Social Media & Athlete Identity:

David Logan
Oct 4, 2023
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Why What You Post Matters More Than You Think

By Spectator Sport | Athlete Development Series

Your highlight reel might get a coach’s attention, but what about your social media?

That’s where they learn who you are.

Whether you’re a 3-star recruit or just starting your journey, your online presence is shaping your future.

Like it or not, you’re already building a brand.

Your Profile = Your Resume

College coaches, recruiters, brands, fans; they’re all watching.

They’re asking:

“What kind of person is this athlete?”
“Are they focused, or distracted?”
“Would they represent our school well?”

In 2025, your posts are part of your first impression.

What Coaches Actually Look For Online:

✅ Positive attitude

✅ Team-oriented mindset

✅ Academic focus

✅ Community involvement

✅ Clean language and mature behavior

✅ Signs of leadership, discipline, and work ethic

🚫 Red flags like:

Profanity or vulgar jokes
Inappropriate photos/videos
Alcohol/drug references
Trash-talking coaches, teammates, refs
Toxic or drama-filled comments

One post can open a door or shut it.

Real Talk: You Are Your Own Brand

Ask yourself:

“If a coach scrolled through my feed right now…Would they see someone worth investing in?”

Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.

Social media lets you shape that narrative.

5 Ways to Level Up Your Athlete Profile

1. Clean Up Old Posts

Delete anything that doesn’t reflect who you are now. Growth is good, show it.

2. Post Purposefully

Mix in:

Training content
Behind-the-scenes hustle
Community involvement
Academic highlights
Wins and lessons from losses

Let them see more than just scores, show your story.

3. Use Captions That Show Character

Instead of just 🔥 emojis, try:

“Not my best game, but I learned a lot.”

“Grateful for the teammates pushing me every day.”

“Locked in. The mission’s bigger than the moment.”

4. Highlight Others

Coaches love athletes who uplift their team.

Shouting out teammates builds chemistry and credibility.

5. Be Consistent, Not Cringey

You don’t have to post daily.

But don’t disappear or suddenly act fake when recruiting season starts.

Just be you... the focused, hard-working, high-character version.

BONUS: Separate Account Strategy

Some athletes create a second account:

@[YourName]_Athlete — strictly for sports, school, and recruiting

✅ Cleaner

✅ Easier for coaches to follow

✅ Still lets you keep your personal life… personal

Final Word: You’re Always “On Camera”

Every post. Every story. Every retweet.

It all adds up to the bigger picture of who you are.

You’re not just building a following, You’re building a future.

At Spectator Sport, we believe athletes aren’t just performers.

They’re leaders, online and off.