Ultimate Guide to Social Media for College Recruiting

As a new, tech-savvy generation of coaches advances to top positions in NCAA sports, social media plays an increasingly large role in college recruitment. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) help schools connect with prospective athletes from around the world and allow coaches access to crucial insight and information on recruits without leaving the office.  

“More than ever, social media is important,” says Gettysburg head basketball coach B.J. Dunne. “When we’re not physically able to go to events, it’s another way for us to dig up some names and do some research.”  

Social media offers a great opportunity to showcase your best highlights, demonstrate your interest in programs, and help you be prepared for any NIL opportunities. But remember: social media can also cost opportunities. 

We’ve composed a guide of the dos and don’ts and best practices for student-athletes looking to understand how to use social media for college recruiting. 

NCAA Social Media Rules and Policy for Student-Athletes 

NCAA social media rules for athletes impact direct communication, posting schedules and more. High school athletes are allowed to reach out to college coaches on social media at any time, public or private, but can college coaches respond? That depends on where student-athletes are in the recruiting process. 

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“. 

In addition, coaches can only respond to DMs from athletes during certain periods – so if you aren’t getting a reply, know that it may just be that they’re not allowed to send one. Check the contact period rules to learn if a coach can respond. 

It is important to stay compliant with the NCAA social media rules to protect your eligibility. 

Choosing the Right Platforms

When it comes to social media and college recruiting, not all platforms are equal. Some sports and coaches gravitate towards certain platforms.  

• Our network of athletic recruiting experts identified X, Instagram, and TikTok as the most used social media platforms for college recruiting.
• X (formerly Twitter) is the main hub for coaches actively engaging in college recruitment and team promotion.
• Instagram allows users to create a highlight reel of their experiences through a series of photos and videos, giving coaches an opportunity to learn about a recruit’s character and how they conduct themselves online. 
• TikTok pushes a variety of short-form videos related to a user’s interest and allows coaches to connect with a younger generation of student-athletes.  

How To Set Up Recruit-Friendly Social Profiles

Once you’ve chosen which platforms you’ll be using, you will want to start setting up your recruit-friendly social profiles.  

When setting up profiles, you will need to include your:  

• Location  

• High school and/or club team  

• Class year  

• GPA and sport specific position(s).   

• Highlight video 

• NCSA Profile 

Here’s an example below:

Below are some additional tips to optimize your username and athlete profile bio. 

Username and Bio Tips: Make It Easy For Coaches To Find You

Your username and bio across all your social media accounts should make it easy for coaches to identify you easily. Here are some tips: 

• Your username should incorporate your real name in the clearest and most professional way possible. If you have a common name, biological details like your uniform number, position or year of birth are good differentiators.   

• Use a photo of yourself in uniform or in action for all profile pictures.  

• All recruits using Instagram should include “student-athlete” in their “Bio” section and follow our simple guide to set up a profile page that gives coaches the details that matter.  

Content Strategy and Tone 

What should you post on social media? Adding a bit of personality to your social media presence can help you stand out among the field of potential recruits in your sport. But it’s important to balance your personal brand with your professional and academic goals.  

As a student-athlete on social media, the best way to gain interest from college coaches is to be active and positive. Focus on material that shows you are coachable, dedicated to your sport, and committed to helping others.  

Posting Best Practices: 

• DO NOT post inappropriate language or jokes, racial or sexist slurs, overtly political opinions, or negative emotions like anger and jealousy.  

• DO post your sport IQ. Post your favorite sports articles, highlight or skills videos, and share inspirational quotes.  

• DO post your athletic and academic achievements. Be your own advocate and promote your successes in a humble way.   

• DO give credit to the people who help you. Show support to your teammates, teachers, and coaches who have helped you overcome challenges.    

• DO show positivity when faced with adversity. For example, if you’re struggling to learn a new skill or nervous about a big test coming up, find a way to show them you’re excited to overcome your setback and track your progress along the way.    

• DO let your personality show. Coaches want to recruit athletes who will be a good fit for their team culture. Find ways to demonstrate good character.   

Guidelines for Direct Messaging 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:   

• Do your research. Find out where coaches in your sport are most active. If you see a coach hasn’t used their Twitter in a while, it’s best to find another way to communicate with them. Make sure the coach is still at the school you’re interested in.   

• Read staff bios. Open your message with something unique about the program or coaching staff. Showing effort to build a personal connection with a coach can go a long way.   

• Keep it professional.  Make sure your message is thoughtful and well-written. Avoid using abbreviations, shortcuts and jargon.  

• Humility is your best friend. Do not ask a coach for a scholarship in your DM. There’s a time and place to discuss scholarship opportunities.  

• Be specific. Introduce yourself with your name, class year, hometown, high school or club team, GPA, test scores and position. Don’t forget to link to your NCSA Profile so the coach can view your information!   

• Keep your eye on the time. You don’t want to DM a coach at inappropriate hours of the day.  

• Keep messaging, but don’t abuse it. Once you’ve made your first connection, you’ll want to keep future DMs newsworthy. For example, send an update to a coach if you just added new game footage to your highlight video, or your GPA just moved up.    

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 six months.    

Platform-Specific Social Media Tips for College Recruiting 

Not all social media platforms are the same when it comes to their style, audience, and engagement methods. As such, how to use each for college recruiting will be different.  

Below we provide tips for standing out on each social platform and some best practices. 

How To Use Instagram to Get Recruited 

Do coaches look at Instagram? Yes. Coaches recruiting on Instagram use the platform to get an in-depth look at student-athletes that might fit their program. But they also look at Instagram to get a sense of your personality and character.  

They want to see your growth as a player as you continue to develop skills, win games and reach new achievements. A regularly updated Instagram account is an excellent resource for coaches to keep up with you.  

Because the platform has a strong visual focus, Instagram is a great tool to help athletes showcase highlights, training, and their personal interests.  

What to Include in Your Instagram bio

Your Instagram bio should include the basic information coaches need to recruit you. Use your real name and choose a profile photo that shows your face. If possible, these should be identical across all of your social media platforms.   

What to include in your Instagram bio:   

• Indicate you are a “student-athlete” 

• The sport(s) you play   

• Your position(s)   

• Your club or high school team name   

• Your graduating year   

• Your hometown   

• Include a link to your NCSA profile or highlight video. 

With this information, coaches should easily be able to identify you in their search.    

Posting and Engagement Best Practices   

What Athletes Should Post on Instagram: 

• Game highlights. This is the best way to showcase your talent to coaches. Highlight your favorite games and big moments.  (Upgrade your NCSA membership now to get professionally made highlight videos)   

• Tournaments, camps and showcases. Coaches want to see that you’re attending competitive events. Document your recent experiences at these events.    

• Training sessions. Capture what you’re doing in each of your training sessions. Show coaches that you are putting in the work to make yourself a better athlete through strength exercises and drills.   

• Social media trends. Instagram can be a great place for recruits to show off some cool tricks and skills. Pay attention to current social media trends. If you see anything related to your sport or unique skillset, film a video of yourself and put your own little twist on it to post to Instagram.    

• Photos with teammates. Coaches want to find athletes who are good teammates. Posting photos of you engaging with your teammates, or celebrating a big win together is important for coaches to see.   

Getting Noticed on Instagram 

To get college coaches to follow you on Instagram, engagement is important. Student-athletes can use the following strategies for following and engaging with college teams’ accounts and coaches.  

• Follow coaches, programs, athletes, trainers, and sport-specific accounts. These accounts will be notified that you followed them and entice them to check out your profile.   

• Direct message coaches. The direct message (DM) tool on Instagram is a great way for athletes to connect with college coaches and notify them of your Instagram account. Keep any DMs to coaches short, humble, and professional, but be sure to include the relevant details of your recruitment and something specific about the program that makes you think you’d be a good fit.   

• Tag accounts and use hashtags. Using popular hashtags and tagging other accounts can increase content views and help college coaches discover your account. But don’t go overboard. Coaches won’t mind your self-promotion in limited doses, but no one wants to be bombarded with it.   

How To Use Twitter for College Recruiting

X (formerly Twitter) is the main hub for coaches actively engaging in college recruitment and team promotion. We’ve helped thousands of young athletes learn how to use Twitter to get recruited.

Now we’ll show you how to make the most of your “X” profile to boost your visibility and improve your chances of getting noticed and recruited. 

Setting Up Your Twitter Profile for Recruiting 

Your Twitter profile is often the first thing coaches see—make it count with these tips: 

• Cover the Basics: Include your full name, graduation year, location, position/event, and high school or club team. 

• Use a Clear Photo: Choose a profile picture in your sports gear. Use the same one across platforms for easy recognition. 

• Link Your NCSA Profile: Add your NCSA Profile link so coaches can easily find key details. Don’t have one? Create it for free. 

• Pin a Highlight Video: Pin your top highlight or skills video to the top of your feed to immediately showcase your talent. 

• Adjust Your Settings: Make your profile public and enable DMs from everyone. Stay safe—verify anyone claiming to be a coach or recruiter. 

Follow these steps to turn your profile into a powerful tool for attracting college coaches.

Check out this example of a well-set-up recruiting profile: 

Posting and Engagement Best Practices   

What Athletes Should Post on Twitter:  

• Team Schedule: Share your high school or club schedule so coaches can follow your progress or attend games. 

• Achievements: Post about tournament wins, standout moments, or camp experiences. 

• Recruitment Updates: Visiting a college? Tag the coach, school, and team to show appreciation. Got an offer? Share the news—coaches track your recruiting status. 

• Celebrate your teammates’ wins to show sportsmanship. 

• Video Highlights: Post skills videos or game footage. NCSA profiles with video are 10x more likely to be seen—upload it there, too! 

• Keep It Clean: Avoid inappropriate content. Your feed should reflect character and maturity—remember, old tweets resurface. 

Connecting with College Coaches on Twitter 

X is a platform that thrives on real-time communication, allowing recruits to interact directly with prospective NCAA coaches and programs. 

How To DM College Coaches on Twitter 

Sending a direct message (DM) to a college coach is a great way to land on a school’s radar.  

• Keep your DMs simple, purposeful, and positive. Always follow a coach’s profile before contacting them. Engaging with and replying to their posts is a great way to build a connection if the coach is active on Twitter.  

• Don’t bombard a coach’s inbox, but it’s OK to DM or tag them in posts when you’ve got something relevant to share, like after a camp or college visit. They’ll tune you out if you overdo it. 

• Show consistency, positivity, and your continued interest in their program. That’s how to get college coaches to follow you on Twitter.  

Should You Tag College Coaches on Twitter? 
Yes—when done right, tagging coaches can support your recruiting goals. Tag a coach to: 

• Connect if their account is private 

• Highlight an unofficial or official visit 

• Share a scholarship offer 

• Congratulate them on a win or achievement 

When Not to Tag Coaches: 

• No prior interaction or clear reason 

• Too frequently or without relevance 

• In posts with offensive or negative content, including trash talking an opponent 

Getting Noticed on Twitter 

To get the most out of using Twitter for college recruiting, stay proactive. College coaches want to see focus, consistency and dedication, and staying engaged on Twitter can help show your commitment to your goals.

These tips offer a guide on how athletes can use Twitter for college recruiting: 

• Keep Your Profile Updated: Pin your NCSA profile link so coaches can easily access your video, GPA, and more. Want a standout video? Consider upgrading your membership for a pro edit. 

• Be Proactive: Don’t wait—follow coaches, engage with their posts, and send DMs to show interest and learn about their programs. Replying to college coaches’ tweets, mentioning their accounts, or retweeting their posts will help keep you on their radar. 

• Check in on your target coaches and programs: Get a sense of what type of content – and what type of player – appeals to them.  

• Share Recruiting Milestones: Post updates about visits and offers to spark more interest from coaches. 

• Use the Right Hashtags: Add relevant recruiting and sport-specific hashtags to increase tweet visibility. 

• Leverage Your Network: Ask coaches, teammates, or trainers to post about you—one retweet could make a big difference. 

• Stay Professional: Keep posts and interactions respectful—your Twitter reflects you as a recruit. 

TikTok for Recruiting 

Do college coaches look at TikTok? While they haven’t yet fully embraced it as a means for finding recruits, they’re at least paying attention. TikTok has over a billion users worldwide, and TikTok videos and trends often break through to other social-media platforms. 

How athletes can use TikTok for recruiting 

Student-athletes hoping to get recruited on TikTok should share training clips, behind-the-scenes footage, game highlights, and video diaries that show coaches their love for their sport.

Here are some other ways it can be used to boost visibility: 

• Optimize your profile: Include your full name, graduation year, position, team, and a clear sports photo. 

• Show your personality: Participate in trends that align with your sport and keep content authentic. 

• Engage with the community: Follow, like, and comment on content from coaches, programs, and athletes. 

A strong, consistent presence can help coaches get a better sense of your skills and mindset. 

Best Practices on TikTok 

It’s OK to be light-hearted and a bit silly on TikTok, and some trends lend themselves well to athletes in the recruiting process. But recruits should hold to the same standards as on other platforms and keep everything positive. Not all TikTok trends are suitable for prospective athletes. 

Just like on Twitter and Instagram, it’s OK to tag college coaches and programs on TikTok.  

The same NCAA rules apply: They can follow you and like or share your videos, but they cannot comment on them until you’re committed to their program.  

Maintaining a Positive Digital Footprint Across All Platforms 

Avoiding Previous Mistakes 

In 2022, the University of Florida withdrew a scholarship from a high-school quarterback because an Instagram video he shared showed him rapping along to a song with a racial slur.  

In 2021, a track athlete lost his scholarship to North Dakota State University due to a history of offensive TikToks.  

Athletes lose scholarships and recruits get passed over because of mistakes on social media.  

Don’t let it happen to you.  

If you already have a social media account on any platform, the first step of your recruiting process should be making sure there’s nothing in your social media past that could cost you an opportunity to play at the next level.  

Start at the beginning. Monitor every post for anything that anybody might consider offensive, inappropriate or hateful.  

If you have to think about it, delete it.

This includes your likes, your shares, and your retweets. Everything you put on social media is a reflection of you as an athlete and potential recruit.  

Staying Compliant with NCAA Rules 

NCAA social media policy for recruits allows student-athletes to contact coaches and programs at any point in their recruiting process.  

Though the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness policy allows many college athletes to earn money from their social-media profiles without violating eligibility rules, NIL rules vary by state and school.  

Do your research and make sure you’re complying with your target schools’ policies before you try to monetize your brand.

Click here to learn more about NIL 

Responding to Coach Interactions 

When a college coach engages with you on social media, respond quickly to show them your continued excitement about their program. Be clear, professional, and gracious.  

How To Maximize Exposure and Cross-Promotion 

Make sure to cross-promote your presence on every social media platform, including links to your Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and NCSA profile pages in your bio on each site.  

Pin your most recent highlight package to the top of your Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to update all your pages with new highlight clips whenever they come in.  

Tracking Your Efforts 

If you’re new to social media or not naturally inclined toward it, set goals to make sure you’re checking in and posting regularly.  

• Keep track of any engagements you see from coaches or programs, and make sure to keep those schools updated when you’ve got new highlights or accolades to share.  

• Monitor your progress on social media by checking in on your follower counts, views, likes, and direct messages.  

• Don’t get discouraged, and don’t worry about going viral.  

The best social media network for recruiting is a steadily growing group of followers who are tapped into your sport. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion 

While many high-school athletes vie for coaches’ attention on social media, the ones that stand out are the ones that proactively engage with target programs and maintain consistent, authentic, and professional profiles.  

Contacting coaches and programs on social media at any time in your recruiting journey is compliant with NCAA rules, and keeping active and focused on social media can help show programs that you’re dedicated to your athletic and academic goals.  

NCSA is here to support student-athletes and parents using social media as a tool for recruitment. By following NCSA on social media (you can even reshare some of our posts to your accounts), working with us to create professional-quality highlight videos, attending our social media workshops, and reaching out to college programs through your NCSA profile, you’ll stay on track in your recruiting journey—and be one step closer to finding the right school that fits your academic and athletic goals. 

Don’t have an NCSA profile yet? Create a free profile today or upgrade to a premium membership to message coaches directly. Have one platform where 40,000+ college coaches are waiting to review your highlight videos, transcripts and more. We’re excited to welcome you!