Social media can be a viable tool in order to boost your odds of gaining a US sports scholarship in the US. Our experts explain how you can up your chances.

If you are a South African student-athlete hoping to secure a sports scholarship in the United States, social media can be a powerful tool to showcase your talent and catch the eye of coaches looking for recruits. Building a positive digital presence can be the difference between being recruited to a world-class university and being overlooked.

International student-athletes need to put in some extra time and effort to be noticed as they won’t be attending camps or playing in tournaments where recruiters are scouting for talent.

Platforms like Instagram, X and YouTube allow you to communicate directly with college coaches and recruiters.

What to put on your bio?

  • Make sure you use your full name. A nickname will make it hard for a coach to find you
  • Include that you are from South Africa
  • State which sports you specialise in and your playing position
  • Put in your height and weight
  • Include the high school you attend and club you play for
  • Mention that you are uncommitted so a coach knows you are available

How to make your content stand out?

  • Make sure you include high-quality visual content, such as highlight reels and match clips, to give coaches a clear idea of your skills. It is important to be consistent so post regularly.
  • Showcase your best clips first and vary the skills you showcase. Provide a glimpse of your training routine and mental preparation and share what drives you. Engaging content will attract attention from scouts and college recruiters.
  • Don’t make your videos too long – coaches don’t have time to sit through a lengthy video so make it count. 
  • Switch it up with academic accomplishments as well. 
  • Let your personality show – coaches want to recruit athletes who will be a good fit for their team. 
  • Use sports-specific hashtags. Identify the hashtags that coaches use a lot or the ones that are specific to a programme you are interested in.

Most importantly, keep content professional and ensure what you like or re-post is not offensive in any way. Inappropriate posts could put coaches off or even result in scholarships being pulled.

Which platforms should you focus on?

X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are all good options to showcase yourself.

Make sure you are visible and use all your social media platforms to increase your chances of getting noticed by college coaches.

Some sports and coaches are more active on particular platforms, so do your research on which platform is best suited for whose attention you want to capture.

You can choose one or two platforms for recruiting and keep the others for social posts, but make sure that the content on the platforms you choose for recruiting purposes reflects this.

How to research and follow US teams and coaches

Start by identifying colleges with strong programmes in your sport. Use platforms like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) website and social media to find information about teams, including their performance history and coaching staff.

Follow the social media accounts of these teams and coaches and engage with their content by liking, commenting and sharing posts to increase your visibility.

An effective way of getting noticed is to shoot a recruiting video that is directly aimed at a specific coach or recruiter at the college you want to attend. Creating a customised and personal video is far more likely to be noticed than a generic video that you mass send out to a large group of coaches.

A good rule of thumb is to make five or 10 of these custom videos for the schools you are most interested in and want to attend.

What to do when a coach shows interest

When a coach makes contact with you, that is a really good sign. Irrespective of whether it is via email, Zoom or DM, respond promptly and professionally and make sure you express enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Take the time to research the coach and their programme and, if you are not already, then follow them on social media.

Don’t be afraid to suggest a phone call and remember to have additional material such as game stats, academic records or your resume on hand should the coach ask.

Make sure you have all your questions written down so you don’t forget anything. If you are nervous about speaking to the coach, get your parents or friends to roleplay the conversation with you so you get more comfortable.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Overposting or spamming coaches with messages can make you look unprofessional
  • Tagging a large group of coaches, rather keep it personal 
  • Having an incomplete profile on social media
  • Posting offensive material

Sable International’s sports recruitment team can help you create a compelling sports profile, introduce you to college coaches and assist you with navigating the complex recruitment process.

If you want to further your sporting career at a US university, get in contact with one of our sports recruiters who will be happy to chat to you about your options. Fill in our free online evaluation or send us an email at sports@sableinternational.com.

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