game on communications etiquette
Recruitment and Twitter
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Social media changes so fast that it ’ s hard to know when using it is appropriate . It might come as a surprise that many athletes use Twitter to reach out to college programs they ’ re interested in . It doesn ’ t guarantee a response , but it does help keep your name fresh in the coach ’ s mind , and provides easy communication !
Before you send that first DM to the coach : The first step is , of course , to follow the program and head coach you ’ re interested in . But you might want to take it a little further than that and follow other individuals in the program as well , such as assistant coaches , current athletes , strength and conditioning coaches , etc . Doing this allows you to get an inside look at how the team operates and what they might be looking for in a recruit .
TIP : Make sure you enable your account to receive direct messages from people you aren ’ t currently following so they can reach out to you .
Who Should I DM ? Obviously you want to message the head coach , but don ’ t forget assistant coaches or recruiting coordinators . Read staff bios for the school to find your contacts .
What Should I Say ? Keep it short and be specific , but also make it personal . Coaches get a lot of communication from athletes so you want to stand out . Be humble , but don ’ t be afraid to state your accomplishments ( awards , firm scholarship offers , etc .).
TIP : Upload a highlight video of your performance ! This is the best way for a coach to evaluate you .
Keep in Mind While you can reach out anytime , there are rules about when a coach is allowed to contact prospective athletes , so if you don ’ t hear back immediately , don ’ t worry ! As long as you are making yourself visible and showing interest , you ’ re doing your part .
TIP : Recruiting calendars for each sport can be found at www . NCAA . org / student-athletes . These contain contact , evaluation and quiet period dates along with definitions for each .
Don ’ t Forget ! Coaches are looking at your profile , which means you need to do a sweep of your account before reaching out to anyone . Anything that shows you in a negative light needs to be deleted immediately , and you need to be careful about what you post going forward . Athletes have lost opportunities because of something inappropriate on their social media accounts , so take this seriously !
TIP : Be sure to also set your account so that nothing can be posted to your account without your approval .
24 | Fall 2017 www . potentialmagazine . com