How to create your track and field highlight video

How to create your track and field highlight video

Now you have filmed your meets, it's time to put together your highlight video!
What to include and not include in your video
What to include:
  1. Include the best content of you. Use clips that represent you best as an athlete.
  2. Make the first 30 seconds the best it can possibly be so coaches will be intrigued and continue to watch.
  3. Make it obvious as to which one you are in the video. Explain or show vest colour etc. if competition video.
  4. Add in a slide to introduce who you are before the highlight video begins. The slide only needs your event etc. Do not use an introduction video, this wastes time on the video. The slide is optional.
  5. Use footage from several different meets/training sessions. 
  6. Include best footage first and work backwards.
  7. Film from short and long distances. When you film from a shorter distance, you get more of close technique and execution of the exercise itself. When you film from a longer distance, you get a better overview of the whole situation. Those who film should ideally film from a height such as a grandstand or a hill.
What not to include:
  1. Around the 5-6 minute mark should be sufficient for a highlight video. The max length for your highlight video should be no more than 10 minutes. 
  2. Use bad camera quality or footage –if the video quality is low, we will not be able to use the footage to promote you.
  3. Leave a certain clip running for a long period time (keep the clip to the length of where you are involved/active).
  4. Do not use too much zoom. You want to get an overview of the exercise, and any competitors who are also involved (especially when running).
  5. Put any music over the video. Also mute any background noise on the video unless it is needed (e.g. showing leadership and good communication).
Event specific content
Throwers
  1. Video from behind and both sides when throwing (to see complete technique).
  2. Include power lifts from strength and conditioning programs, record this directly from the front face on.
  3. Some videos close up to highlight technique, some far away to show overall throws.
  4. Mixture of training and competition video (if you can).
Jumpers - long, triple, high jumps and pole vaulters
  1. Close up of technique from behind, both sides.
  2. Video from further away to show overall jump.
  3. Mixture of competition and training video.
  4. Power lifts, and any explosive exercises in your strength and conditioning programs.
Sprinters - 100m-400m and hurdlers
  1. Close up of block start technique, both straight and bend starts (record from blocks to 30m to show transition).
  2. Include baton hand-overs, both passing and receiving (not essential).
  3. Any drills you do in training (plyometrics etc.)
  4. Training video’s when doing interval training (preferably pulling away from training partners).
  5. Competition videos (include the race distance, competition, time etc. to give some context).
Middle-long distance, cross country and steeple
  1. Include some video from best training sessions (include the workout, splits you hit).
  2. Competition video from all events you do.
  3. Some close up to see running technique.
  4. For steeple runners, video of jumping barriers by yourself, and also in competition. Both water jumps and regular barriers.
  5. Power lifts, any explosive exercises in your strength and conditioning programs.
  6. Competition videos if you can (include the race distance, competition, time etc. to give some context).
Editing your video
When editing your highlight video, you can either choose to do it yourself using software such as iMovie (you will need a Mac) or Windows Movie Player. YouTube has a lot of tutorials on how you can do this. You can also find our iMovie how to guide here.

Alternatively, you can use websites such as Fiverr and employ the services of a freelance video editor. We can recommend the below editors on Fiverr to edit your video.

  1. Hamzakk111
  2. Mtayyabse
  3. Sajeeb_karmaker

You will need to send a note like the below to the editor. They will likely send you further instructions with exactly the information they need to make your video.

Hi, I am a track and field athlete and need my film editing to make a highlight video between 3 and 5 minutes long.
 Once your video is complete, upload it to  YouTube and send the link to your placement person.


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