Your Child’s Social Media Could Cost Them a Scholarship, or Help Them Earn One
Coaches and recruiters are watching long before the first offer is made. Here’s how you can help your athlete use social media the right way.
If you’re raising a middle or high school athlete, you already know the game has changed from the 1990s to the 2000s; it’s more competitive, visible, and connected than ever before, and a large part of that is social media.
But there’s still one thing too many parents overlook: The fact that their child’s social media presence can directly impact their future in sports.
And I don’t mean in theory. I mean literally…
1. Marcus Stokes — Football (University of Florida Commit)
• Gender: Male Sport: Football Level: High School Senior / D1 Recruit
• Incident: In 2022, Marcus posted a video of himself rapping lyrics to a song that included a racial slur.
Consequence: University of Florida revoked his scholarship offer just days after the video surfaced.
2. Josh Booty – Baseball (Florida Marlins, formerly LSU Football/Baseball)
• Gender: Male Sport: Baseball (and Football) Level: Professional
• Issue: A resurfaced, years-old tweet included vulgar and inappropriate language.
• Consequence: Lost credibility during a TV sports analyst opportunity; the network cut ties.
3. Elijah Hood — Football (University of North Carolina)
• Gender: Male Sport: Football Level: College
• Incident: Old tweets containing inappropriate sexual and profane content resurfaced from when he was in high school.
• Consequence: While he wasn’t cut, he faced major public backlash and was forced to publicly apologize — damaging his personal brand and credibility.
4. Volleyball Player — Memphis University (Name Withheld)
• Gender: Female Sport: Volleyball Level: NCAA D1
• Incident: After a tragedy in the Memphis community, the athlete tweeted an insensitive joke related to the situation.
• Consequence: She was suspended and later dismissed from the team due to the post.
5. Cheerleader — University of Tennessee (Name Withheld)
• Gender: Female Sport: Cheerleading Level: College
• Incident: Posted a racially offensive video on TikTok using a popular sound but with an inappropriate caption.
• Consequence: Scholarship and roster spot were revoked following public backlash.
6. Female Soccer Player — University of South Carolina (Name Withheld)
• Gender: Female Sport: Soccer Level: High School Senior / D1 Commit
• Incident: Made political and racially insensitive remarks on Instagram during a period of national protests.
• Consequence: Her scholarship offer was withdrawn, and the school released a statement distancing themselves.
Athletes are losing scholarships, getting passed over by recruiters, and damaging their reputations because of what they post, share, like, or comment on.
As a photographer, teacher, coach, and father, I’m on the front lines with student-athletes. I see what they post and hear what travel coaches and scouts say. And I’ve watched talented kids get dropped from a coach’s radar over one bad post.
Below is what you need to know and what you can do to help your athlete use social media wisely.
Yes, Coaches and Recruiters Are Watching
Before a college coach picks up the phone to call your kid, they check Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok, and even older posts that might have been forgotten.
Why?
Because they’re looking for more than skill, they want to see how your child behaves off the field to protect themselves against bringing a liability into their locker room.
They’re asking:
Does this athlete carry themselves with maturity?
Are they a good teammate?
Are they coachable?
Will they represent the program well?
Unfortunately, if their social media shows immaturity, vulgar language, disrespect, or drama, that may be the only impression that matters.
Social Media Is a Digital Resume — Not a Toy
Think of it like this: Would you want a potential boss to scroll through your child’s last 20 posts?
What they share online is often more visible than what they do in school, practice, or games - and the stakes are high.
These sports programs are the coach’s livelihood; if one makes a wrong selection, they could find themselves out of a job. That’s money lost, with a family to support and bills to pay - they don’t have the luxury of overlooking “a stupid post”.
That’s why it’s crucial to treat social media like a recruiting tool, not a distraction or a personal diary.
You don’t need to micromanage every move your child makes online, but you do need to teach them how to be intentional.
How You Can Help as a Parent
Grab a copy of The Athlete’s Social Media Playbook.
It has everything you need, from how to set up the account to how you can maintain it over the years, along with a quiz to test where you’re at presently.
Taking the time to be intentional with online content can open doors, I know this because I’ve seen it happen with athletes who’ve used my program.
One Bad Post Can Undo Years of Hard Work
This isn’t a scare tactic;
It’s the reality we’re living in, and the reason I put those examples above - this is real, and I’ve watched it happen in real-time.
One joke.
One viral moment.
One careless comment…
And suddenly, a coach is moving on to the next name on their list.
Social media is permanent, and your child’s future deserves better than that risk.
You’re Not Just Raising an Athlete, You’re Shaping a Reputation
Every post tells a story.
The question is: What story is your child telling recruiters, teammates, and future fans?
You’ve invested time, money, and energy into their sports journey for years, from travel ball to private coaching, but all of that can be overshadowed by what they do with their phone in 30 seconds.
It’s not about controlling your kids; it’s about equipping them to represent themselves well in a world where their next opportunity might depend on a scroll, not a stat sheet.
🎯 Want a Proven Framework to Help Your Athlete Stand Out?
I created a simple, powerful tool to walk athletes (and parents) through everything they need to know:
➡️ The Athlete’s Social Media Playbook
This guide breaks down:
What to post to get noticed
How to structure profiles to look polished
What to avoid to protect their reputation
How to turn their platform into a launchpad for scholarships and visibility
Whether your child is in 7th grade, is getting ready for signing day, or is already in college and looking to go to the top - this playbook gives the clarity and confidence to navigate social media correctly.
📲 Grab your copy here: https://zsmall.gumroad.com/l/AthleteSocialMedia
🛑 Don’t let something online be the reason their opportunity disappears.
You’ve done so much to help your child succeed; don’t let their phone undo it.
Ensure their digital presence reflects the athlete and the person they’re becoming.
– Zac Small
Photographer | Coach | Educator | Father | Advocate for the Next Generation
Follow me on Instagram @zacsmall_ and tag me in your athlete’s journey along with #zphotos so I can also promote from my platforms.
Need a team presentation or workshop for your program or school?
I’ve got one ready to go.
Hit reply, and let’s connect.