64 The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide
qualifies me to make a solid contribution to your program.
Thanks for your time and consideration.”
- Competition. You—competing in games, matches, or meets.
a. Team sport competitors. Two complete quarters (or
periods), one each from two of your best games, start
to finish. Don’t be tempted to cut or splice out poor
performances. The coaches will detect it and wonder
what it is that you’re trying to hide. The consequences
of creating suspicion should be obvious. Remember,
coaches know that nobody plays a perfect game.
b. event competitors. Two to ten performances, depend-
ing on the event length (500 meter free style, 1600
meter run) and technical requirements (hurdles, div-
ing, parallel bars). - highlights. Five to ten of your season’s highlight plays
or performances. These plays should demonstrate ath-
letic ability, effort, versatility, and intensity, and not just
dramatic episodes (ten slam dunks or five goals scored
against an inferior goalkeeper won’t help you). High-
lights always follow game/performance sections. - Final profile. End your tape with no more than a minute
of demonstrating the required skill at your position in a
non-competitive presentation (passes, receptions, shoot-
ing, ball handling, dribbling, hurdle mechanics, etc.) fol-
lowed by another 15/20-second segment of your profile.
Try to get help in editing, splicing, dubbing, and special
effects for your videotape. You may even want to use a profes-
sional or experienced videographer. Sometimes, all the help
you need may be found in your high-school media depart-
ment. However, if you can’t find help or can’t afford it, still
send the best video you can if a coach requests one. Don’t send
unsolicited tapes or discs; they end up in the recycle bin.