HOW TO SET TWITTER UP FOR RECRUITING

---

Social media is one of the newest methods for coaches to scout athletic talent and communicate with athletes. It has greatly revolutionized the recruiting process and is now being utilized more and more frequently by coaches and athletes alike. You may be used to using social media in a very informal and relaxed environment with friends, but when sending a direct message (DM) to a college coach you have to write the message in a similar format to an email or letter.

When sending a DM to a college coach you should start by introducing yourself, then send a link to your highlight video or recruitment page, and state the name of your high school, position, and any relevant stats. You should make your DM as personalized to the coach as possible to show that you have done your research and also remain professional and polite. College coaches are likely to receive hundreds of DMs so it is crucial that yours stands out by following the guidelines in this article.

There are some flaws and dangers when using social media: like keeping your profile clean and making sure you are communicating with legitimate coaches’ accounts. However, communicating with a coach via social media may be how you get your foot in the door at the college athletic program of your dreams. Thus, it is important to make yourself familiar with how to interact with a college coach on social media and how to DM them.

Steps To Sending A Coach A DM

You may find yourself in a position where you want to reach out to a college coach, but you don’t have their email or phone number. Social media might be the only way you can communicate with them, but that does not necessarily mean it is an inferior method to get in contact with a coach.

Follow And Then DM: Before you immediately DM a coach you should follow them first. Some coaches may have public social media accounts so that anyone can DM them, but it is a good idea to follow them first so that you show interest. In your own social media account bio you should have details about the sport you play, your position, your graduating year, and your hometown. This will help coaches filter through there follow requests and know that you are a possible recruit. If they are private and accept your follow request then you know that you can go ahead and send them a DM.

Instagram Or Twitter?: You may be wondering which social media you should use to DM a coach. The answer is that it depends on which social media the coach uses the most. Before sending a coach a DM you should see which social media platform they post on most frequently as this will be the one that they most likely check.

Which Coaches Should I DM?: While sending a DM might be an effective way to get in contact with some coaches, many others do not check their DMs or are not even on social media. Thus, it is important to decipher which coaches to DM. While it never hurts to send a coach a DM, there are some that are more likely to reply then others. By viewing a coaches profile you can see how active they are on social media based on how frequently they post or share content. Coaches that use social media a lot are more likely to respond to your DM then those that are less active. Also coaches from colleges that are less well known for their athletic teams are less likely to receive as many DMs, and thus more likely to read and respond to your message.

Don’t take it personally if a coach does not respond to your DM. Some coaches don’t read their DMs and others may not have the time to respond to all the social media messages they receive. There are also periods when coaches aren’t able to communicate with athletes, according to NCAA rules, so the coach may be unable to respond to you.

What To Include In Your DM To A College Coach

Once you have determined which coaches you want to send a DM to, you should start drafting your message. It is important to take these messages seriously, even though sending DMs is something you usually do casually. Detailed below are some of the things you should include in your DM to a coach.

Introduction: You should always start your DM with an introduction. You should include your name, age, year in high school, hometown, high school, GPA, test scores, and position. You should also include any relevant stats pertaining to your sport. It is also important to put in alternative contact information in your introduction as some coaches will follow-up with you via email or phone call rather than a DM response. Thus, you should include your e-mail and/or phone number as well as your coaches email and/or phone number.

Highlight Video: Before sending a DM to a coach you should make sure you have an updated version of your highlight video and a sharable link. It is important to include your highlight video in a DM since this will make you stand out and is the only way a coach can truly see your skills and abilities. If you have a recruitment page you should also send them the link to it.

Make It Personal And Professional: The entirety of your message should be very professional, respectful, and polite. You don’t want to make the message too long so that the coach decides not to read it, but you want to include a personal anecdote about why you think you would be a good fit for that particular college. This shows the coach that you are actually interested in their program and that you are not just sending a mass message to as many coaches as you can. Coaches are much more likely to respond when you tell them why you like their program specifically.

You should end your DM by encouraging the coach to watch your highlight video and to reach out to you with any further questions. This invites the coach to start a dialogue with you that will hopefully lead to a scholarship offer.

Things To Keep In Mind

Don’t Give Up: It only takes one response from a coach to lead to an offer. Thus, don’t give up if you send a few DMs with no response. Remember that coaches may be barred from responding per NCAA rules or might not check their DMs. Stay persistent and keep contacting different coaches as a DM could be the start of a much bigger conversation.

It’s Ok To Follow Up: Even if a coach does not respond to your initial DM, it is ok to follow up with them, but make it purposeful and polite. If you have an updated highlight reel or new SAT scores you can update them in a new DM. But don’t overdo it. Bombarding a coaches DMs will make them less likely to respond.

Remember That Social Media Is New To The Game: While it is gaining speed in the recruitment process, social media is still a relatively new way for coaches and players to connect. Many coaches have not yet adopted the tool and still stick with using email, phone calls, and letters to communicate, as these are the most possible methods. But it is important to keep yourself attune to the ways social media can aid in your recruitment process.