Freshman asks about making a college skills tape

Question
Hey!
i was wondering how and where i could record my skills video?
and what should be on it.
im a libero and i want to play college ball.

Answer
Good evening and welcome back to www.allexpert.com!  

Since you're a freshman in high school, I wouldn't do a skills tape yet.  I would wait until the end of your sophomore year, or the beginning of your junior year.

Furthermore, if you're hoping play at the "University of Awful Volleyball," the video isn't even necessary.  Just email the coach, tell him/her you're interested, and show up at tryouts in August 2005.  If you've played just 1 or 2 seasons in school, you can make their team and maybe even help them out!  

But, that's probably not what you're interested in.  Even if you're thinking of attending a small school, you probably want to play for a competent coach and join a team that will win some matches.  Therefore, you need to show your entire game on your video.  If I were a college coach, and you just showed me passing & digging, I might want you to join my team, but I'd email you and say, "I like your tape, you look like a good player, but i want to see the rest of your game.  Send me another tape with x, y & z on it."   

Hey Memie, almost no one buys a boom box, a CD player, a car, etc. without trying it out.  So don't ask a coach to "buy" you by just looking at the cover.  You need to send a coach more than just the surface of your game........show him/her all of it.

Another comment about sending the coach a video of your entire game:  The coach may want to use you at a libero, or maybe NOT!!  The coach may see something else in your game that your present coach doesn't see/need.  The college coach may see strength, jumping, fast arm, heart, etc and have other plans for those skills.   Then, on the other hand, even if you send the coach a video of your complete game, the coach may not see enough in your game to want you at all.  Sorry to say that, but it could happen.  You're really better off if the coach knows your entire game up front so he/she can make an intelligent & informed decision about you.

OK, let's talk about what to put on a skills tape:  

1) When you make a tape, you should have a proper spike approach and you should be a decent hitter.  So, yes, you should put that on your tape.  Show the coach that you can hit the high outside set, the high back set, and ESPECIALLY the back row set!  All players can hit back row regardless of their height.  From what you said in your question, I'll assume that you're not a bombing hitter.  No problem.  Just put on the tape what you have.

2) Can you serve to location?  Can you serve floaters?  spinners?  Can you jump serve?  Do you have a jump floater.  Put all that on the tape.

3) Not only should you know how to hit, but you should know how to set.  You should be able to set a high ball to a front row player or a back row play when you are in the front row or back row.  Put that on your tape.

4) Finish the tape with some game footage where you're easily visible.  I mean easily!  Don't edit it.  Let the coach see you play for about 15 minutes.

The entire tape should last about 30 minutes.  No coach is going to watch 60 or 90 minutes.  In fact, the coach can usually make a judgement on a player in about 5 minutes!  So put your best stuff at the beginning.  And for you, that would be passing/digging and maybe serving.

Some people want to hire someone to make professional videos.  But after 24 years of coaching, not one of my players has had that done.  I got an email last year from a guy who said, "I make videos and you're wrong, Coach Houser.  My videos get kids scholarships."  Nope, the KIDS got the scholarships and they would have gotten them even if the video had been made by their dad!  But he sent me one.  Yeah, it was nice to watch, but a fancy tape with music, captions & slow motion wouldn't affect my decision.  I want players.  I want good attitudes.  I want girls who can keep their grades up.  And a $500 video ONLY shows me whether or not she can play volleyball.   

Please visit me again at www.allexperts.com!  And have you visited www.coachhouser.com?  If you haven't, I'll give you another try!  haha