Highlight tapes are vital in the recruiting process, it is important for recruits to tailor  their highlight tape depending on what sport they want to play in college. From past experiences with college coaches they have consistently asked for three different parts:

Highlight Video

   The highlight portion of your tape is your chance to show college coaches your best plays in your high school career. With most highlight tapes a coach will make a decision on either to pursue you as a recruit or take you off of their recruiting list. There are many different opinions on how many clips should be put on a highlight tape. StudentBlitz feels that you should create your highlight tape from a coaches perspective, how much time do you think a coach is going to spend on each highlight tape. College coaches view hundreds of tapes each year, so try and keep your highlights anywhere between 20-30 plays and under 5 minutes if possible.

   When deciding on which plays to pick the quality of the video is as important as the quality of the play. Parents can sometimes help their son or daughter out by video taping the games themselves. Also speak with your head coach and ask if he can supply you with the games tapes from the past season.

   StudentBlitz highly recommends that before each play you highlight yourself on the field or court. This way coaches know exactly where you and takes out the guessing. The last thing you want is for a coach to throw away your highlight tape because it was to difficult to see exactly where you were on the field.

Full Game Tape

   After a college coach watches your highlight tape he should be impressed and want to see more of you. College coaches can learn a lot from your highlight tape, but they can learn almost everything they need to know about you as a player from your full game tape. Does the player take plays off, his attitude and demeanor around his teammates, how hard he plays on every single play and many other things that a highlight tape is unable to show. For some recruits these full game tapes may be even more important than the highlight video.

   As a recruit, it is imperative that you pick your best game of the season. If the coaches are really interested they may spend an hour to watch the entire game to see what type of player you are from start to finish. Your performance, the effort you put forth and your ability on the full game tape is important. Coaches will sometimes request even more tape after this as well.

Contact & Other Important Information

   StudentBlitz recommends that at the beginning of the tape you include your athletic information your jersey number on the tape, height, weight, bench press, 40 time, squat, vertical jump, wingspan and anything else of interest.  At the end of the highlight is where you can include your contact information which includes:  home phone number, cell phone number, email address, and home address. You should try and include your coaches phone number, email address and your school's address because many times college coaches can't speak to prospective recruits but they can always talk to your coach.

   Do you have a highlight tape complete, and want to send it out to college coaches? The StudentBlitz database of college coaches can give you access to hundreds of NCAA & NAIA programs for FREE. Fill out the form above to take your game to the next level.......