Whenever social media and college athletic recruiting pop up in the news, the articles usually focus on recruits who have lost an offer or a scholarship because of their 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.

The NCAA social media rules for athletes and the interactions between coaches are less restrictive than traditional recruiting rules but can be a little confusing. 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. At this time, NCAA social media rules allow coaches to “like” or “share” a student-athlete’s social media post.

Social media has transformed the way college coaches are recruiting athletes. With today’s generation spending much of their time on social media, coaches have evolved to communicate with recruits on the platforms they are most comfortable and likely to engage. Coaches can now connect, evaluate and gather information about a prospective student-athlete without ever leaving the office. 
 

A social connection is often the first step to show interest in recruiting an athlete, and vice versa. Following the NCAA rules on social media and college recruitment, coaches can DM the recruits they’re most interested in 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.
 

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. By understanding how coaches use social media, student-athletes can better learn how to use social media for college recruitment.

How to use social media for college recruiting begins with your initial set up. When coaches search for student-athletes and social media, there are key pieces of information they want to know right away. 
 

A good profile should include your location, high school and/or club team, class year, GPA and sport specific position(s). Most importantly, athletes should always include a link to their highlight video or NCSA profile. 

Athletes wondering how to use social media for college recruiting can post their favorite articles about their sport, highlight or skills videos, and share inspirational quotes.
 

You can also call out academic or athletic awards you’ve received, positive camp experiences, college visits you’ve been on and firm offers from coaches. To avoid appearing too self-promoting, mention your achievements in a post by thanking your teammates, coaches and parents for their support. 
 

You can also show support towards your teammates by sharing news about college visits and offers they’ve received. Remember all eyes are on student-athletes and social media. Be mindful of the content you promote on your social media accounts and find ways to demonstrate good character.
https://www.ncsasports.org/recruiting/contacting-college-coaches/social-media