Hype Clip Trends 2022-2023
We are in the digital age of trending Tik Toks and Instagram Reels. Hype clips are no longer stuck on the video displays of your gymnasiums or fields; they’re making discovery pages on social media platforms that capture the attention of thousands, sometimes even hundreds of thousands of fans. With the recent changes in name, image, and likeness at the collegiate and high school levels, you can’t risk being behind on the latest trends. Your ScoreVision creative team is always on the lookout for what’s happening in the industry. So here are the latest and greatest trends for your 2022-2023 school year in video production and sports marketing, as recognized by those who support your students’ creative endeavors. We also created an example for you to use when discussing these trends with your students.
- It’s electric.
It’s the era of motion graphic design and animation. As animation continues to become a hot topic in overall video production and digital creation, we are seeing the trend populate the sports marketing and media industry. This compelling visual style demonstrates power, electricity, adrenaline, and excitement. Through voltage-like graphics and bolts of electricity, over time, the power source becomes a clear representation of the rise in adrenaline we all feel when a storm is coming in or when players are about to enter through the tunnel walk. It also has been used as a representation of strength and resiliency. You’ve seen this example in some of your favorite films, such as Thor, the Marvel character. If you do a quick google search, you’ll find images of Thor in a strong stance with bright volts of electricity surrounding him. When well-executed, this trend can affect our adrenaline and influence the rise of excitement before players hit the court or field.
Here’s a tutorial on how to create electric energy using Adobe After Effects: Electric Energy Logo Reveal Motion Graphics | After Effects Tutorial
- The ’90s have been and still are trending.
The television static transition is probably the most noteworthy of the 90’s style trends. This one has been pretty obvious, but in case you missed it, the 90s are back. This style shows up in fashion, art, and graphic design, so it’s not shocking that it’s referenced in sports media production. At the college level, this transition style seems to make a lot of sense, as flashbacks to the “golden era” have been in hype clips for the past few years. It not only gets players excited but also hits home for many fans who can recall those glory days and idolize a few of its players. It’s a subtle nod to the legacy of any athletic program.
At the high school level, you may not have footage dating back to the origin of your program; a few do have access to footage from a few years ago. If you have returning players on varsity, it might be worth considering how to incorporate this trend, even if it means applying an adjustment layer to set the mood and make a clear distinction between past and present. Our team is a huge fan of finding transitions through other resources before creating your own. They take the load off and allow you to focus on different aspects of your content creation. Our creative team used Envato to find the video effect transitions in our hype clip and Epidemic Sounds for the audio transition.
- Pride in the form of place.
Fans aren’t just proud of their team; they are also proud of their community and the place they call home. Playing off those emotions by inserting a contextual clip to set the scene for game-day is never a bad idea. We will admit that this trend might be a bit more tricky for some high schools if you don’t have access to a drone, but you can still find ways to incorporate it. Look for town staples like a statue, the main street or town square, a courthouse, city hall, a state capitol, a well-known local joint, etc. You can use these to set the scene and provide context to the location. Usually, these contextual shots are best captured in the early morning as the sun rises or in the late evening when the sun sets. We use the Weather Channel app to look up the times for both sunset and sunrise. You’re sure to have the best lighting, but you also can set the tone for either an evening game or the first game of the season by showing the beginning of the day or the transition to nightfall when Friday night lights are in full effect.
- Narration by a player.
Even though this one might be easy to incorporate, we will tell you right now that it’s also the easiest to underestimate when it comes to time and resources. For starters, writing a script is a difficult task for many, but it’s also one of the best ways to evoke an emotion. Using the player’s voice brings a personal touch, and if you have the proper setup, you can capture the narration on camera and flash in and out of the suited-up player and the footage you want to use to portray the story. Fans feel they play a part in a team’s success, so when you give access to the player and provide the opportunity for connection, you’re also bringing out the passion within fans.
Without further ado, here's the hype clip trend example created by the Scorevision Creative Team:
We’ve given you the low down on trends in hype clips, but don’t forget it’s about more than just what’s on your scoreboards—marketing your program is essential, and how you grow your visibility will impact your student athletes’ success. Consider increasing your presence on social media and using video to do so. You can incorporate students by teaching them real-life examples of how to market the program and produce content under the direction of your staff. Here are a few additional ideas for video production to further your reach.
- Cinemagraphic highlights. Using raw footage with a light adjustment layer is a trend.
We’re seeing documentary-styled footage in most industries, and it’s great when you’re capturing a player’s integrity and capabilities. Honesty sells, and we realize more than ever that overproduced footage isn’t always the most effective when trying to get your athletes noticed.
- Mic’d Up! We saw this trending last year, and it’s not going away soon.
People enjoy being included in the behind-the-scenes work of the athlete. “Mic’ing up” players, coaches, and staff is one of the ways fans feel like they have gotten an inside look at the character of specific people on the team and the culture that breeds successful athletes. Some mic’d-up examples are pretty funny, and showing a bright personality makes us appreciate the player both on and off the court.
- Youtube series and shorts are the up-and-comers in collegiate programs.
This one is a recent trend that’s hitting the collegiate athletic programs. Original series are interesting because they bring the potential for sponsored segments. They also present the opportunity for alumni to be reintroduced into the program, which might aid recruitment or strengthen the bond between teams and their community. If you have noteworthy alumni, this might be something worth looking into. It does take quite a bit of time and energy to produce a series, but it sets a standard for your program and provides a tremendous educational experience for your students. In addition to a series, you can also produce shorts. Shorts are essentially the broken-down, more consumable version of these series and can serve multiple purposes. You can create a single testimonial clip from the larger version, break down a specific practice or moment, and even use it to create teasers for season highlights.
Sports media production presents various possibilities for educating students about content creation and the athletic industry. Using these simple trends, you can capture the attention of your community and generate excitement surrounding your program. Hype clips don’t have to be for game day; consider distributing them on other platforms to get fans excited, increase attendance, and get noticed by potential sponsors. We understand that your athletic department isn’t just for entertainment; it is an operating business. In today’s world, your presence on social media and overall visibility are a few ways you can derive new opportunities for your school. Suppose your school doesn’t have a student organization interested in sports media production. In that case, you might want to consider hopping onto social media and checking out the organic content your students and student-athletes are already creating on their own. The digital era for athletics is here, and your students need your help to reach their goals.
