Learn how to record soccer games with the best cameras, apps, and techniques. Get pro tips for clear, high-quality footage to capture every goal and play!
Getting the best footage of your matches isn’t just about hitting the record button—it’s about setting yourself up for success with the right tools, vantage point and workflow. Whether you’re filming for post-match soccer game analysis, highlights or if you’re planning to leverage a portable camera for automated video breakdown tools like Hudl Assist+, these tips will help ensure you capture the best possible footage to empower your team.
To make the most of your video, it's important to consider not just the equipment you use, but also where and how you film. A thoughtful setup ensures that you’re capturing all the critical details needed for meaningful analysis and review. With the right approach, you can create a valuable resource for player development and game strategy.
Soccer Filming Tips
What does good soccer film look like?
Good soccer film balances clarity, stability, and the right perspective to meet different needs. Players and fans prefer a zoomed-in view to capture individual action and create highlight-worthy moments, while coaches and analysts favor a wider shot to study formations and player spacing.
The best footage is recorded from a high vantage point near the center of the field, ensuring a full-field view that captures both tactical structure and key in-game details. A steady camera, preferably mounted on a tripod, ensures smooth viewing without unnecessary shakes. Tools like Hudl Focus Flex and Hudl Focus Outdoor provide both regular and extra-wide tactical views, giving teams the flexibility to analyze the game from multiple angles.
Proper framing captures both teams in action without excessive zooming, maintaining a consistent perspective throughout the match. Clear visuals of jersey numbers and referee signals help with post-game analysis, while periodic scoreboard shots keep the game’s progression easy to follow. A well-recorded match allows coaches, players, and analysts to effectively break down performance, highlight key moments, and prepare for the next game.
Choose a Device to Record— Digital Camera or Automated Capture Camera
Recording devices are abundant nowadays, whether it's the smartphone in your pocket, a digital camera or an automated capture solution, you should decide what the ideal recording setup for your team is.
If you’re leveraging a traditional camera to record soccer games— digital cameras or other similar recording devices—be sure you’re setting yourself up for success. Have multiple batteries on hand, external charging options, and enough storage to record multiple hours. This can be cumbersome initially, so we recommend building out a checklist with your setup so you can ensure that you have everything you need on game day. We don’t want you to miss a moment.
If you’re looking to take the guesswork out, we highly recommend considering an automated capture solution for your team. There are many companies that specialize in soccer video capture, so you can find the solution that works best for you. We’re biased and think our Hudl Focus cameras are the ideal solution for every team. If you choose another solution and still want to use Hudl for video breakdown, check with them to ensure that game video can be downloaded from their service and uploaded to Hudl.
How to Record Soccer Games
Capture with Hudl Focus Flex or Hudl Focus Outdoor
Hudl Focus Flex is the easiest portable camera to use to record matches in any environment. Whether you’re home or away, Flex is with you to capture all the action. Flex is the fastest way to get video online for your team to review because it can upload live with a WiFi connection. It gives you better zoom and quality options as well, with both an extra-wide tactical view as well as a traditional broadcast angle that follows the action on the field. It also gives you freedom, as it has internal recording and battery life to record several matches in one day—so if you’re at a regional tournament or a local Saturday round robin, you have all you need to record all the action.
If you’re a local high school team with a stadium, Hudl Focus Outdoor is our fixed camera solution that mounts on your stadium press box. It functions similarly to Focus Flex, capturing an ultra-wide tactical view as well as a broadcast angle, and the video can be simultaneously streamed for fans at home to watch. That video is also made available on your team's Hudl account for postgame viewing and can be sent straight to Hudl Assist for breakdown.
Hudl Focus cameras are the ultimate solution for streamlined automatic capture and analysis.
Prep your equipment, and test at a practice or scrimmage.
Before your first match, test your setup by recording an entire practice or scrimmage. This is the ideal way to try out your hardware and train the person behind the camera on how to get the best video.
Other Soccer Filming Tips to Consider
Optimize jersey visibility for analysis.
Good soccer film isn’t just about stability and vantage points—jersey visibility plays a crucial role in post-match analysis. The most important factor for player identification, especially for Hudl Assist, is jersey color. To make numbers easily readable on video, ensure that jersey numbers contrast clearly from the jersey color and use solid, bold numbers rather than outlined ones. Difficult color combinations to read include yellow on white, silver on white, gray on black, and red on black, as these can be hard for analysts and AI to detect. Keeping jersey visibility in mind when selecting uniforms will make post-match review smoother and more accurate.
By considering all these factors—camera stability, optimal vantage points, and jersey visibility—you can ensure that your footage is not only high-quality but also effective for analysis. These best practices create a seamless experience for players, coaches, and analysts alike, helping teams get the most out of their video review process and maximize their performance on the field.
Ensure you set yourself and your team up for success with the right tools, vantage point and workflow on game day. Quality video makes all the difference in post-match analysis, highlight creation and player development. By following these best practices, you’ll capture footage that helps players improve, and gives your team a competitive edge.
