Filming guide · Quick Check
Any phone works. The angle is what matters: it decides whether Coach Lea can see the skill or not. Ten minutes of setup saves a re-film.
Seven steps
One athlete, one skill per clip. A clip of a full practice can't be read as a Quick Check.
Landscape. Prop it on a bag, bleacher or tripod at waist-to-chest height. Hold still if you must hand-hold.
Side view for hitting and serving (from the hitting-arm side). Front-side from the net for passing. Behind the end line, elevated, for defense. See the table.
Feet to fingertips in frame through the whole rep, including the approach and the landing. Back up until that's true.
Film with the light behind the camera. Don't shoot into windows or gym doors.
Same skill, same angle, 30 seconds to 2 minutes total. Trim the dead time if you can.
Upload to YouTube (public or unlisted), Google Drive or Dropbox. Set sharing to anyone with the link can view. Paste it on the Quick Video Submission page.
Angle per skill
| Skill | Best angle | What we look for |
|---|---|---|
| Attacking | Side view, from the hitter's hitting-arm side, 20–30 feet back | Attacking analysis |
| Serving | Side view from the hitting-arm side, 15–20 feet back, so toss height and contact point are visible | Serving analysis |
| Passing | Front-side angle, from the net looking back at the passer, slightly off to one side | Passing analysis |
| Setting | Side view from the setter's right (for a right-foot finish), 15–20 feet back | Setting analysis |
| Blocking | From the blocker's own side of the net, behind and slightly to the side, so the hands over the net are visible | Blocking analysis |
| Defense | From behind the defender's own end line, elevated if possible (bleachers), so you can see the hitter and the defender together | Defense analysis |
These angles also make better recruiting video. College coaches want to see footwork and arm swing, not the back of a jersey.
Common filming mistakes
If one of these happens you get one free re-submission — but it's faster to avoid them.
The contact point and arm path are hidden. Move to the side.
Phone footage from the far bleachers can't show hand and wrist detail. Get within 15–30 feet.
Cuts off the approach or the landing. Turn the phone sideways.
Pan with the athlete, not the ball. The athlete is what we're analyzing.
If others are in frame, we need a visible jersey number or a timestamp telling us who to watch.
A private YouTube video or a Drive file restricted to your account can't be opened. Use anyone with the link.
Ready?
A real email from Coach Lea: the one thing to fix, how to fix it, and a drill to start on. One athlete, one skill, one clip.
No payment on this site: after you submit, Coach Lea confirms your clip and sends payment details. Unusable clip (angle or lighting)? One free re-submission.
Every Quick Check is watched and written up by Coach Lea Conner — FHSAA Coach of the Year, 17 years coaching, with a 2018 National Championship season on the University of Tampa staff. Meet your coaches →
