The recruiting process for college golf can be grueling. Typically the process starts with deciding what you are looking for in a college: division level, academics, location, size and even the culture of the school. Once that is established, you then begin reaching out to college golf coaches through recruiting questionnaires, emails, phone calls and campus visits. Coaches then decide whether or not you are a good fit for the school and the program through evaluating your golf game, academics and overall character. One item that every college coach will check is your social media accounts, and it’s important to keep these clean, professional and relevant. This article will be your guide on what not to post on social media if you want the opportunity to get recruited by good schools.
No alcoholic beverages or party pictures: This is perhaps the most obvious, but also the most abused. If you have a beverage in your hand, especially if it’s alcoholic, never post it to social media. Even if you are in a party environment with no alcohol in the actual post, it’s better to be safe than sorry. The worst thing you can do is have a coach believe that you are a partier, thus rejecting you from their team. Also avoid red solo cups, even if they are filled with water.
No inappropriate body images: This one can be tough to nail down, but the rule of thumb is to only post swimsuit pictures if you are actually out at the pool or beach, and even when doing so keep them as modest as possible. This means no French style speedos for guys and no overly revealing bikinis for girls.
No mirror selfies: Selfies already have a negative connotation, and mirror selfies are perhaps the most frowned upon.
No car selfies: Never take a picture of yourself or others while you are driving. Some coaches take things like texting and driving very seriously and it could be a real turn off and sign of irresponsibility.
No pics of credit cards or drivers license: Even if you black out the actual numbers on the cards, it is still not a smart post.
No complaints about boss, parents, or coach: If a coach is looking for a sign that you could be difficult to deal with, any post complaining about others can be a deal-breaker.
No Political or religious rants: Everyone has their own opinions, and it’s fine to share these. Always keep in mind though that others have very different opinions from yours, and sometimes people will rush to judgements based on your political rant on social media. Feel free to voice your opinion, but keep it to a minimum and note that you value the opinions of others.