Building a Positive Social Media Reputation for Student Athletes

Having a reputable social media presence can help athletes showcase their skills and character. 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. Coaches and recruiters often look at athletes' social media accounts before seriously considering them, so it is important for athletes to make sure they have a positive online presence.

Benefits for athletes of having a positive social media presence

• A collegiate athlete can earn money from their name, image and likeness (NIL) through various sponsorships that may include posting branded content on social media, attending events with fans, being on billboards, or advertising and promoting a business
• College coaches look at potential recruits' social media profiles, so it is important to make sure athletes keep their accounts reputable 
• Athletes can use social media as a place to promote their talents and get noticed by recruiters

Effects of Athletes social media profiles in the news

Marquette University rescinded an incoming student’s scholarship and offer of admission after screenshots of a Snapchat she posted commenting on George Floyd’s death drew outrage on social media. Screenshots of the post have ricocheted across Twitter, drawing condemnation for an “offensive comment” (Source: 2aDays)

It’s no secret that college coaches are looking at social media accounts. Eighty three percent of college coaches surveyed by Cornerstone Reputation said their staff conducted online research of recruits. (Source: Sports Engine Play)

The average income from NIL deals for student-athletes ranges from $1,000 to $10,000. However, we’ve seen cases where some athletes have earned much more than that. (Source: as)

The importance of athletes having a positive social media presence

• Many coaches and athletic programs enforce a social media policy that collegiate and high school athletes are required to follow while representing their team. It will be easier to follow these policies if athletes are already in the habit of keeping a positive online reputation
• Negative behaviors online can have serious consequences, including losing a scholarship offer from a dream university
• Athletes are allowed to reach out to college coaches on social media. This opens the door for coaches and recruiters to see the athlete’s profile and online presence

Screen time during games

• Many athletes are on their phones during practice and games; this can lead to players being distracted and can even affect their attitude and performance
• Many coaches have rules around athletes being on their phones during games that may lead to less playtime if broken
• It is important to set screen time boundaries with your student so they know when it is appropriate to be on social media or their phone

Social Media Needs to Become More Business than Pleasure

Nic Mayne, Player Advisor, Sports Marketing Strategist, Business Lawyer

Social media factors into recruiting/team placement decisions, and a student's social media should be a positive representation of the team. Social media is an important tool for making an athlete more marketable to teams, coaches, and fans.

‍One of the first things I recommend to players is building a consistent social media brand—which includes a thorough online reputation check to make sure the player is representing him or herself positively. Especially with hockey, where I do most of my work, coaches and scouts are increasingly active on social media networks like Twitter, and building up online influence can even be a way to make first contact with prospective teams. I can promote athletes with highlight videos and gifs on Twitter and have scouts getting a first look right there online.

Of course, the flip side is that social media can also be an incredibly destructive tool. No matter how great your skill level on the ice, on the court, or on the field, social media mishaps can cause serious harm to your reputation. If college coaches sense from your social-media posts that you have trouble getting along with others, engage in risky behaviors, or show other warning signs, that could easily jeopardize your prospects as a student athlete. (It's no different in the pros, where you see young players getting traded away because they develop a bad reputation from social media mishaps.) 

The bottom line is this: at any stage in your career, from high-school freshmen to the upper echelons of professional play, if you plan to make sports an important part of your college experience or choose sports as a career, social media needs to become more business than pleasure. You can be yourself, but you need to keep your posts clean and positive. There is no wall between online engagement and real life—in today's environment, it all runs together. So use social media as a tool to show your best side as an athlete and as a person, and the effort will pay off tenfold.

Exposure to College Culture

Sonja Montiel, Leadership Coach & Facilitator

Social media platforms expose high-school students to what college teams are doing, how they are interacting with each other, and how they are highlighting achievements in their sport. For a high school athlete, this helps paint a picture of what this world is going to look like for them once they graduate and enter college athletics.

The quality of video is also important. Make sure that you utilize the tools and people available to you to create a clear video with a high-quality image for coaches to view. Separately, remember that admissions and athletic recruitment are related, so both departments will be looking at all aspects of your online profile, including social media, and talking to each other about what you have out there. If you have social media accounts that reflect poorly on who you are, admissions will find these and share them with coaches.

Personalize Your Footprint

Kellye McKinna, Founder & Director McKinna Learning Academy

I think it is really important to personalize your footprint. I think it is important that each kid create their own space. I have also heard from coaches that it is important that those videos are not just you in the middle of the game kicking the ball and making the best shot, hitting the home run, etc. They need to see you in a variety of aspects of your game, and they also need to see you as a person, so they are looking for something that shows a little bit of character, a little bit of commentary from the student him or herself.

It is important for our kids to not only do the research but then to create a story about their skills and assets that fit the schools they are trying to play for. We help students create web pages that present a picture of who they are in regard to their character, their athleticism, and their academics. Then we connect these web pages with their Twitter account and other platforms for social media.

Conclusion

Maintaining a positive and reputable social media presence is a crucial and powerful tool for showcasing talents, connecting with coaches, and opening doors to potential recruitment and sponsorship opportunities. It is important for student athletes to set social media boundaries so they are not distracted during game time. Having a reputable social media presence can set athletes apart and enhance their opportunities in the sporting world.