The Highlight Film System

Coaches are not at every match.

They do not know who you are unless you make yourself visible.

Your film is often the first real chance they get to evaluate you.

A strong film can create:

Replies Interest Evaluation Opportunity

A weak film gets ignored.

Before a coach ever talks to you, your film is already sending a message.

It tells them whether you are clear, whether you are valuable, and whether you are worth watching more closely.

Highlight film shows your best actions.

Every-touch film shows your consistency, decision making, movement, and habits across the full game.

Both matter.

Your film is one of the biggest assets you have as a player.

It can be the difference between being invisible and being seriously considered.

Do not start by trying to collect random clips.

Start by getting full-game footage.

That gives you real options and lets you choose your best actions later.

The easiest option is to ask your club.

Many clubs already use:

Veo Trace Hudl or other match recording systems

Start there first.

If your club does not provide footage, you can create your own system.

Have a parent, friend, or teammate record the game.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is usable footage.

If the family has the budget, you can hire someone to film or edit for you.

This can save time, but you still need to understand what makes the film strong.

Do not build your film from just one game.

Try to get multiple matches.

That gives you:

Better clips More variety Stronger evidence of who you are

Pick games where:

The camera angle is clear You were involved enough The footage is watchable

Not every game needs to be used.

Save your footage in folders by:

Date Opponent Competition

Good organization makes the editing process much easier later.

Your film is not entertainment.

It is a tool coaches use to decide if you are worth their time.

Everything in your video should help that decision.

A coach should immediately understand:

What position you play What kind of player you are What your strengths are

If they are confused, the film fails.

Coaches are watching quickly.

Your job is to make their job easy.

Clear clips Clear actions Clear identity

Do not just show flashy moments.

Show:

Decisions Impact on the game Actions that help the team

That is what coaches care about.

Highlight film gets attention quickly.

Every-touch film shows:

Consistency Movement Behavior across the full game

Both serve different purposes.

Your film is not random clips.

It is a message:

“This is who I am as a player.”

Everything should support that message.

The first 15 to 20 seconds are the most important.

Coaches decide very quickly if they will keep watching.

Put your absolute best clips at the beginning.

Your highlight video should be:

2 to 4 minutes maximum

Longer videos lose attention and reduce impact.

Before each clip, clearly show where you are on the field.

This can be done with a circle or marker.

The coach should never guess which player is you.

Show only what matters.

Start right before the action.
End right after the action.

Remove all unnecessary time.

Avoid:

Crazy transitions Heavy effects Slow motion everywhere

Keep it clean and professional.

At the beginning of your video include:

Name Position Graduation year

Keep it simple and easy to read.

Your goal is clarity.

The coach should:

Understand quickly See your strengths clearly Stay engaged throughout

To keep this simple and powerful, we are using one main system:

DaVinci Resolve.

It is free, professional, and more than enough to build elite film.

Canva is optional.

You can use it to:

Create a circle marker Create a simple title card

But everything can also be done inside DaVinci.

• A laptop or computer
• Your game footage
• DaVinci Resolve installed
• Basic file organization

You do not need expensive software.

You do not need advanced editing skills.

You need a clear system and clean execution.

Once you learn this, you can:

Update your film anytime Replace clips Improve quality over time

You are no longer dependent on anyone else.

• Go to Google
• Search: DaVinci Resolve
• Click the official Blackmagic website
• Select the free version
• Download for your computer (Mac or Windows)

Once the file downloads:

Open the installer Follow the steps Click install

This usually takes a few minutes.

After installation:

Open DaVinci Resolve Wait for it to load

You will see the project screen.

• Click “New Project”
• Name it (example: My Highlight Film)
• Click Create

You do not need advanced settings.

Just install it and create a project.

We will build everything step by step from here.

Open DaVinci Resolve and click on the project you created.

This will take you into your editing workspace.

On the Edit page, find the Media Pool.

This is where all of your video files will live.

• Drag your game file into the Media Pool
• Or right click and select “Import Media”
• Choose your video file

Drag your video from the Media Pool down to the timeline.

This is where you will start cutting and editing.

Name your clips clearly.

Example:
“vs Greenville April 2026”

Good organization saves time later.

Play through your game footage.

Pause when you see a strong action:

A good decision A key pass A defensive action A 1v1 moment

Move your playhead slightly before the action.

You only need 1 to 2 seconds before the play starts.

• Use the blade tool (cut tool)
• Cut at the start of the action
• Cut again right after the action ends

Delete everything before and after the clip.

Keep only the part that matters.

Go through your entire game.

Cut out all strong moments.

You are building your clip library.

Do not keep average moments.

Every clip should show:

Impact Decision making Clear value

Click on your clip in the timeline.

Then click “Inspector” in the top right.

This is where you control zoom and position.

Use the Zoom setting.

Increase it slightly so the action is easier to see.

Do not zoom too much. Keep the full context of the play.

Use Position X and Y to center the action.

Make sure the coach can clearly see what matters.

Do not over adjust.

The goal is:

Clear Easy to watch Natural looking

You do not need to adjust every clip.

Only use zoom and position when:

The player is hard to see The camera is too far The action is unclear

Go to the moment right before your action starts.

This is where the coach needs to clearly see you.

Right click on the clip.

Select “Freeze Frame” (or extend the frame).

Hold it for about 1 second.

This is where you will add your marker or circle.

The coach should instantly know which player is you.

Do not hold the freeze too long.

Around 1 second is enough.

Then let the action play.

Without this step, coaches may not know which player you are.

This makes your film much easier to watch and evaluate.

The goal is simple:

Make it instantly obvious which player is you.

The coach should never have to guess.

• Open Canva
• Create a simple circle (no fill, just outline)
• Make it bright (green or white)
• Download as PNG with transparent background

You will import this into DaVinci.

Drag your PNG circle into the Media Pool.

Then drag it onto the timeline above your video clip.

Click the circle layer.

Use the Inspector:

Adjust position Move it over your player

Use Zoom in the Inspector.

Make the circle big enough to be clear, but not so big that it covers everything.

The circle should appear:

During the freeze frame Right before the action

Then disappear when play starts.

Do not use multiple colors or flashy animations.

Keep it simple:

One clear circle Easy to see No distraction

Choose music that is:

Clean Not distracting Not overpowering

The focus should stay on your play.

• Download your audio file
• Drag it into the Media Pool
• Drag it underneath your video in the timeline

Cut the music so it matches the length of your highlight video.

Your music and your video should end together.

Lower the volume so it sits in the background.

The music should support the video, not dominate it.

A clean highlight video without music is completely fine.

Music is just an extra layer if you want it.

Raw game audio usually sounds messy.

Parents yelling Wind noise Random sideline sounds

This can make your video feel amateur.

Click on your video clip in the timeline.

This lets you control the audio attached to that clip.

Drag the audio line on the clip all the way down.

Or use the Inspector and reduce the volume there.

The goal is a clean silent video track.

No distracting original sound.

Just the visuals.

Make sure the whole project is clean.

Do not leave random clips with loud sound still attached.

Clean audio makes the video feel more intentional.

It removes distraction and keeps the focus on your play.

Once your video is finished, click the Deliver page in DaVinci Resolve.

This is where you export your final file.

Keep this simple.

Use:

MP4 format 1080p resolution Standard quality

You do not need complicated settings.

Name your file so a coach understands it instantly.

Example:

Jaret_Petras_Winger_2026_Highlight

Clean names look more professional.

Add the job to the render queue.

Then click Render.

Wait for DaVinci to finish exporting the file.

Upload your finished video to a platform that is easy to share.

The best option is usually YouTube as an unlisted link.

That gives you a clean link to send to coaches.

Before you send it:

Watch the final export Check the audio Check the marker Make sure the link works

Do not send sloppy film.

Your film is never really finished.

Replace weaker clips. Add stronger ones. Keep improving it over time.