A well-made baseball recruiting video is an important tool for high school baseball players trying to earn college baseball scholarships. Coaches don’t have the time to see every baseball recruit in person. That’s why a highlight video is an essential part of your online resume. It takes just a few minutes for a recruiting video to show baseball coaches what a high school recruit has to offer. For your highlight video to be effective, you need to know specifically what baseball coaches are looking for. In terms of recruiting videos, every sport is different and NCSA knows exactly what baseball coaches want to see. A baseball recruiting video should show skills clips that are specific to your position, but in-game footage isn’t necessary. Follow NCSA’s guidelines and create a standout recruiting video. If you do you’re taking the first step toward earning a baseball scholarship.
How to Film:
- Skills footage only. Do not send game footage.
- Each video you submit should include skills from every position you list on the Scouting Report. For example:
- A right-handed pitcher – Pitching
- A catcher/shortstop/right-handed pitcher – catching, fielding, hitting, and pitching on one video
- Skills footage should ideally be no more than 20 minutes in its unedited form.
- Dress in spikes, pants or shorts, a tucked in shirt and helmet when hitting. (A uniform is preferred – NO cut-off shirts).
- A tripod is highly recommended.
- Ideally station the camera 5 feet off the ground.
- The camera view should not be obstructed (backstop or fence).
- Do not zoom in and out.
- Focus on the player being taped so that they are clear and in focus, but not too close!
Pitchers:
- Begin recording these pitches AFTER a complete warm-up.
- We must be able to see the catcher catch the ball at all times.
- With RHP camera angle set up 3 ft. to the right and 5 ft. behind the mound to be able to see ball movement. LHP should be to the left.
- With camera angle set up 3 ft. behind the right-handed batters box for RHP and 3 ft. behind the left-handed batters box for LHP
- Log 10 varied pitches out of the stretch, with fastball at least 5 of them
- Log 10 varied pitches, with fastball at least 5 of them
- Log 10 varied pitches out of the stretch, with fastball at least 5 of them
- Log 10 varied pitches, with fastball at least 5 of them
60 Yard Dash:
- If you are only submitting pitching footage, the 60 yard dash is not necessary to include in your video footage
- Footage should be filmed either outside in the outfield or in a facility that is large enough
- Measure 60 yards (180 feet) from the outfield foul line towards center field
- Run this at least 2-3 times and send the footage of your best run, showing running form and speed
Hitting:
- The pitcher should throw batting practice type fastballs OR use a pitching machine
- Footage should be filmed either outside on a diamond or in a cage with a pitcher throwing batting practice type fastballs.
- No soft toss!
- Take seven swings max at a time. Then step out and rest for a few minutes.
- Also make sure you are using an aluminum bat. No wood bats!
- With camera angle behind the catcher area
- 15 SwingsWith camera angle 5 ft. directly to the right of the plate for right-handed hitters or left of the plate for left handed hitters.15 Swings
Shortstop and 2nd Basemen:
- Regardless if you are a SS or 2B, you will need to take your groundballs at SS in order to maximize range and arm strength.
- With camera angle positioned 4 ft. to the left of the mound for half AND 4 ft. behind short stop for half (must see 1st baseman catch the ball).
- 4 Feeds to 2B for double plays
- 4 Feeds from the 2B coming across the bag and making the throw to 1B. (Can also turn it as a second baseman receiving from the short stop if you are a second baseman.)
- 4 Slow Choppers hit directly at you.
- 4 Ground balls hit 8-10 feet to your right.
- 4 Groundballs hit 8-10 feet to your left.
- 8 Groundballs hit directly at you
Third Base:
- With the camera angle positioned 4 ft. to the right of the plate for half and 4 ft. behind the 3B (must see 1B catching the ball)
- 4 Slow Choppers hit directly at you
- 4 Groundballs hit directly to your right/backhand
- 4 Groundballs hit directly to your left
- 8 Groundballs hit directly at you
First Base:
- With the camera angle positioned 4 ft. to the left of the plate (half of the groundballs should be off the bag and half should be holding a runner on)
- 4 Groundballs hit directly at you
- 2 Groundballs hit directly to your left
- 2 Groundballs hit directly to your backhand
- 2 Slow Choppers hit directly at you
- With the camera angle positioned 4 ft. behind the 1B (half should off the bag and half should be holding a runner on). When throwing to 2B - must see 2B catch the ball in the camera angle.
- 4 Groundballs hit directly at you
- 2 Groundballs hit directly to your left
- 2 Groundballs hit directly to your backhand
- 2 Slow Choppers hit directly at you
- Do not forget to include your feeds to the pitcher in some of the above actions
Catchers:
- With camera angle 10ft in front of the catcher
- 4 Framing Pitches (2 pitches on each corner).
- With camera angle positioned 2 ft. to the left and 5 ft. in front of the mound.
- Blocking Pitches (5 directly in front of you, 5 to your left, 5 to your right).
- With camera angle positioned 3ft. behind the 2B for half and 2 ft. behind the catcher for half. Must see 2B catch the ball from all camera angles.
- Pop and Throws to 2B (10 throws).
- With camera angle positioned 3ft. behind the catcher. Must see 3B catch the ball from camera angle.
- Throws to 3B (4 throws).
- With camera angle positioned 3 ft. behind the plate. Must see 1B catch the ball from camera angle.
- Mock Bunts and Throws to 1B (3 balls up the 1B line)
- Mock Bunts and Throws to 1B (3 balls up the 3B line)
Outfielders:
- For all outfielders, regardless of whether you are a CF, RF, or LF, you will need to take your groundballs and fly balls in right field.
- With camera angle positioned 15 ft. in front of student-athlete (toward home plate) and 5 feet left (toward Center field) focusing on student-athlete’s movement in the field.
- 3 Ground balls hit directly at you and throw to 3B
- 2 Ground balls hit to your left and throw to 3B
- 2 Fly balls hit to your left and throw to 3B
- 2 Ground balls hit to your right and throw to 3B
- 2 Fly balls hit to your right and throw to 3B
- With camera angle behind 3B, showing both the student-athlete and 3B focusing on student-athlete’s accuracy with throws and arm strength.
- 3 Ground balls hit directly at you and throw to 3B
- 2 Ground balls hit to your left and throw to 3B
- 2 Fly balls hit to your left and throw to 3B
- 2 Ground balls hit to your right and throw to 3B
- 2 Fly balls hit to your right and throw to 3B
- With camera angle behind home plate, showing both RF and C focusing on student-athlete’s accuracy with throws and arm strength.
- 5 Ground balls hit directly at you and throw to home
- 5 Fly balls hit directly at you and throw to home