Using A Social Network For Athletes To Further Your Career
Right now, there are more than 8 million junior varsity and varsity student-athletes and about a half-million college athletes in Divisions I-III. Several people are also living their dreams of becoming a professional athlete. As with any field of interest, your best bet for moving ahead includes networking with others that do what you do. The same applies to athletes, which is why jumping onto social networks for athletes can be helpful in your pursuit.
Here's what you should know about these networks and how they can benefit you as you keep getting better at your sport.
Understand the main point of the network and what you want to get out of it
There are close to 3 billion social media users around the world. So you can expect to find thousands to millions of users on social media platforms that cater to athletes. Your first step should be finding the best networks and what you hope to accomplish on them.
For instance, many athletes utilize social media platforms so that they can get recruited by colleges or to find professional opportunities. A high-school wide receiver trying to show that they are D-1 level might want to put together highlight clips that illustrate their ability to find the soft spot in a zone when running a curl route or blocking downfield when the runningback runs a sweep.
Choose a platform that will push you closer to your goals, whether it's a free or premium social media site.
Take time to forge actual relationships with athletes on your level and where you want to go
Make relationship-building the main factor for your time on sports social networks. Exchanging notes and information with other athletes will get you much further than you can go trying to do everything alone.
This is particularly true in fight sports since you are only as good as the quality of sparring partners you have. A pro-MMA fighter looking to improve their ground game will want to network with Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners that can sharpen that part of their skillset.
Make sure that the social network can showcase what you do best and market you. Whether you're pro or amateur, you will definitely need to learn how to market yourself as an athlete. Not only will other athletes create accounts on these social media platforms, but so will recruiters, bookers, managers, coaches, trainers, and other people who can have a place in your athletic career.
Sign up for a social media platform for athletes that can help you in your athletic endeavors.