Throwing this out there for those who know more about this than I do. Most reels seem to have some sort of hype music, but I've read advice from some coaches who say skip the music. My son's preference is to skip the music, too -- what he likes wouldn't make good highlight reel music. His club has video of most games that include game audio (which I tend to like), but I'm hearing that some people recommend stripping out all audio, period. Anyone out there have some expertise they can share? Any coaches reading (who are willing to reveal themselves to a mob of crazy soccer parents ) who have a preference?
I'd go with what you like. Game audio gives more context. Adding music doesn't. Stripping all audio is too boring.
As a silent film fan, I disagree with the last, but even within that group I'm in the minority (it was typical to have live music accompaniment). As a viewer I prefer game audio.
As someone who went through this and got feedback from a lot of coaches, anything but music. Either silent or game audio is fine, no one ever complained about either. We went with audio as my dd is the one coaching on the field. If your player is quiet, delete it all.
Appreciate all the feedback here. I think we're sticking with game audio (though some of the video we have doesn't have audio that works, for some reason). My son can be fairly vocal, but you cant really hear him in most of what we have -- someone on the boards mentioned in a DM that it would be really cool to be able to mic your player up and add that. I love that idea (minus the occasional profanity you might get to deal with as they get older -- hey coach, he's just showing his fire ).
The reason I don't use game audio is I'm too close to the camera and too vocal. lol. I was cutting down highlights today, and found a clip where my son had the ball, I said "simple", he kicks it long, I said "or not", then it goes over the defender's head and his forward runs on it. I said "good ball".
The assistant coach on my son's team can be really loud, so the reel I'm working on now includes him going absolutely berserk on a goal my son scored to put a game away. He might shatter an ear drum or two, but you gotta' like the enthusiasm. That'll get him a scholarship, won't it?
Yeah, I remember noticing that a lot of my son's peers seemed to be trying to make a video which impressed their peers which in and of itself is fine, but maybe not the best approach for a college coaching staff weeding through dozens if not hundreds of potential recruits.