Social Media: Your Recruiting Stage

Talent on the field isn’t always enough anymore—visibility is just as important. In today’s recruiting landscape, social media can be a game-changer. It’s not just about dropping stats or highlight reels; it’s about building a personal brand that shows coaches your skills, work ethic, and character. Done right, social media becomes more than a platform—it’s your digital resume.

When to Start

Start early. Ideally, players should create accounts in middle school (around 8th grade). Why so soon? Because building a consistent, authentic presence takes time. By the time coaches start watching, you’ll already have a track record that shows growth, effort, and personality.

And let’s be clear—private accounts don’t help in recruiting. Coaches can’t recruit what they can’t see. If parents are concerned, they can manage the account, but being invisible online puts players at a disadvantage.

Pro tip: choose a handle close to your actual name so coaches don’t have to play detective to find you.

Platforms That Matter

Not all platforms are created equal. Here’s where to focus:

• Facebook – Team ProfileAudience: Parents, family, friends, and prospective player parents.Reality: Colleges aren’t scouting here, but it’s still important—it keeps the people who fund the journey in the loop.

• Instagram – Team/Player ProfileAudience: Players, peers, and some college coaches (secondary).Reality: Great for highlights, culture, and personality. Coaches may peek, but it’s not their primary tool.

• X (formerly Twitter)Audience: College coaches.Reality: This is the #1 recruiting platform. If you’re serious, this is where you need to be active.

What to Do at Each Stage

• Middle School (8th Grade)

  • Create accounts (especially X).

  • Start following, liking, and commenting to grow a network.

  • Share early clips, workouts, or team moments.

• Freshman Year

  • Stay active on X.

  • Post video clips, game schedules, training highlights, and progress.

  • Keep it consistent—coaches notice patterns of work and growth.

Bottom Line

Social media isn’t optional—it’s strategy. Every player who dreams of competing at the next level should treat their profiles as an extension of their recruiting profile. Players who start early, stay consistent, and keep their content public don’t just play the game—they get seen.

Because at the end of the day, being talented is great. Being talented and visible? That’s how you get recruited.