHER *  OUTFIELDER  *  MIDDLE INFIELDERS & 3RD BASEMEN  *  1ST BASEMEN  *  CATCHERS  *  HITTING  * RUNNING

We will let you know our decision within three weeks of receiving your Video Application.  Unfortunately, we are unable to return videos unless you include a postage-paid envelope with your mailing.

PITCHERS

Shots 1-12:  Place the camera half way between home plate and the mound.  It should be slightly toward 3B if you're a righty, or slightly toward first base if you're a lefty.   Avoid filming from the behind the catcher or backstop; it's too far away.  We wants to evaluate your mechanics.   If you have a radar gun, place it behind the catcher and cut to a quick clip of it one time for each type of pitch you throw.

Shots 13-21:  Place the camera behind the pitcher and capture the flight of the ball to the catcher.  It should be positioned slightly toward SS if you're a righty, or slightly toward 2B's position if you're a lefty.

OUTFIELDERS  --  Stand in right field, about 260 feet field from the plate. 

Shots 1-4:  Place the camera at the 2B's position.  The cameraman should get a close up of you so we can evaluate your footwork, positioning, and mechanics.   Keep the camera focused on you - do not let the cameraman follow the flight of the ball.  Make sure to throw a line-drive, one-hopper to 3B.  You can use a cut-off man in the infield for a target only, but do not let him cut the ball.

Shots 5-10:  Place the camera behind the third base line and then behind the catcher so the coach can evaluate the flight of the ball. 

If you have a radar gun, place it near home plate and cut to a quick clip of it one time during each sequence.

MIDDLE INFIELDERS & THIRD BASEMEN -- Stand at deep SS

Shots 1-6:  Place the camera between the mound and home plate.  Have the cameraman focus on you and capture all your movements in the frame and the last 15 feet or so of the ball before it reaches you.  We want to evaluate your hands, footwork, the way you circle the ball, and your throwing mechanics.

Shots 7-12:  Place the camera behind 1B so the coach can see the flight of the ball. 

If you have a radar gun, place it behind 1B (RG) and cut to a quick clip of the reading one time.

FIRST BASEMEN -- Stand at deep 1B so you'll have a long throw across the diamond.

Shots 1-5:  Place the camera between the mound and home plate.  Have the cameraman focus on you and capture all your movements in the frame and the last 15 feet or so of the ball before it reaches you. The coach wants to evaluate your hands, footwork, and your throwing mechanics.

Shots 6-10:  Place the camera behind 3B.  Have the cameraman focus on you and the flight of the ball.  We want to evaluate your footwork, arm strength and throwing accuracy.

If you have a radar gun, place it behind 3B and cut to a quick clip of the reading one time.

CATCHERS -- Get in your crouch behind the plate and wear your full equipment.  Have the pitcher stand about 40 feet away and throw batting practice speed pitches to you.  You will need a stopwatch to record your pop to pop time (the time it takes from the instant the ball hits your glove until it hits the 2B's glove). 

Shots 1-9:  Place the camera between home plate and the mound so the coach can see how you block the ball, frame the ball, your footwork, quickness, and your throwing mechanics.

Shots 10-11:  Place the camera behind 2B so we can evaluate the flight of your throw during a steal situation.

If you have a radar gun, place it behind 2B and cut to a quick clip of the reading one time.   Cut to a quick clip of the stopwatch after shots 1 and 2.

HITTING  Place the camera about 10 feet away so your whole body fills the screen.  If you're a righty, place the camera near the 1B batting circle.  If you're a lefty, place the camera near the 3B batting circle.  We are evaluating your stance, bat speed, balance, and swing mechanics.  Take about 15 swings.

If you are primarily a pitcher, you do not need to video your hitting on the tape unless your skills are exceptional.

RUNNING

We want to evaluate your foot speed and quickness.  You will need a stopwatch.  Place the camera about 10 feet behind the finish line.

Shot 1:  Get in your batting stance and have someone throw a slow pitch to you.  Swing as if it were a game situation, drop the bat, and sprint down the line.  Start the stopwatch the moment contact is made with the ball and stop it when you touch 1B.  Just run one time and cut to a quick clip of the reading on the stopwatch. 

Shot 2:  If you don't have a tape measure to mark off 60 yards, use your school's football field.  Just run one time and cut to a quick clip of the reading on the stopwatch.