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A GUIDE FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR RECRUITING 

IMG student using social media

Often when social media and college recruiting pop up in the news, the articles tell cautionary tales of recruits who have lost an offer or a scholarship because of poor social media choices.  

However, social media, when used properly, can be an effective recruiting tool. In fact, recruits can use the power of social media to contact coaches, show coaches what kind of recruit they are and even gain the attention of college coaches who weren’t previously recruiting them.

NCAA social media rules and policy for student-athletes 

The NCAA social media recruiting rules for athletes and coaches are less restrictive than traditional recruiting rules. High school athletes are allowed to reach out to college coaches on social media at any time, public or private.   

Coaches can communicate with recruits privately through a direct message (DM) once a sport’s contact period begins. NCAA social media rules allow coaches to “like” or “share” a student-athlete’s social media posts. However, coaches are prohibited from publicly commenting on a recruit’s social media profile until after the athlete has committed to their program. This is often referred to as the “click don’t type rule.” 

When can college coaches direct message recruits on social media?

Insider Tip: Many college coaches and athletic programs enforce their own social media policies that student-athletes are required to follow while representing the university. As you move through the recruiting process, be sure your social media presence and online behavior shows that you will be a reputable addition to their team.  

how coaches use social media for recruiting athletes

Following the NCAA rules on social media and college recruiting, coaches can DM the recruits to introduce themselves or wish a recruit good luck before a big game. But most importantly, coaches turn to social media to get a better understanding of a recruit’s personality and character. Coaches can now connect, evaluate and gather information about a prospective student-athlete without ever leaving the office.   

In fact, in a survey by Cornerstone Reputation, 83% of college coaches said their staff conducted online research of recruits. Of these coaches, 88% turned to Facebook, 82% have used Twitter and 54% have looked at Instagram to gain insight into a recruit’s character. Some coaches even use fake accounts to evaluate student- athletes and social media accounts.   

Do college coaches research recruits using social media?

B.J. Dunne, head basketball coach for Gettysburg College, discusses how he uses social media to identify prospective student-athletes. Check out this video where he explains how important social media is in college recruiting.  

TIPS FOR ATHLETES USING SOCIAL MEDIA 

When it comes to social media and college recruiting, not all coaches are the same. There will be some sports and coaches that gravitate towards certain platforms. We encourage you to always do your research on which platform is best suited for you in college recruiting. The below resources provide guidance on how to use each platform to get recruited.  

HOW TO SET UP AN ATHLETE SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE  

Step 1: Create your profile(s) 

Our network of recruiting experts have identified X, Instagram, and TikTok as the top social media platforms for college recruits. When setting up one of these profiles, you will need to include your: 

twitter Profile Call Outs

Manage your social media privacy settings to make sure your accounts are public and visible to college coaches. This allow you to expand your recruiting network and connect you with college coaches who may be interested in recruiting you.  

If you already have an existing account, start by conducting a thorough sweep and clean up any inappropriate posts, likes, or photos that could potentially hurt your chances of being recruited. If you realize that you, or a friend, posted something you shouldn’t have on your social media, delete it immediately.   

Learn how to craft a Twitter profile that will help you get discovered by college coaches.   

Step 2: Follow your top schools 

Prioritize following coaches from the schools you are most interested in . You should also search for and follow the program’s strength and conditioning coaches, trainers, some current athletes and the university/college. These resources may post workouts you can try or give you insights into the athletes’ day-to-day schedule. The information you gather from following these accounts will be helpful conversation starters to use when you’re emailing, texting or direct messaging a coach.  

Step 3: Posting 

After your account is set up and you’ve followed your top college programs, it’s time to start posting. Below is a guide to what college coaches want to see on your profile: 

Step 4: DM college coaches 

Think about DMs as another tool in your belt to communicate with coaches. Be aware the NCAA social media recruiting rules specify certain times coaches can – and can’t – reach out to their recruits. They might not be able to respond depending on the contact period.  

If you receive a direct message from a coach, always respond promptly. Be appreciative of the time and attention a coach is taking to recruit you. 

monitor your accounts

WHAT DO YOU DM A COLLEGE COACH?  

You’re ready to send your first DM to a college coach. Just like when sending an email to a college coach, keep your DM short and to the point. Follow these DM guidelines to leverage your social media and college recruiting:  

If you are no longer interested in being recruited by that school, respectfully let the coach know so they can move on. Coaches don’t appreciate being “ghosted” by recruits. And guess what? They talk. Keep in mind that coaches often change jobs. While they might not be at the school you’re interested in now, they could be in 6 months.   

HOW TO ANNOUNCE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA 

Receiving a college offer to compete in your sport is a big deal. And you should be proud of it! In fact, posting your college offers on social media can be an asset to your recruiting process. When posting on social media, make each post unique to the school and coach that offered you. Mention how grateful you are for the opportunity and “tag” the coach or athletic program you received the offer from. 

Insider tip: Your posts are not private. Never, ever invent or inflate an offer just to get attention. Coaches, fans and even other recruits will do their research and they can easily find out eventually if your offer is not legit. This kind of behavior can eventually leave you with no offers. 

mistakes athletes make on social media

MISTAKES ATHLETES MAKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA 

Today’s generation of athletes are characterized as being social media-savvy, but mistakes happen. And they can be costly. Athletes are losing scholarships due to social media behavior. To make sure you are not one of those athletes, we’ve created a list of social media don’ts to keep in mind: 

Insider tip: Everything you post online is accessible to college coaches. Even if your account is private or a coach doesn’t follow you on every platform, your followers can share and take screenshots of your content. One way or another, college coaches will get their eyes on it. Think twice before you post.  

Can athletes losing scholarships due to social media?

Yes. College coaches want to make sure a recruit they bring into their program is a reputable individual and can follow their student-athlete social media policy. Your behavior and actions online can have serious consequences, including losing a scholarship offer from your dream school. Learn how to use social media for college recruitment, so you don’t ruin your chance at competing at the next level. 

DO YOU HAVE A FREE NCSA PROFILE?  

Social media is a powerful recruiting tool that athletes can use to showcase their skills, keep up with college sports programs and contact coaches. For more tips on how to use your social media accounts to get recruited, create a free NCSA profile and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).