How to Use Social Media for College Recruiting: Dos and Don’ts

In this guide, you’ll learn the best ways to use social media for recruiting:

• The rules about how and when college coaches can contact you, and when you can contact them.

• What college coaches are looking for in your social media posts and interactions with others on these platforms.

• How to tailor your profile to boost your chances of being recruited

• What to say when you DM a coach.

• Common social media mistakes to avoid in an easy-to-use checklist.

Social Media and College Recruiting: NCAA Rules for College Coaches and Student-Athletes

When it comes to college athletic recruiting and social media, high school student-athletes can reach out to college coaches on social media at any time. You can like and comment on their posts, tag them, or send DMs.

But there are rules about when and how coaches can interact with you. For most interactions with student-athletes, NCAA D1 coaches must wait until the “contact period” begins. Depending on your sport, the contact period begins either on June 15 after your sophomore year, or on September 1 when you’re a junior (or rising junior, if school starts after September 1). Before the contact period, coaches can’t call, email, text, DM, or talk to recruits in person. 

Before the contact period, though, NCAA social media rules do let coaches interact with your posts on social media: They can like your posts and comments, and re-post or share them. They just can’t comment on your post or send you a DM. Once the contact period begins, college coaches can comment and DM.

These rules don’t apply to NAIA, junior college, D2 or D3 programs. These coaches can DM or comment at any time, as there is no contact period for recruiting.

How Coaches Use Social Media

Coaches are looking at what athletes post, but also their other activity. They’re paying attention to what posts student-athletes like, the comments they make, who else they follow, and how they interact.

College coaches also use social media to show interest in recruits. They’ll DM with athletes during the contact period, but they’ll also like posts and comments and repost videos and posts from athletes they’re interested in.

“We like to use it to show some of our prospectives some love,” says B.J. Dunne, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Gettysburg College. He’ll like posts on X, or DM them after seeing an athlete post a video on Instagram. “We just want them to be thinking about Gettysburg basketball.”

4 Strategies to Use Your Social Media Profile, Posts, and Activity to Get Noticed by College Coaches

When you set up your profile with the right information, and use social media in the right ways, college coaches notice. They learn more about you on and off the field, and learn about the kind of teammate, athlete, student, and person you are—and if that’s the kind of athlete they want on their roster. 

Here are four strategies to maximize the impression your social media presence gives to college coaches.

1. Use the platforms your target coaches are using

If you’re interested in playing for a specific coach, research which social media platforms they’re active on. Then make sure you’re active on that platform, too. If they’re active on Instagram, but you don’t usually use it as much, streamline your Insta profile and increase your activity (in the right ways) to increase the chances you’ll be seen.

2. Set up your profile with the most important information

When a coach looks at your profile, they should know right away who you are, when you graduate, your position, and more information right at the top. When setting up your profile, include:

• Your real name

• Your school and graduation year

• Your position

• Your GPA or another stat

• A link to a highlight video or your NCSA profile

3. Be active, and be positive

Scientists at the University of Iowa performed a study in 2019 on football recruits, and found that those who were more active were more likely to get scholarship offers. So don’t just have a profile—use it. That means posting, but also liking other posts, and commenting on team and teammate pages and posts.

Be sure to be positive in what you post: Coaches are looking for athletes that are coachable, great teammates who aren’t just talented, but will be an asset to the team atmosphere. Some examples of what to post include:

• Workout or highlight videos that show you training or performing

• Comments on teammates’ posts to show your support for their performances

• Motivational quotes

• Good news about team wins or your best performances on the field or at school

• Give shout-outs to people who have helped you—teammates, coaches, and mentors

• Ask your club team to tag you in posts, and re-share them

4. Like and comment on the posts of the coach and their team

College coaches like and repost athletes’ content to show their interest. Do the same to show you’re interested. Hit like on posts from the coach and team, and leave comments showing your support for their good news.

How to DM a College Coach on Social Media for Recruiting

Sending a DM to a college coach is an awesome way to get on their radar, and to keep them updated on your academic and athletic achievements. Remember: A D1 coach can’t respond to your DM unless it’s the recruiting “contact period.” But you can send them one at any time.

When you DM a coach, follow these Dos and Don’ts:

DO introduce yourself. Don’t leave it up to the coach to click your profile to learn about you. Introduce yourself with your name, class year, hometown, high school or club team, GPA, test scores and position. Don’t forget to link to your NCSA profile and highlight videos so the coach can view your information! 

DON’T ask for a scholarship right away. Your first DMs are about introducing yourself to the coach as an athlete and student. Offers come later in the process. See this guide on the recruiting process to learn more. 

DO research the coach and program to stand out. Read the coach’s bio, look at recent news about the team, and look at their social media posts. Include something in your note that shows you’ve done some research, and aren’t just blasting generic letters out to dozens of coaches. If you saw a highlight that really impressed you, or a workout video that inspired you, tell them.

DON’T send DMs late at night. Coaches notice these types of details. If late night is the best time for you to write the note, just save it and send it in the morning.

DO respond promptly to their messages. If a coach messages you, respond promptly, respectfully, and professionally. 

DO use DMs for updates and to stay in touch. DMs are a great way to share your latest highlights and news. Send a DM if you’ve posted a new highlight video, or if your GPA has just posted. 

DO use DMs to set up next steps. If you’re DMing with a college coach you’re interested in playing for, use the current message to set up your next interaction. Let them know if you plan to call them to follow up, ask some questions about their program you’d like to discuss, or ask them what types of videos or other information you can send them.

DON’T ghost. If you’re not interested in playing for a coach that sends you a DM, don’t ghost them. Coaches talk to each other, and sometimes change jobs: An assistant coach at a program you’re not interested in could wind up as an assistant for a program you’d love to play for. So instead of ghosting them, tell coaches directly and respectfully if you’re not interested in being recruited.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Social Media and College Recruiting

Your generation of athletes is smarter about social media than students who came before you. You know that what you do is public, even if you’ve posted it in private—other people can take screenshots of your private posts and repost them, for example. 

Even with those smarts, mistakes happen. And they can be costly for recruits: Recruits really do lose scholarships or lose the interest of coaches because of social media mishaps. To make sure you’re not one of those athletes, think before you post or comment, and follow this list of don’ts to stay safe:

• DON’T use inappropriate language, or racial or sexist slurs.  

• DON’T engage in illegal activities.  

• DON’T show anger or jealousy.  

• DON’T post lazy behavior, like not wanting to go to school or practice.   

• DON’T rely on social media alone for college exposure. Make sure you are using other resources, like your NCSA recruiting profile.   

• DON’T allow others to post on your account.

Social media can be a powerful tool for getting noticed by college coaches, showing them your highlights and achievements, and communicating with them to boost your status as a recruit, if you use it the right way. Keep these tips in mind:

• Set up your profile so it’s easy to see who you are, and your vital information as a recruit.

• Think before you post.

• Interact in positive ways that show you’re a coachable teammate.

• Like and comment on posts from coaches that you’re interested in playing for.

• Respond promptly to any messages from coaches, and be respectful.

You can direct coaches to your highlight videos and even more information about you as a recruit with an NCSA profile. It’s free to set up, and hundreds of coaches will have access to your information for recruiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are coaches really looking at what I post on social media?

Yes. Previous surveys have found that more than 80 percent of coaches look at social media during recruiting. Coaches spend thousands of dollars recruiting, and seeing what you’re posting, looking at what you like, and checking out your attitude in comments is an easy, free way to evaluate you as a potential member of their roster.

How can college coaches interact with athletes on social media?

Before the recruiting contact period, which starts after your sophomore year, NCAA social media rules let coaches interact with your posts on social media: They can like your posts and comments, and re-post or share them. They just can’t comment on your post or send you a DM. Once the contact period begins, college coaches can comment and DM.

 Can I DM a college coach?

Yes. Sending a coach a DM is a great way to introduce yourself. Introduce yourself with your name, class year, hometown, high school or club team, GPA, test scores and position. Don’t forget to link to your NCSA profile and highlight videos so the coach can view your information!

Can athletes lose scholarships because of what they do on social media?

Yes. To make sure you don’t lose an opportunity for a scholarship, think before you post. Don’t post racist or sexist remarks, talk about doing illegal activities, or post about not wanting to work at your sport or in school. Instead, make positive posts and comments that show you’re a hard-working athlete and great teammate.