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Portions of this section were excerpted from Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, by Catharine Aradi. This book is a complete, step-by-step guide to the college search process, and it includes information on college teams around the United States--addresses, coaches' information, etc. You can order the book by contacting the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) at www.nfca.org, and you can learn more about how to successfully conduct your college search by visiting the Softball Recruiting Web Source at http://veenet.value.net/~cscsoftball.

Tips For Making A Good Video Tape

We want to help you make a positive first impression! You can help us help you by providing high quality video clips for us to include in your presentation. Don't let the prospect of making a tape overwhelm you. You don't have to spend a lot of money. Just follow these guidelines.

The Ingredients for a Good Video:

Careful planning is the most important factor in making a good tape -- especially if you are spending money to do it! Before you ever shoot a minute of tape, do the following:

  • Scout around and find a field in good condition -- if possible, groom the field ahead of time. This may be a lot of work but the smoother the field the fewer "bad hops" you'll have to cope with as you field balls.
  • Recruit someone to hit you balls and several people to take throws, shag balls, etc.
Try to borrow a pitching machine (your coach should have access to one). If you absolutely cannot get a machine, try to find a pitcher who is accurate and throws fairly hard.

  • Dress neatly in your team uniform. You want to make a good visual impression.
  • Make a list of everything you need to put on the tape. Your finished product should be no more than 8-10 minutes long. If someone is editing the tape for you, you can shoot as much as you want and then cut the final product down to 8-10 minutes. However, if you won't be able to do any editing, try not to shoot more than 10 minutes of tape.
  • Allow plenty of time to shoot. It's a good idea to shoot fielding and/or pitching on one day, and batting and running on another - especially if you play several positions. This will keep you from looking tired (or cranky) on your tape.
  • If you're renting or borrowing a camera, make sure the camera works properly and the batteries are charged. Be sure you have the right kind of tape and that the person doing the filming knows how to run the camera!
If you start working on your video in the spring of your junior year you'll have plenty of time to shoot the tape, screen it and get it edited. If you wait until school starts in the fall of your senior year, you may find it's almost impossible to get it done. The more time you allow, the less pressure you will be under and the easier the whole process will be.

If possible, do a "dry run." This might mean shooting your introduction at home or just setting the camera up in the back yard and taping you taking practice swings. Then look at the tape and make sure that the focus was correct, that you allowed the camera to run a few seconds before starting ­- whether it be a swing, a pitch, or your personal interview.

Make sure you're in good shape on the days you shoot your tape. Prepare for your shoot just like you would prepare for a game. Before you start, stretch, warm up, throw, take some practice grounders, etc.

Before you start taping your skills, do a brief on-camera introduction (this can also be done at home or on another day). Let the camera run for a few seconds before you say, "Hello, my name is..." Speak slowly, clearly and loudly, and remember to SMILE! (See personal interview below for additional guidelines for interview content)

People tend to overshoot rather than undershoot their video. While you will almost definitely shoot more tape than you use, try to "edit" in your mind as you make the tape. For example, if the final "edit" calls for two to three examples of turning a double play, you can move on to something else once you get two or three good shots. You don't need to wear yourself out by taping fifteen double plays hoping to get "just one more!" The edited version of your video should include:

  • Personal Interview
  • Primary Position
  • Secondary Position
  • Bunting (include sacrifice bunting, bunting for a base hit and drag bunting if applicable)
  • Hitting
  • Running (optional)
Personal Interview (30-45 seconds):

  • Select a nice background and get the sun or lighting behind the camera to reduce shadows on the player.
  • Sit or stand the player about 3 - 4 ft. from camera and center in viewfinder from the chest up and leave some space above their head; chin up, shoulders back, no hats, sunglasses or chewing gum.
  • Remind the player to keep still. No fidgeting or rolling their eyes or looking away. Speak loud and clear! Remind them that they are selling themselves to the college of their dreams. Have them read their lines a couple of times before recording. Use an eraser board if necessary to help them out. Do a couple of takes.
  • Interviews should include:
    • My name is Cathy Softball
    • I play for the Arizona Heatwave 18u
    • I attend Corona Del Sol High School in Candler Arizona and will graduate in 2004
    • My GPA is 3.5, My SAT is 1040, My ACT is ...(or pending in 'month / year')
    • My main position is shortstop, but I can also play any other infield position and outfield
    • Something catchy: "I'm a team player who is always willing to give 150%. I have a refuse to lose attitude"
    • Thank you for taking the time to watch my video
Remember to Keep Smiling!!!

Video Tip - Fielding

Always center the player in the viewfinder from head-to-toe. You want to show footwork, timing, catching the ball, pivoting and throwing. DO NOT follow the ball! Keep the camera on the player.

Middle Infielders (Final Edit: 2-3 of each)

  • Camera Position: Between 3rd and home outside the base line.
  • Position the hitter near home plate and hit some grounders and line drives at the player; and to their right and left to show range
  • Hit some choppers and fly balls over their heads with throws to 1st base; a few throws and feeds to 2nd base
  • Player rushing some slow rollers with throws to 1st base
  • Turning a double play at your position. Try different pivots on each one.

Corners (Final Edit: 2-3 of each)

  • Same camera position and shot sequence as middle infielders
  • Have 3rd base field grounders throwing to 1st and 2nd
  • Bare hand a grounder and throw on the run
  • Have 1st base field grounders throwing to 2nd and 3rd
  • Have both positions field some bunts.

Outfielders (Final edit 3-5 of each)

  • Fielding pop fly's and line drives
  • Fielding ground balls
  • All fielding should be shown moving right and left in order to show your range
  • Throwing hard to home and to a cut-off person

Pitchers(Final Edit: 4-6 of each)

  • Camera Position: Same as the Middle Infielders.
  • Hit fly balls, line drives and ground balls – some should be hit to their right and left to show range
  • Show throws to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, home and cutoff (Final Edit: 2-3 each)

Pitchers

Face the camera and call each type of pitch

Pitching to a catcher (4 - 6 good examples of each pitch) - throwing each of your pitches-fastball, change, etc.-shoot from your pitching hand side. You don't need to see the catcher from this perspective; this is to show your mechanics. Then you should be shot from behind the catcher. (4 - 6 good examples of each pitch) You may also want to shoot from behind the pitcher to show an additional perspective. (4 –6 good examples of each pitch)

  • Fielding your position and throwing to first, second and third (Final Edit: 3 - 5 shots)

Catchers

Framing: Facing the catcher about 15 away and have the pitcher throw the ball around the clock (12, 3, 6, 9) about 2 balls in each quadrant and have the catcher freeze after each catch and then throw back to the pitcher.

Scramble: Throw a couple of balls over the catcher's head to make them scramble and find the ball.

Throw Downs: Frame the catcher squatting and the target base in the viewfinder. Have the pitcher pitch and the catcher throw down hard to 2nd base. Then move the camera and frame the catcher and 1st base – throw down. Then move the camera and frame 3rd base – throw down (Final Edit: 2-3 each)

Blocking: Camera facing catcher about 10 feet away on the throwing arm side and videotape the catcher blocking some balls in the dirt and tossing them aside. Go left, right and center (Final Edit: 2-3 of each)

Camera facing the side – take a throw home, block plate and simulate a tag (Final Edit: 2-3)

Bunting: get rid of the mask and field bunts and pop-ups (Final Edit: 2-3)

Bunting

  • Front and side view - include sacrifice bunting and bunting for a base hit (Final Edit: 4-6 shots)
  • Drag bunt, if applicable(Final Edit: 2-3)

Hitting

Front and side views of you hitting away-if you're a switch hitter, bat from both sides. Also include a few shots that are filmed from behind the hitter, or backstop, so coaches can see where you drive the ball. (Final Edit: 8 - 10 shots)

  • One shot of you hitting and running to first or second base

Things to Remember

  • Set up the camera close enough to the action so viewers can clearly see what you're doing.
  • Shoot the tape in increments-for example, shoot three to four shots of you fielding, then stop the camera; then do it again. Shoot three to four "reps" of each set, so that you have 15 to 20 shots of you fielding (to choose from when editing).
  • Stop between each "rep." Don't leave the camera running or you'll end up with lots of dead time-shots of you waiting for the pitching machine to be adjusted, waiting for balls to be returned, etc. (This also allows you to rest and keeps you from getting tired-and making a video is a tiring experience!)
  • Remember, the camera has a microphone and since "chatter" is distracting to the viewer, avoid talking except to name pitches, describe field dimensions, etc.
  • If you need wide angle shots - a 3rd baseman throwing across the diamond or a center fielder throwing to third -shoot some close-up shots that show the player fielding the ball and making the throw, then back the camera away or set it behind first base to get the throws themselves.
  • Balls hit to you should be hit fairly hard. Coaches will assume you can field softly hit balls. If you can't you probably won't make a college team. If you do something unusually well - dive for balls or slide around tags, try to include a couple of shots on the tape.
  • Be intense and work hard, but remember, you love softball and should look like you're having fun.

The Final Product

We recommend families have the tape edited professionally. Before you take the tape to an editor, screen it several times and make notes of the exact shots you want to include. Try to cut out missed balls, dead time, and unnecessary talking-particularly "coaching" comments. The final product should be 8-10 minutes maximum and it should show you at your best.

If you can't have the tape edited professionally, try to find someone with two VCR's set up to edit. This is also a good way to make copies of your video. Try to make each copy from the edited master because every time you go to another generation, you lose quality.

Best of Luck and Have Fun!

Click here for information about preparing for your filming day.

© 2008 L&W Sports Promotions, L.L.C.