Parents Guide to Videoing Volleyball
Amanda Millard, Director of VolleyballRecruits.net @ 9:03 am
Parents Guide to Filming Volleyball
Video is obviously a HUGE part of the recruiting process, and it is sometimes the most daunting and difficult part. However, volleyball is actually very easy to shoot. At VolleyballRecruits.net, it is our job to help educate you in all aspects of the recruiting process…and that includes filming video!
What Equipment do I Need To Video a Volleyball Match?
Obviously, the first step to videoing a match is to purchase a video camera. Try getting a video camera that comes equipped with a wide-angle lens, and it is highly recommended to also purchase a tripod. Camcorders have come down in price over the years so you can buy a nice camera for $300 - $500. We like the Panasonic HDC-SD60 or the Canon Vixia HF M300, but many other brands have suitable options. You can check out details here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/671648-REG/Canon_4357B001_VIXIA_HF_M300_Flash.html
Alternatively, you can hire professional videographers, who attend many of the major tournaments including the National Qualifiers and Bid Tournaments.
How Do I Video A Volleyball Match?
When you video a match, it is really important to film from a full-court perspective from behind the service line. Volleyball is a sport of constant interaction and movement, so coaches need to see what your son or daughter is doing in relation to the play. Therefore, DO NOT zoom in on the player. When you are zoomed in on a player, coaches aren’t able to see where the ball is coming from or the result of the ball.
More Tips to Videoing A Volleyball Match:
• Use a tripod. If a coach opens up a video and it’s shaking all over the place, they will immediately turn it off. This makes coaches dizzy! If a tripod is not available, you will need to have a stable platform that the camera can rest on without any movement.
• Do not follow the ball or the player around the court. Following the play seems like a good idea, but in doing so you are not capturing what is happening on the other side of the net or what your teammates are doing. Again, coaches need a full court perspective! Hit the record button once you have the full-court perspective and simply back away from the camera.
• If possible, set up your camera in the middle of the court behind the side of the court the player is on. When the player switches sides, so should the videographer. If you simply can’t get behind the court (this can be difficult at large club tournaments or in small gyms) then off to the side on a 45 degree angle is the second, but less desirable angle to shoot from.
• For better player identification, zoom in as close as possible to the court; maintain the end line and the antennas as your guide. (Antennas should be shown). If the athlete is not able to be identified by jersey #, then the footage is not being shot close enough for adequate viewing purposes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isO3Bjd68e8&feature=youtu.be shows a good example of footage taken by a parent at a convention center where the majority of large tournaments take place.
• If you are shooting from a 45 degree angle, shoot from the corner the line judge is NOT standing on.
• Keep cheering (and outbursts) at a minimum. Most of the time coaches will watch video on mute, but if not they don’t need to hear your commentary. Some cheering has been known to de-stabilize your tripod or mounted platform in certain situations.
• Raise the tripod high enough so you can see both sides of the net, if possible.
• Watch for flying balls! They somehow always seem to be attracted to expensive cameras!
• This is a suggestion, not a necessity - pause the filming to exclude down time including ball shagging, time outs, and time in-between games. Know that many coaches prefer to see action that is uninterrupted such as a player taken out for a reason. By editing, there is no guarantee the stoppage is simply for shagging balls. Timeouts are fine as long as the coach can see the call, but know that some coaches like to see what a player’s body language and attention is like during the timeout process, including how the player enters and leaves the huddle.
• Pick matches against the best competition you faced. This gives coaches the opportunity to evaluate you in comparison to other strong players. This is especially important when submitting video for the All American nominations. The committee members are interested in rating your student-athlete against the best competition you faced.
Once you have video footage, you can use VolleyballRecruits.net’s team of video editors to create a great looking highlight reel and / skills video using your footage. Then using its built-in messaging system, you can put your video in front of any college coach in the country.
To see an example of a VolleyballRecruits.net produced highlight reel and / or skills tape, click here:
http://volleyballrecruits.net/featured-videos.php
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