Blog / Guide
Corporate video for the sports sector: how I plan it
How I shoot corporate video for clubs, sports brands and event organisers: access to training sessions, interviews with athletes and planning around the competition calendar.
Filming for a club or a sports brand has one key difference from other sectors: I don't set the calendar. A training session lasts as long as it lasts, a match starts at the time the competition sets and a sponsor wants their brand visible without getting in the way of the technical staff.
I've worked on several projects with clubs and sports brands in Madrid, and this is what I consider before accepting the shooting date: what access I need, how I prepare interviews with athletes and how I organise myself to film live without disturbing the team.
What it is and why it matters
A corporate video in sport is used to present a club to a sponsor, document a season, show the facilities or give an athlete a voice outside the usual press conference. It isn't the match broadcast: another team covers that, with a different goal.
It matters because the time of athletes and technical staff is limited and protected. A coach isn't going to stop a session to repeat a shot, and a player doesn't have ten free minutes between training and the next commitment of the day.
That's why the work starts with understanding the club's or the event's calendar before thinking about shots. I first ask when there are real windows of access, not when it would suit me to film.
How to do it well
Access to training sessions
I request access in advance through the club, and I never turn up without confirmation from the technical staff. I film from a fixed position that doesn't interfere with the exercises, with a small kit and a long zoom so I don't have to get close to the pitch. If I need a specific shot with a player, I ask for it during the warm-up or at the end of the session, not in the middle of training.
Interviews with athletes
I prepare the questions beforehand and share them with the club if asked, especially if there are sponsorship clauses limiting what can be mentioned. I record short interviews, 10 to 15 minutes, because that's the real margin there usually is between training and the next activity. If the athlete is tired, I prefer fewer questions and better answers over forcing a long session.
Shooting on competition day
On match or event day I coordinate with the club or the organiser which areas are available to me and what time I need to be in position, because access closes before the starting whistle. I bring spare batteries and cards: there is no second chance to film that match if something fails halfway through the first half.
Common mistakes
- Asking for access at the last minute, when the club has already closed the day's logistics.
- Interrupting a training session to repeat a shot that could have been filmed without disturbing anyone.
- Not confirming with the sponsorship department which brands should or shouldn't appear on camera.
- Preparing long interviews when the athlete only has ten real minutes available.
- Not bringing spare equipment to a shoot that can't be repeated, such as a match or a final.
Frequently asked questions
Can I film during a team training session?
Yes, with prior permission from the club and the technical staff, and from a position that doesn't interfere with the session. I usually use a long zoom so I don't have to get close to the pitch.
How much time do I need for an interview with an athlete?
Between 10 and 15 real minutes is usually what you get between training and the next commitment. I prepare the questions beforehand to make the most of that margin.
Is it possible to film during an official match?
It depends on the club or the event organiser, who sets which areas and times are available for cameras. I always confirm it before competition day, not at the last moment.
What happens if there is a sponsor with brand clauses?
I ask the club or the sponsorship department which brands should appear or be avoided on camera before filming, so I don't have to solve that problem in the edit.
If you run communications for a club or a sports brand in Madrid and need a corporate video that respects the team's calendar, write to me via /en/contact and we'll plan it together.