OK guys, give me your honest opinion...

So it's finally that time to get my little DD out there for the world to see. It was time to make a skills video. Being somewhat of a nerd, I decided I wanted to make it myself and it could be something fun we did together. Well about 200 hours later it's finally finished. LOL. Everyone take a look and give me your opinion on it. What should I change or add or take out? Any critique is appreciated. Thanks guys. Excited to share a little video of all my baby girls hard work paying off.

https://youtu.be/MuUUp5EpBIU

Awesome! Mom of a 12U girl here who is taking notes for the future. Obviously tons of work, but it and she both look great!

Generally, it looks good. It doesn't do any good for me to pat you on the back. So, please understand I'm trying to give you the feedback you asked for:

*IMHO* -- You aren't spending enough time on her OF skills. So:

1) Show her arm, throwing from CF to home.
2) She is a little "lazy" in the OF. She looks to me like she is giving about 70%. She is also taking extra steps before she throws.
3) Put her in CF. Hit a ball down the left field line and let her track it down. Have her *RUN* for it. All you have her doing, really, is jogging.
4) Her running form is not very good, even though she seems like she can run. Have you thought about getting her some running lesson?

I will follow up on Sluggers.This isn't bad... I really like the timing on the running to first.

Some improvements:

First thing: I have NO idea where Marianna High School is. And as a coach I am not going to look it up or work it out. Tell me where you are unless you are only sending to very local coaches.

You have about 20 seconds to catch attention. You need to put her BEST skills first. At the moment, the first skill you show is a fastball which I assume is NOT her best pitch
The order is important...put your college ready or best skills first. It is important. Show what you could bring to a program on DAY ONE. A lot of coaches wont get past the first minute so it better be good.

Pitching: Drives coaches nuts when you don't have an idea of her speed. They don't want to be timing it off the video or guessing. Put a number on her speed (and spins)
You can probably drop the number of pitches per pitch type - a good one from the side and from behind the catcher is probably enough (2x for best pitch)
The intro can be shorter or split screened... or removed and have her talk over the skills. I like to see a game highlight included
The strikeout stat is a weird one to include - and I am not sure if that is a HS stat or a Travel stat.. there is no context.
Batting - where are the balls going? Give me some behind the batter views. And fewer... And also you can edit a lot here. When slapping, after contact I don't need to see her walk back and re set up - I counted 9 seconds between a completed swing and her being ready for the next pitch.
Put an email address on the screen early. I like to see it on the whole video. Don't make the coach search for it - because they probably wont.
There is some dead time in the video. There is 30 seconds you could get rid of with some editing.

These videos have to be targeted on the audience - which is some coach or assistant coach who has 100s of these to look at. You need to be concise, get the most impressive skills out there first and make it easy for them to get any info they could possibly want.

Good video. Small world, I think I have seen your DD throw and I am sure my DD has seen her. With some work I think Mr & Mrs at Chipola would be very interested. I have some experience with that program.

I would definitely refine her pitching mechanics.

sluggers said:

2) She is a little "lazy" in the OF. She looks to me like she is giving about 70%.

Click to expand...

It looks more to me like she is timing the ball instead of getting there and camping out under it.

OP, I would be careful about posting your Freshman daughter's email on YouTube, or anywhere public for that matter.

Good video...biggest things I noticed

As already mentioned the hitting section is too long and without context. It would be great to see where the hits go maybe show three or four bunts, then also show a couple hard ground slaps, a couple slap drives oppo, then a couple full swings. I would have her run out the ground slaps (even if you don't show her actually touching first in the video) it just look awkward to have her hit a good high bouncing slap to SS but turn around and walk back to the box, this might be a great spot for game footage look for those clips where she hits a bouncing ball to the left side that is fielding cleanly and thrown well to first but she is still safe

The OF comments rang true with me as well, coaches really want to see the jump on the ball and taking a great angle to make a good catch, arm strength would help too charging a ground ball and throwing to home then same with a fly ball.

Overall though this is a good video, I actually liked the pitching section, could cut it a little with maybe only one sideshot on each even if you show two from behind plate.

It looks more to me like she is timing the ball instead of getting there and camping out under it.

Click to expand...

Thank you...you are 100% correct.

Great job! Here are a couple of suggestions.

1) Ditch the intro with the music. You have @ 60 seconds to catch a college coaches eye.
2) For the pitching I would suggest setting up a camera angle on a ladder behind your DD's left shoulder - similar to the outfield zoom in camera angles you see in the WCWS. It is a great view to watch the movement of the pitches in addition to behind the catcher.
3) For the hitting, when she swings away, have some angles from behind the batter so you can see the flight path and distance the ball travels.
4) If her other position is outfield, show some throws home to demonstrate her arm strength. I would also do some charging "do or die" scoops of ground balls with throws home.

Good luck!

The only Input I have is the two minute rule, If you want them to watch the whole thing you need to keep it two minutes or less. You run the risk of having what a certain coach is looking for being in the last half and by then they not watching. I'm posting this here so others doing videos can get an Idea of the coaches in general are looking for and you can use the info to tailor a video. This is Info our recruiting got for us at PGF a few weeks ago and its quite interesting. There are some patterns that should be observed in what they are actually looking for. Not necessarily for the OP but I thought this info would come in handy for some.

SCHOOL LOCATION DIVISION COACH(S) POSITIONS/NEEDS
PGF l August 1-8 l Huntington Beach, CA
POOL GAME #1 vs. KC PEPPERS - Sunday 8/02
Harvard University Cambridge, MA D I Assistant Coach - Lacy Wood 2017 athlets who can hit and with speed
University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO D I Head Coach - Shana Easley 2017 - speed/OF/Middle Innies
2018 - Middle innies/speed
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
D I Associate Head Coach - Pete D'Amour 2018 - Lefty hitter with speed
University of Pacific Stockton, CA D I Assistant Coach - Jessica Hancock 2017 - Pitcher
2018 - Pitcher
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND D I Assistant Coach - Brynne Dordel 2016 - Shortstop
2017 - Pitcher/Middle Infield
2018 - Pitcher/Middle Infield
Portland State University Portland, OR D I Head Coach - Barb Sherwood 2017 - Pitcher/Athletes (open)
2018 - Athletes (open)
Weber State University Ogden, UT D I Assistant Coach - Kate Nygaard 2017 - Pitcher/Middle Infield
2018 - Pitcher/Speed/Slapper/Middle Infield
Marshall University Huntington, WV D I Assistant Coach - Kendall Fearn 2017 - Strong athletes who can hit with speed
Furman University Greenville, SC D I Assistant Coach - Courtney Breault 2017 - Strong athletes who can hit
2018 - Pitcher and athletes
Concordia University Irvine Irvine, CA D II Assistant Coach - Rose Imbriano 2016 - Shortstop
2017 - Dominant Athlete
Pacific University Forest Grove, OR D III Assistant Coach - Susie Krewer 2016 - Pitcher
2017 - Athletes/Studs who can hit
POOL GAME #3 vs. CORONA ANGELS - Monday 8/03
Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX D I Head Coach - Adrian Gregory 2018 - slapper/speed
Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, MS D I Head Coach - Lee Smith 2016 - Pitcher
2017 - Athletes/Studs
University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM D I Assistant Coach - Lisa-Ann Wallace 2017 - Stud athlete who can hit
2018 - a difference maker who can hit
Brigham Young University (BYU) Provo, UT D I Assistant Coach - Pete Meredith 2017 - strong D I caliber athlete who can hit
2018 - speed/athletic
Bryant University Smithfield, RI D I Head Coach - Shayne Lotito 2017 - athlete
2018 - a differnce maker on the field, open to positions
Colgate University Hamilton, NY D I Head Coach - Melissa Finley 2017 - athlete
2018 - athlete/speed/pitcher
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA D I Assistant Coach - Danielle Gonzales 2017 - Pitcher/Middle Infield/Outfield
Harvard University Cambridge, MA D I Head Coach - Jenny Allard 2017 athlets who can hit and with speed
Weber State University Ogden, UT D I Head Coach - Mary Kay Amicone
Assistant Coach - Kate Nygaard 2017 - Pitcher/Middle Infield
2018 - Pitcher/Speed/Slapper/Middle Infield
University of San Diego San Diego, CA D I Assistant Coach - Cheryl Schaefer 2017 - stud athlete who can hit
2018 - Pitcher/slapper/speed
Binghamton University Binghamton, NY D I Assistant Coach - Meredith Allen 2017 - stud athlete who can hit
2018 - Pitcher/slapper/speed
Butler Community College El Dorado, KS JC Assistant Coach - Jeff Filali 2016 - Shortstop
BRACKET GAME #1 vs. CENTRAL COAST ATHLETICS - Tuesday 8/04
Weber State University Ogden, UT D I Head Coach - Mary Kay Amicone
Assistant Coach - Kate Nygaard 2017 - Pitcher/Middle Infield
2018 - Pitcher/Speed/Slapper/Middle Infield
Harvard University Cambridge, MA D I Head Coach - Jenny Allard 2017 athlets who can hit and with speed
Portland State University Portland, OR D I Head Coach - Barb Sherwood 2017 - Pitcher/Athletes (open)
2018 - Athletes (open)
Princeton University Princeton, NJ D I Assistant Coach - Christie Novatin 2016 - Pitcher (potential)
2017 - Pitcher/Athlete/Big Hitters/Middle Infield
University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM D I Assistant Coach - Lisa-Ann Wallace 2017 - Stud athlete who can hit
2018 - a difference maker who can hit
Sacramento State University Sacramento, CA D I Head Coach - Lori Perez
Assistant Coach - Nichole Willis 2017 - Pitcher, Outfield, Catcher, Middle Infield
Dixie State University St George, Utah D II Head Coach - Randy Simkins 2017 - Pitcher/Catcher/Athlete who can hit
2018 - Pitcher/Hitters/Catcher
Pacific University Forest Grove, OR D III Assistant Coach - Susie Krewer 2016 - Pitcher
2017 - Athletes/Studs who can hit
BRACKET GAME #2 vs. BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS '98 - Tuesday 8/04
Whitworth University Spokane, WA D III Associate Head Coach - Randy Clark 2016 - Pitcher
2017 - Pitcher, Middle Infield, Outfield, Big Hitter
BRACKET GAME #3 vs. L'IL REBELS '98 - Wednesday 8/05
Sacramento State University Sacramento, CA D I Assistant Coach - Nichole Willis 2017 - Pitcher, Outfield, Catcher, Middle Infield
Brigham Young University (BYU) Provo, UT D I Assistant Coach - Pete Meredith 2017 - strong D I caliber athlete who can hit
2018 - speed/athletic
Dixie State University St George, Utah D II Head Coach - Randy Simkins 2017 - Pitcher/Catcher/Athlete who can hit
2018 - Pitcher/Hitters/Catcher
BRACKET GAME #4 vs. GUAVA JAM - Wednesday 8/05
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND D I Head Coach - Darren Mueller 2016 - Shortstop
2017 - Pitcher/Middle Infield
2018 - Pitcher/Middle Infield
Binghamton University Binghamton, NY D I Head Coach - Michelle Burrell 2017 - stud athlete who can hit
2018 - Pitcher/slapper/speed
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL D I Head Coach - Lonni Alameda 2018 - Lefty hitter with speed (true hitter)
Dixie State University St George, Utah D II Head Coach - Randy Simkins 2017 - Pitcher/Catcher/Athlete who can hit
2018 - Pitcher/Hitters/Catcher
BRACKET GAME #5 vs. POWER SURGE - Thursday 8/05
Northwestern University Evanston, IL D I Head Coach - Kate Drohan 2018 - true DI athlete who will be an impact player
University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN D I Head Coach - Jessica Allister 2018 - athlete who can hit
Dixie State University St George, Utah D II Head Coach - Randy Simkins 2017 - Pitcher/Catcher/Athlete who can hit
2018 - Pitcher/Hitters/Catcher