Tips to Produce the Best Sports Footage for Video

If you decide to shoot your own footage to add to your highlight video, use these tips to produce the best sports footage for video. This will help you make an impact with coaches and recruiters with your professional highlight video.

• Shoot video from games, practices, workouts, camps, or training facilities, and still photo in uniform.
• Use tripod whenever possible.
• Light subject from front.
• Use ambient sound from game.
• Audio level should register but not peak frequently.

FORMATS ACCEPTED:

DVD, Mini-DVD, DVCam, Mini-DV, VHS, Video-CD

GAME FOOTAGE

• Shoot every play the subject is involved in throughout the game noting the timecode at the beginning of each play. If you think it may be used, enter the timecode with a brief description of the play. Later on, you will enter the top 10 plays on our shot sheet to save time in the editing process.
• Shoot the subject tightly enough to identify the individual effort without losing the overall impact of the play.
• Shoot from angles typically seen in college and professional sports.
• Where skill positions are involved, it’s best to follow the ball keeping it in the frame with the subject.

ISOLATION FOOTAGE

• Shoot the subject head to toe leaving space for an opponent in the frame.
• Lead the subject in the frame. For example if running left to right, keep subject on the left half of the frame instead of center to allow for sudden stops or change in direction.
• Stay with the subject throughout the play. They may become the focal part of the play even though they weren’t the intended target.
• Try to capture the impact of the subject on the play.

INTERVIEW

• Try to control the environment as much as possible by moving away from distracting noises, lights, or activity.
• The subject should be the brightest object in the frame. Try to avoid dark shadows or direct sunlight. Reflected light or flat lighting is best.
• Frame the subject from the middle of the chest to a couple of inches above their head.
• Get the microphone as close as possible to the subject. Use lapel mic if possible.
• Have the subject look directly into the lens of the camera or just to the side.
• Have the subject rephrase the question as part of their answer.
• Interview Questions to Ask:
  1. What is your goal in (sport)?
  2. What was the highlight of your career?
  3. What do you do outside of (sport)?
  4. What sets you apart from other student athletes?
  5. What would a scholarship mean to you?