AI Sports Highlight Maker: How NextPlay Works
By NextPlay · Updated
An AI sports highlight maker should reduce editing without taking the final choice away from you. With NextPlay, you upload phone clips or game footage, AI finds likely plays and cuts the downtime, and you review what belongs before you download or share the highlight.
1. Upload your footage
Add an athlete profile, choose the sport and upload clips from your phone or camera. You can also import recordings from a public Veo club library link.
Film with your phone horizontal and steady. Start before the play and keep recording through its result, with your athlete and nearby action in frame. Keep the web tab open while the file uploads, or keep NextPlay open with the screen on if you upload from your phone.
You can also live stream from the sideline with NextPlay Stream in the iOS app (1.0.14+). Pick the sport and share one link that plays in any web browser with sound, no account and no app for viewers. The recording lands in your library so the AI can cut highlights; billing is on the web.
2. Let AI find the plays
NextPlay finds likely plays and cuts downtime from the footage you provide. You review what it found and mark your athlete. Full game film is analysed play by play; a full game takes over an hour to analyse.
The AI does not automatically pick one athlete out of team film or identify players by reading shirt numbers. Film around your athlete, or use Coach Film and remove the other players' plays yourself.
3. Pick your clips and reel type
Choose Highlight for a vertical reel. The Recruiting Highlight is a landscape, muted MP4 and share link that you send to coaches. NextPlay does not choose schools or send messages to coaches for you.
Choose Coach Film for a complete play-by-play starting point you can review and refine. Game Tape is every detected play of a game, in order, nothing left out; the cut is complete, never trimmed to a runtime. Review each clip before sharing.
4. Share a link or download
Copy the finished reel's share link or download its MP4. Send it yourself to family, teammates or coaches, and check the link while signed out before sending it.
For separate video files, download the clip package with one MP4 per clip. NextPlay has an iOS app; billing is on the web.
What happens to the footage?
Your footage is processed by video and AI service providers to make the cut. Mux handles the video, and AI analysis uses services including Anthropic and OpenAI.
Treat a share link as something the recipient can pass on. Check the reel and the athlete details you intend to share before distributing it, especially when children appear in the footage.
What does NextPlay cost?
Creating an account is free; adding film needs a plan. Monthly plans are Athlete $14.99 (or $99/year), Family $24.99 (or $179/year), Team $149 and Team Pro $249.
Reels have no watermark. Cancel anytime — on the website, or in your App Store settings if you subscribed on iPhone. Pick a plan for the number of athletes and teams you need.
Questions
Do I need a full game to make a highlight?
No. You can upload short phone clips filmed around your athlete. Record the setup and result so the play remains understandable.
Does NextPlay find my athlete or read jersey numbers?
No. NextPlay cuts every play it finds for the whole field and does not track a player or read jersey numbers. Mark athlete lets you tap your athlete on any play — circle, arrow or spotlight — and the mark is burned into the downloaded video. Film that follows one player (phone footage, a Trace or Veo player view) keeps them in more of the clips. Team plans can use roster numbers to suggest which athlete each play belongs to.
Which reel should I send to a coach?
The Recruiting Highlight is a landscape, muted MP4 and share link that you send to coaches. NextPlay does not select schools or send coach messages for you.
How long does full game analysis take?
A full game takes over an hour to analyse. Game Tape keeps every detected play in order, nothing left out, and is never trimmed to a runtime.
How much does it cost?
Creating an account is free; adding film needs a plan. Athlete is $14.99/month or $99/year, Family $24.99/month or $179/year, Team $149/month and Team Pro $249/month. No watermark; cancel anytime.
Can I use NextPlay on my phone?
Yes. NextPlay has an app for iPhone, iPad and Android. On iPhone you can subscribe in the app; Android plans are bought on the website.
Does footage go to other providers for processing?
Yes. Video and AI service providers process footage to make the cut, including Mux, Anthropic and OpenAI.
Make your next highlight
Plans start at $14.99/month for unlimited uploads and highlight reels, with full-game Game Tape, MP4 downloads and share links.