In today’s digital world, social media can be a game-changer for athletes—both positively and negatively. Whether your athlete is looking to get recruited, build their personal brand, or simply stay connected, their online presence matters.

A single post can open doors—or close them. Here’s a guide to the social media do’s and don’ts for athletes to help them make smart choices online.

✅ DO: Use Social Media to Showcase Your Journey

Social media is a great way for athletes to share their hard work, achievements, and passion for their sport. College coaches and recruiters often check an athlete’s profiles to get a sense of their work ethic, attitude, and character.

🏆 What to post:
✔️ Game highlights, training videos, and personal bests.
✔️ Team moments, celebrations, and behind-the-scenes clips.
✔️ Positive messages, goal updates, and inspirational content.

🔹 Pro tip: Keep content authentic and professional. Even fun posts should reflect your dedication and personality in a positive way.

❌ DON’T: Post Anything That Could Hurt Your Reputation

A single inappropriate post can damage an athlete’s opportunities—whether it’s getting recruited, landing sponsorships, or building a fanbase. Even deleted posts can resurface.

🚫 Avoid posting:
❌ Negative comments about teammates, coaches, or opponents.
❌ Profanity, offensive jokes, or inappropriate memes.
❌ Partying, drinking, or any behavior that could be seen as irresponsible.

🔹 Pro tip: Before posting, ask yourself: Would I be okay with my coach, grandma, or future employer seeing this? If not, don’t post it.

✅ DO: Engage With Coaches, Teams & Positive Influences

Social media isn’t just about posting—it’s about engaging and networking. Athletes can use it to connect with coaches, teams, and industry professionals in a meaningful way.

🏆 Ways to engage:
✔️ Follow and interact with college programs, professional athletes, and mentors.
✔️ Comment on and share positive, relevant content.
✔️ Use hashtags like #RecruitMe or #NextLevel to get noticed.

🔹 Pro tip: Keep interactions professional and respectful—you never know who’s watching.

❌ DON’T: Get Into Online Arguments or Drama

Social media can be full of heated debates, negativity, and distractions. Getting caught up in arguments or online drama can hurt an athlete’s image.

🚫 Avoid:
❌ Trash-talking opponents, referees, or teams.
❌ Arguing in comments or replying to negative posts.
❌ Posting emotionally without thinking it through.

🔹 Pro tip: If someone posts something negative about you, don’t engage—let your performance do the talking.

✅ DO: Be Mindful of What You Like, Share & Comment On

Even if an athlete doesn’t post something bad themselves, liking or sharing inappropriate content can still reflect poorly on them. Coaches and recruiters look at overall online behavior.

🏆 What to do:
✔️ Like and share posts that align with your values and goals.
✔️ Support teammates, teams, and positive role models.
✔️ Think before commenting—is it adding value or just reacting?

🔹 Pro tip: A good rule of thumb—if you wouldn’t say it in a press interview, don’t type it online.

❌ DON’T: Forget That Social Media Is a Reflection of You

Athletes should view their social media as part of their personal brand. Everything they post, share, and comment on helps shape how they’re perceived by coaches, fans, and recruiters.

🚫 Common mistakes:
❌ Having unprofessional usernames or bios.
❌ Keeping public profiles that contain questionable content.
❌ Thinking that private accounts are truly “private” (screenshots exist!).

🔹 Pro tip: Regularly review and clean up old posts to make sure everything aligns with your goals and values.

Final Thoughts

Social media is a powerful tool for athletes—but only if used wisely. A strong, positive online presence can open doors for college recruiting, sponsorships, and future career opportunities.

✅ Post with purpose—highlight your journey and achievements.
✅ Stay professional—coaches and recruiters are watching.
✅ Avoid negativity, drama, and anything that could damage your reputation.