How to Make a Volleyball Highlight Video

International students: US colleges recruit players from many countries. The NCAA Eligibility Center reviews academic records from your country's school system (official transcripts plus certified English translations) and also certifies your amateur status. Start early and see Eligibility.

A volleyball highlight video is a short clip reel, usually 3–5 minutes, that shows a coach (for example a US college coach, a university team or a club) your best skills in real game play. Put your best 10 clips first, make it obvious which player you are, and film from behind the end line so the coach sees the whole court. Then add a link to a full, unedited set so the coach can see how you play between highlights.

Target length

3–5 minutes

Best clips

In the first 30 seconds

Camera spot

Behind the end line, raised

Update

After each big tournament

Also send

1 full unedited set

What to put at the start

Open with a simple title card (3–5 seconds):

• Name, graduation year, position(s)
• Height in cm and ft/in (and standing reach / approach touch if measured)
• Club team and jersey number, school
• GPA (optional) and email address

Then go straight to your best clips. Many coaches decide in the first 30 seconds whether to keep watching.

Skills to show by position

• Outside hitter: Serve receive passes, kills from the left side and back row, transition attacks, blocks, a few serves.
• Opposite / right side: Kills from the right side, blocks on the opponent's outside hitter, back-row attacks, defense.
• Middle blocker: Blocking footwork and reads, quick attacks (1s, slides, 31s), transition after blocking, serves.
• Setter: Sets to all hitters from good and bad passes, jump sets, dumps, blocks, defense, serves.
• Libero / defensive specialist: Lots of serve receive from different zones, hard-driven digs, pursuit plays, overhand and forearm sets, serves (if you serve).

Aim for variety: a coach wants to see you succeed in different rotations, not 30 copies of one shot.

Filming tips

• Camera position: Behind the end line, raised (a tripod on raised seating or a balcony is ideal), centered on the court. The coach should see both sides of the net.
• Hold still: Use a tripod. Avoid zooming in and out or following the ball with the camera.
• Start a second early: Begin each clip a moment before your contact and end a moment after, so the coach sees your footwork and recovery.
• Make yourself easy to spot: Use a brief spot marker or circle for one second at the start of each clip, or say your jersey number on the title card. Skip music, slow motion and flashy effects.
• Use real match footage: Game clips are worth more than drill clips. A short skills section is fine if you have little match footage.
• Safety first when filming practice: If you film jumping drills, warm up properly and land on two feet with soft knees (see Warm-Up and Common Injuries).

Where to upload: YouTube or Hudl

• YouTube: Free and works on any device. Upload as “Unlisted” so coaches can watch without searching. Put your name, grad year and position in the title.
• Hudl: Many school and club teams already film on Hudl, which makes clipping easy. Check that your link opens without the coach needing to log in.
• Either way, test the link in a private browser window before you send it.

Keep it fresh

Make a new version after each major tournament or every few months. Your newest video should always be at the top of your email signature and player profile. For what to write when you send it, see How to Email US College Volleyball Coaches.

Deep dive: highlights vs. full-set film

A highlight reel shows what you can do at your best. A full, unedited set shows how often you do it, how you move when the ball isn't coming to you and how you react after a mistake. Many coaches want both. Send the highlight link first and offer the full set — or include both links in the same email.

Watch it

Video: Rox Volleyball-Media on YouTube. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.

Frequently asked questions