Most families film games now. The problem is that most of that video can't be used. The camera follows the ball, the player is off screen half the time, and nobody can see the shape of the team. Good film is not about an expensive camera. It is about where you stand and what you point at.
Get high and get wide
Film from as high as you can, near midfield. Bleachers, a hill, a ladder or a tripod pole all work. From field level you only see the players nearest you. From up high you can see spacing, lines and what your player sees before the ball arrives. That is where most of the learning is.
Film the whole game, not just the highlights
Keep the camera running. The most useful moments are often the ones that look like nothing: where your player stands when the ball is on the other side, how quickly they recover after losing it, whether they check their shoulder before receiving. Highlights hide all of that.
Frame wide enough to see your player without the ball
Zoom so you can see roughly half the field. Tight shots of the ball look nice and teach nothing. A wider frame lets a coach see your player's position relative to teammates and opponents, which is what positioning feedback is built on.
Simple setup checklist
- Phone or camera on a tripod, landscape, never portrait.
- Charge everything, and clear storage before you leave home. A full game is big.
- Note your player's jersey number and color at the start of the video.
- Film both halves, even if the score is lopsided.
- Auto-tracking cameras (Veo, Trace, XbotGo) and team film like Hudl are great. A steady phone works too.
Keep it calm on the sideline
The camera picks up everything you say. Film quietly and save the talk for later. Your player will thank you, and the film will be easier to watch together.
Then what?
Film is only useful if someone shows your player what is in it. A GSP video evaluation breaks down one full game on video: positioning, decisions and what their position is asking of them, plus a written plan. If you already have the film, you are most of the way there.