Your highlight reel is usually the first time a coach sees you play. They get a lot of them, so make every second count.
Keep it short
3–5 minutes is plenty. Coaches decide quickly. If they like what they see they'll ask for full-match footage.
Put your best clips first
The first 30–60 seconds matter most. Lead with the moments that show your best qualities, not the clips in date order.
Make it obvious which player you are
Freeze the frame and add an arrow or circle at the start of each clip. If a coach has to hunt for you, they'll switch off.
Start with a title card
Include your:
- Name, position and preferred foot
- Date of birth and the year you'd start college
- Height (and weight if relevant)
- Current club and league
- Headline grades
- Email and phone number
Show what your position needs
- Goalkeepers: shot-stopping, handling crosses, distribution, organising the back line.
- Defenders: 1v1 defending, aerial duels, recovery runs, playing out from the back.
- Midfielders: scanning, receiving on the half-turn, passing range, pressing and winning the ball back.
- Forwards: movement, finishing with both feet, link-up play, pressing from the front.
Goals are great, but coaches also want to see your decision-making and work off the ball.
Use good, recent footage
- Use clips from the last 12 months, at the highest level you play.
- Footage filmed from high up (a stand, or a camera like Veo) is far easier to read than pitch-side phone video.
- Have at least one or two full matches ready to send.
Common mistakes
- Loud music and slow-motion effects. Coaches often watch on mute, and effects waste time.
- Long reels (10+ minutes) with repetitive clips.
- Old footage from years ago.
- No contact details anywhere on the video.
Where to host it
Upload to YouTube as unlisted (or Hudl) and send the link. Don't attach large video files to emails.
Every TNL package includes a professionally edited highlight reel, and our advisors will tell you which clips to use.