Highlight Reel Info & Tips
This highlight reel section is broken down into two parts:
1) GENERAL GUIDANCE
2) POSITION SPECIFIC GUIDANCE
GENERAL GUIDANCE
1. Include Basic Details
If you have a hi-res image of yourself, that’s ideal. Otherwise any image of you is fine. Include text with basic info such as name, height, weight, dominant foot and academic score. You can add info like club(s) and position(s) that you play if you want.
2. No Music
Please do not include background music. No coach or scout wants to listen to a hip-hop track while watching your highlights. Natural background noise is fine. Don’t include close-up video or slow-motion clips. You should get film from an elevated position if possible and include as much of the field as you can. Coaches want to see your decision making and movement in relation to each specific situation.
3. Best Clips First 30 Seconds
Put your most impressive clips in the first 30 seconds of the video. Highlight whatever it is that you are outstanding at, what sets you apart from others. It might be exceptional finishing ability, vicious tackles, amazing athleticism and speed on recovery runs, towering headers, big switches of play with both feet, outstanding passing ability etc. You get the idea!
4. Demonstrate Quality In All Areas Of The Game
Use the rest of the video to demonstrate your proficiency in all areas of the game, or at least the main areas that relate to your position(s). See below:
- Passing over short and long distances (both feet if possible)
- Winning 50/50 challenges on the ground and in the air
- First touch
- Decision making in tight spaces
- Decision making to create chances
- Finishing
- Assists
- Recovery runs
And for goalkeepers:
- Shot stopping
- Ability to play with your feet
- Passing range and quality
- Aerial domination
- 1v1s
- Intercepting through balls
Once you’ve done all of this, when you contact coaches or scouts, you can also include links to one or two full games if you have that available.
POSITION SPECIFIC GUIDANCE
Try to include the position-specific clips below in the first 30 seconds of your reel to create a positive impact with coaches you contact:
Position: GOALKEEPER
- Point-blank reaction save
- Confident aerial take from a corner or set-piece
- Long pass to launch an attack
- Race off line to intercept a through ball and regain possession
Position: CENTER BACK
- Crunching tackle or strong header that sends a message to everyone on the field
- Confidence to dribble out of the back and keep possession
- Long ball pinged to the wingers feet or set play header finish
- Full back gets beat & you race over to save them with a great slide tackle (bonus points if you slide and win the ball, jump up & begin an attack)
Position: FULL BACK
- Overlap to assist a goal or create a chance
- Creative movement in tight spaces and retain possession
- Run from deep and score
- Strong tackle to prevent an attack or win back possession
Position: DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
- Long pass to create an opening
- Intelligent positioning to stop an attack by opponents
- Movement to receive ball from defenders or keeper and connect with attack
- Strong tackle to regain possession
Position: ATTACKING MIDFIELD
- Controlling a sequence & rhythm that leads to a chance created
- Banger goal from distance
- Intelligent assist pass for a goal
- Tough tackle & quick pass to launch a counter attack
Position: WINGER
- Skipping past an opponent 1v1 & sprinting to the byline for a driven cross & assist
- Getting on the other end of a cross & finishing
- Movement to create space and separate yourself from opponent before driving at the defense
- Racing back to defend and make a tackle
Position: STRIKER
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Header goal
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Clinical back-post finish
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Clever diagonal run to create a scoring chance
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Loss of possession and track back to win the ball
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