Searching for talent can be tough. Especially if you are a recruiter searching for talented high school athletes to play on a college team. Not only does the recruiter have to be sure of strong athletic talent, but the team also needs players that can make the grade in order to stay on the team. By now you may be wondering how Instagram plays a part in this. Believe it or not, Instagram is actually a big help.
As I said before, recruiters need to be sure that a player can make the grade. What better way to find out than taking a peek at the player as a person? Are they responsible? Would they sacrifice a night out for a night hitting the books? Are they garnering real engagement, trading likes with others, or even going so far as buying Instagram likes?
This is not only true for academics, but also in terms of looking at a potential player’s personality and behaviors. Who are you? What makes you tick? What kind of player will you be like on the team?
Not only will college team recruiters look at potential players’ college applications, but they will also use social media to their own advantage. College coaches use social media to promote their programs to student-athletes. College coaches and athletic departments are taking to social media to celebrate recruits joining them. As well as to fit in better with the younger crowd.
This quote from NCSA sports states:
“Nothing has impacted recruiting more in the last 20 years than social media,” Nebraska director of player personnel Ryan Gunderson told ESPN. “It has revolutionized recruiting. Sure, cell phones have had a huge influence in the process, allowing recruiters to go mobile with their communication. But with today’s technology, cell phones are merely a vehicle for social media use.”
One coach recently wrote about the micro-behavior of courage, where she said that the number one trait college coaches look for is courage. What exactly does that mean?
This goes back to what I said about players turning down a late night romp. Coaches also want to see players talk to their friends on the team about a bad decision they might be tempted to make, and convince others to make what might seem like the unpopular decision.
That’s why your parents are always getting on to you about what you post on your social media accounts. You never know who can be assessing them. College teams, college recruiters, talent agencies, all of these types of businesses use social media to find talent.
If you are an aspiring athlete and want to make sure your Instagram page can keep you in the running for a draft, just keep these things in mind. Never post any pictures that you wouldn’t mind your grandparents seeing! Post things that show you in a positive light. Don’t get into any online fights or use any offensive language. If you follow these steps, you’ll more than likely be Instagram safe when it comes to college coaches and recruiters. Just remember to smile in your pictures and wear your team jersey. Having their college flag somewhere probably won’t hurt either.
