Social Media Do's and Don'ts for Recruits: What Coaches Are Really Looking For

Your social media presence is part of your recruiting profile, whether you like it or not.

Coaches are checking your accounts, count on it. They're looking at what you post, who you follow, what you comment on, and what others tag you in. One inappropriate post or questionable interaction can derail your recruitment faster than a poor game performance. But social media isn't just a minefield to navigate, it's also an opportunity.

Used strategically, your social accounts can enhance your recruiting profile and keep you on coaches' radars.

The audit

Before you do anything else, audit your current social media presence across all platforms. Go through every post, photo, video, and comment from the past two years. Delete anything that could be remotely controversial: profanity, references to drugs or alcohol, provocative photos, political extremes, negative comments about teachers or coaches, or anything that doesn't reflect your best self. Check what others have tagged you in. Untag yourself from posts that don't align with the image you want to project. Review your comment history; coaches look at how you interact with others online, not just what you post yourself. This isn't about being fake. It's about professionalism.

Content that impresses

Once you've cleaned house, focus on building a social media presence that enhances your recruiting profile. Post content that showcases: training and workout sessions showing dedication, game highlights and achievements, keeping your profile current, team success and camaraderie demonstrating you're a team player, academic achievements like honors or awards, community service and leadership activities showing character beyond sports, and respectful engagement with sports content. The key is authenticity. Don't create a completely sanitized, robotic social presence. Show personality and share your interests. Just make sure that the self is someone a college coach would want representing their program.

platform strategy

Twitter/X is your most public recruiting platform. Follow college coaches, engage with programs you're interested in, share your athletic achievements, and post your schedule. Keep it professional, think of Twitter as your recruiting billboard. Instagram is more personal but still public. Balance athletic content with glimpses of your life outside sports. Show your personality while maintaining professionalism. TikTok is newer to recruiting but increasingly relevant. Fun, authentic content works here, but remember, coaches might watch. LinkedIn is often overlooked but valuable. Create a professional profile highlighting your academic and athletic achievements. This shows maturity and career awareness.

absolute deal breakers

Certain behaviors are absolute dealbreakers for coaches. Avoid: profanity and inappropriate language even in comments, any reference to drugs, alcohol, or illegal activities, disparaging coaches, teammates, opponents, or schools, provocative or sexually suggestive content, extreme political views or divisive content, bullying or harassment, poor sportsmanship or celebrating opponents' failures, and complaints about teachers, school, or playing time. Making your accounts completely private isn't the answer; coaches want to see your social media. Use privacy settings strategically, but remember that anything you post online can potentially be seen by coaches. Screenshots get shared, and nothing is truly private. The safest approach is to never post anything you wouldn't be comfortable with a coach seeing.

engagement and recovery

Following and engaging with college programs on social media is encouraged. Like posts from schools you're interested in, share their content occasionally, and comment respectfully on their achievements. When you attend camps or unofficial visits, tag the school and thank them. When they win championships, congratulate them. These interactions build familiarity and show you're following their program actively. If you've already posted something regrettable, address it head-on. Delete the content immediately, and if it was particularly problematic, consider addressing it directly with the coaches you're in contact with. A brief, sincere acknowledgment of poor judgment shows maturity. Your social media presence is part of your recruiting package. Take control of this narrative by being intentional about what you post, how you engage, and what brand you're building.

Need help optimizing your social media presence?

Book a free consultation with Next Play Athletics Consulting at https://www.nextplayathleticsconsulting.com/ for digital brand strategy today.