How to get Veo footage from the club and import it for referee development

How referees get Veo footage from the club: who to ask, when, message templates, then how to import the link into Ref-Vision and sync it with your GPS data.

How do I import Veo video for referee development?

Ask the club for a link to the full Veo match (not a clip or a link that starts at a set time) that you can open without a Veo login, or for the MP4 download. Then add it to your match in Ref-Vision, line it up with your GPS data and review the key moments.

The import takes a couple of minutes. Getting the footage is the hard part. One referee on RefChat emailed after every game and got footage for one match out of seven. So most of this post is about the ask.

Part 1: Getting the footage from the club

Know what you're asking for

On the web, a Veo share link only works for people outside the club if the recording is set to Public. A link to a private recording won't open for you, however kindly it was sent. Veo's help centre says this plainly. Only club or team admins and editors can share, and anyone with a public link can watch, but they can't edit or download it.

So there are two things that work:

A link to the full match that opens without a Veo login. This is the quickest route. To check it, open the link in a private browser window without signing into Veo. If it plays, it will import.
The MP4 file. Club and team admins, and members of the team the match is assigned to, can download the full game in follow-cam view. They can send it to you with any file-transfer service. You then upload it straight to Ref-Vision. This is the better option for a club that doesn't want to make anything public.

If you say which one you need, the club knows exactly what to do.

Who to ask

Start with whoever is easiest to reach:

The club secretary. You probably already have their email from the match confirmation.
The person who runs the camera or the club's media. Often a volunteer, coach or parent, and often the one who can actually share it.
The manager. Some referees on RefChat say this works best of all, especially for a quick chat after the game.
Your league referee coordinator, your mentor or your county FA's referee development officer. If the club doesn't know you, it often helps to have someone they do know ask for you.

When to ask

Ask early, then ask again.

Before the match. When you reply to the match confirmation, ask whether they're filming and whether you can have a copy. One referee found this clearly improved how often he got footage.
On the day. If you see the camera going up, have a quick, friendly word with whoever is setting it up.
Within 24 to 48 hours. Send the written request while the game is still fresh for both of you.

Don't leave it for weeks. People forget, and Veo only keeps full recordings for 6 or 12 months, depending on the club's plan. After that, a shared link only shows clips that were already made, not the full match. Once you have the link, import it soon.

Messages you can copy

Keep it short, polite and specific. Make clear that it's for your own development only.

1. The first ask (to the club secretary or the camera person)

Hi [name], thanks for having me on Saturday for [Home] v [Away]. If you filmed it on Veo, could I have a copy for my own development as a referee? A link to the full match that opens without a Veo login would be perfect, or the MP4 download if that's easier. It's only for my own development, and only my referee mentor will see it. I won't share it or post it anywhere, and I'll stop using it if you ask. Thanks, [name]

2. The follow-up (three or four days later)

Hi [name], just following up on Saturday's footage. I know you're busy. I'm mainly looking at a couple of moments, for example the penalty appeal around the 60th minute, to check my positioning. Same as before: it's only for my own development, it won't be shared, and I'll stop using it if you ask. Thanks again, [name]

3. Through your league, mentor or referee development officer

Hi [name], I refereed [Home] v [Away] on [date] and the club filmed it on Veo. I've asked them for a copy for my development but haven't heard back. Would you be willing to ask on my behalf? It's only for my own development, it would only be seen by me and you, it won't be shared, and I'll stop using it if the club asks. A link that opens without a Veo login or the MP4 file would both work. Thanks, [name]

Naming a moment really helps. "I'd like another look at the challenge in the 34th minute" is easier to say yes to than "can I have the whole game?"

If they say no, or don't reply

If a club says no, accept it politely and move on. They paid for the camera and the subscription. Some worry about footage reaching next week's opponents. Youth sides and academies often have safeguarding policies that rule it out completely. None of that is personal.

Then try another route:

Try the other club. They may have their own camera. If the home club used Veo's Share with Opponent feature, the away club will have a copy in their own Veo account that they can watch and download.
Ask your mentor, assessor or league to make the request for you, using the third message above.
Film it yourself. If you can't rely on club footage, put an iPhone on a tripod and use the Record tab in the Ref-Vision app. We process the recording into follow-cam style footage on your match. See Sideline recording for the setup.

Making it easier next time

Ask before kick-off, every time. It turns into a normal part of the day.
Get to know the clubs you referee often. A club that has sent footage once will usually send it again.
Keep your promise. Don't share it, don't post it, and stop using it if they ask. Word gets around in both directions.
Say thank you. Clubs want better referees too.

Part 2: Bringing it into Ref-Vision

Step 1: Import the link or upload the file

Create the match in your workspace and open it. Then:

For a Veo link: choose Veo import and paste the public link to the full match. Ref-Vision pulls in the follow-cam. Where they're available, Veo highlights and period markers come across as tags. Links to private or unlisted recordings that can't be opened publicly won't import, so do the private-window check first.
For an MP4: upload it from your device. Keep the browser tab open until the upload finishes. Processing runs in the background, and the video plays once it's done.

The Uploading video guide covers both.

Step 2: Line it up with your GPS and health data

If you wore the Ref-Vision Watch app, upload the session from your iPhone to the same match. If you used another watch or app, export a GPX, CSV or FIT file and import it on the match's GPS tab. Garmin, Polar, Strava, RefSix and Apple Watch exports all work. See the GPS import overview.

Then set one sync offset using something easy to spot, like kick-off, a whistle or a sprint. That one offset lines up your GPS, heart rate, heatmap and Watch event tags with the film. Mark the four corners of the pitch to get the heatmap and sprint map. See Sync and heatmaps, or our longer guide on how to analyse referee GPS and video together.

Step 3: Review the key moments and share them

Pick five to eight moments, not the whole 90 minutes. For each one, add a timestamped note on the Feedback tab saying what you saw, where you were and what you'd change.

Then invite your coach, mentor or assessor. You can add up to 10 collaborators. Each one can be read and write, so they can leave notes and tags, or read only. Use Copy link at â€¦ to send them the exact second you want to talk about. For a fuller weekly routine, see how football referees review match performance.

The review stays in your workspace with the people you invited, not in a group chat. That's what you promised the club.

Where Ref-Vision fits

Veo is the club's camera and the club's footage. Ref-Vision doesn't replace it. It's where you, as the referee, review that footage alongside your GPS, heart rate and coaching notes, on one match timeline. When there's no Veo, you can film it yourself with the app instead.

Individual referees can start from the pricing page, which includes a 7-day trial (card required). County FAs and referee groups can contact us about managed access for their officials.

Checklist

Ask about filming when you confirm the match.
Send the written request within 24 to 48 hours.
Ask for a full-match link that opens without a Veo login, or the MP4.
Promise: your own development only, no sharing, and you'll stop using it if they ask.
Follow up once, then go through your league or mentor.
Check the link in a private browser window, then import it straight away.
Sync your GPS from the same match.
Note five to eight moments and invite your mentor.
Say thank you.