Could your social media profiles be holding you back from landing that NIL deal?

Since we celebrated the two-year anniversary of NIL (Name, Images & Likeness) earlier this month on July 1st, young athletes have the ability to capitalize on their personal brand through endorsements and sponsorships. This is a significant milestone for NCAA Student Athletes and has taken the world by storm.

However, most brands have become selective with who is representing their brand and do not want to work with immature or unprofessional athletes. We all know that our social media profiles are a direct reflection of our character and brands want to work with athletes whose values align with the company’s and will represent them in a positive light. If your content consistently portrays you as immature and unprofessional, most brands will not want to associate with you which will limit your ability to secure NIL deals. 

3 tips on what you should be posting to increase exposure for NIL:

1) Highlights and “behind the scenes” footage:

The most popular content that athletes post on social media is highlight reels of performances. There is no doubt that posting your impressive moments will attract the attention of potential sponsors. Posting more than your game-day performance such as your workout sessions, recovery techniques, wellness tips, and general lifestyle content will provide a deeper glimpse into your life and give potential sponsors a better idea of who you are.

2) Personal stories & inspirational messages:

In addition to sports content, you can use social media to share your personal stories such as your journey, challenges and overall dedication to your sport. By sharing inspiring messages and insights into your life, you can better connect with your audiences and portray yourself as a role model, ultimately making yourself more attractive to sponsors. 

3) Community involvement & family:

Another popular choice of content among athletes to post is advocacy. Sharing content regarding social change, charity events/fundraisers and volunteer work can highlight your commitment to making a positive impact beyond your sport. Most brands like to see social responsibility and philanthropy, so they may be more interested if you show that you are actively involved in your community. Also, family vacations, birthdays, accomplishments, etc., are a great add-on to your posts and overall view of your life.

For young athletes, social media can be a stepping stone for successful NIL deals. Posting responsible content online, showcasing that you align with their brand values, and actively managing your online presence can help aspiring collegiate athletes maximize their NIL opportunities. 

About LifeBrand

LifeBrand offers a simple solution for young athletes looking to build or maintain a strong online reputation. Our AI-powered software privately scans your social media accounts and once complete, flags any questionable content posted from their very first post. YOU then have the opportunity to keep, edit or delete the content in a matter of minutes. Additionally, every flagged post comes with an explanation, which helps young social media users understand why the technology chose to flag the content and ensure they don’t post similar content in the future. 

Student athletes work incredibly hard year-round on their sport to catch the attention of not only coaches, but now NIL recruiters. Don’t let social media be the reason you can’t capitalize on your name.

In the competitive world of high school club and travel sports, no spot on any team is guaranteed. However, there are steps student-athletes can take to not only better prepare for their club tryout but also to stand out in the crowd and secure the spotlight on the court or field. Pay close attention to the following five steps, and be ready to invest some time, energy, and focus, to ensure you are equipped to face your club tryouts head-on.

5 Steps to a Successful Tryout

1. Train

It’s no surprise that your club tryout will take a toll on your body physically. Do yourself a favor and start the training ahead of time. This way, your athleticism can shine and your endurance can run the course of an aggressive multi-day tryout. There are numerous sports-specific workouts published publicly that you can do at home or at the gym. Make a plan, write it down, start early, and stick to it.

2. Reach out to the club Director

Ask about booking individual lessons with one of their coaches. Speaking as a 12-year club coach, this is a fantastic way to get your name out there. Learn about the club, its coaches, and get 1-on-1 training from the experts.

3. Register for tryouts ahead of time!

Many clubs organize their tryouts based on numbers, and preregistered athletes usually get ahead just by signing up before the deadline. Perks like skipping the registration line upon arrival on day one, receiving a pre-numbered tryout shirt, and getting the chance to start warming up early as the latecomers fight through all the red tape are just some of the advantages.

4. During the tryout:

Be vocal, volunteer to shag balls, and play with a smile! When it comes to sports, we coaches can teach you how to play, how to swing harder, jump higher, or run faster. What we cannot teach is coachability, personality, or spirit. Showcase that you are a team player, be vocally supportive of the athletes around you, introduce yourself to the coach rating your court/field area, and always take a few minutes before each water break to help gather equipment.

5. Leave nothing behind.

You may not be the fastest runner in the gym, the highest jumper on the field, or the strongest hitter on the court; but what you can do is give it all you’ve got. Dive for every ball, call for every pass, sprint as fast as you can, transition to each spot faster than others, showcase your endurance and your athletic ability, and never give up. If your vocals match up with your heart, you will get noticed, and in all the best ways.

No matter what sport, club/travel/AAUs are often where US college coaches find and recruit talent for our upcoming seasons. Club is no longer just the sport you play between your high school seasons to stay in shape. Club sports showcase some of the most competitive teams there are in high school circuits today. If you are serious about wanting to be a better athlete and get noticed by club coaches, then follow the above 5 steps carefully and intently. Remember: the path of vigilance is always a direct path to success.

There is much to be gained from sports if your child can have fun and not worry about winning. Of course, everyone wants to win, but truthfully, for your child, it should be all about fun. You will see amazing qualities emerge if playing sport is exciting and enjoyable. For example, improved social skills and teamwork, good emotional and mental health, and higher levels of leadership qualities, academic achievement, and responsibility will result.

However, sportsmanship must be developed for all of this to happen because it blends all these attributes together and more.

What is Sportsmanship?

Sportsmanship is being fair, respectful, and ethical to coaches, referees, competitors, and teammates. The practice of good sportsmanship applied and learned on the field are qualities that transfer and are used in life. The quintessential example of good sportsmanship comes from your Mom or Dad. Your support from the sidelines can send positive or negative signals encouraging good or bad behavior on the field.

Here are seven important ways to be a perfect role model of sportsmanship for your child. Sometimes it is not about what you say but how you look and what you do.

1. It is crucial to be a good sport because your child sees and absorbs everything.

Your child’s feelings of sportsmanship will deepen based on how they perceive your participation. For example, if your child observes you yelling at the referee, quarreling with the coach, or making fun of the opposing team, they will think it is acceptable to do the same. And possibly, turn your youngster into a bully and lose respect for authority.

Youth sports are meant to develop character and leadership skills. So, be sure to support both teams enthusiastically, so your child’s sportsmanship will enhance their abilities.

2. Be mindful of your body language.

You may not be aware, but your child unconsciously picks up your body language and the common gestures you make. For example, how you stand, your body posture, how you move your eyes, shake your head, etc., can show frustration or dissatisfaction. You don’t realize it, but they unconsciously detect it. As a result, your child may feel stress, anxiety, and nervousness.

So, be mindful of your body postures and stances. If you think, say, and do positive things, it will change your body language.

What’s happening in your mind is expressed through your body’s physical appearance. For example, saying positive words, cheering, and smiling, will send different body signals to your child visually. If you think your child made a bad play and you don’t, smile and cross your arms; it shows frustration without saying a word. Just relax and enjoy your child’s game. You will be surprised how much it works!

3. Don’t be hard on your child if they make a mistake.

Mistakes will happen. They are a part of life, and your child will make many of them. Tell your child it is ok. And when off the field or at practice, work on the mistake without them knowing to help them become better. This way, you will not make them self-conscious. It will change them emotionally and mentally for the best.

Mistakes are not signs of weakness; they are signs to help your child grow and become stronger. Accepting and understanding mistakes helps your child’s brain absorb information better, improve faster, and make fewer mistakes in the future. However, if your child fears making mistakes, they will make more of them.

So, there is no need to pinpoint and scream during the game.

4. Make sure you cheer your child’s efforts, not just the best moments, like scoring a goal.

They need to know that playing on a team has a structure, that all plays and players create the goal, not just the scorer. All the effort leading up to the score was essential to score the point. Cheering all their efforts on the field will help them understand teamwork and how a team functions.

5. Have fun.

If your child sees you are having fun, it takes the stress off them, and they can just play and enjoy the game. And will play more freely, not worrying about making a mistake. However, sometimes your child may feel they need to impress you. So let them know that fun is the main objective. Furthermore, when your child is having fun, they will be excited. And excitement stimulates your child’s brain to learn and absorb much more about the game, their skills, sportsmanship, etc.

6. Always end the game by shaking hands.

Even if your child played a challenging game and maybe had an issue with a player or the ref, teach them to let it go. Shaking hands is a perfect way to leave the field in peace. It is a sign of respect, and what happened is over. If you cast threats, anger, and frustration, it will negatively impact your child’s performance. Most importantly, make sure you thank the coach and referee after the game with your child.

7. Practice self-control.

Games can get heated. Sometimes the calls don’t go the correct way. Sometimes the referee misses a foul. You need to control your emotions during the game. If you can remain cool, calm, and collective, it will help your child do the same. And if they can remain calm, they will maintain good performance. Your self-control will help your child stay focused in the game and not worried about how the referee missed the foul.

Remember, your child is learning. If you make playing sports fun for them, it will bring incredible value to their lives. So, positively support them and avoid negativity.

For more articles on how parents can improve sportsmanship, CLICK HERE!

1. They Have Almost Zero Chance of Being a Pro Athlete

Along the way, somebody has told you that your kid has talent, and that praise became a drug. In fact, 26% of parents believe that their kid could play professional sports! The number is so absurd that you have to wonder where this confidence is coming from. For context, just 1.2% of all NCAA men’s basketball players go on to play in a major pro league. Obviously, the percentage of youth basketball players who go on to do the same is exponentially lower.

So many things have to break right for a child to go on to become a professional athlete, and many of those things are entirely out of your control. Even if your child does make it to the pros, the odds of them having a long and financially lucrative career remain quite low.

As sports parents, it’s important to simply focus on the moment and prioritize fun above all else. Adding unnecessary pressure to the situation only makes the sport less fun, leaving your child more apt to give up on it all together.

2. The Odds of Them Getting a Full D1 Scholarship Are Nearly Just as Low

Only 2% of high school athletes play Division I sports.

The only men’s sports that offer full scholarships are basketball and football. Women’s sports with full scholarships are tennis, gymnastics, basketball and volleyball.

All other Division I sports receive money based upon the athletic program and coaches’ discretion. Partial scholarships at 60%, 30% or less are the norm. And even if you do receive some sort of verbal offer, it doesn’t mean anything until an official grant-in-aid is signed on the dotted line. Ask anyone who’s had experience in college sports, and they’ll have plenty of stories of players getting misled during their recruitment.

You may hear other parents brag about how their child is “being recruited” simply because they received a letter from such and such school, but that often means very little. Yes, they may have received a letter, but that was one of hundreds sent out. A player is not getting recruited until one of the coaches contacts them personally.

While the odds of receiving a full scholarship are rather small, there are a number of steps you can take to increase your odds of receiving some sort of scholarship.

3. Division II, Division III and NAIA Can Be Great Options

If your child loves their sport and has the passion to play and practice, then they can play in college. But the biggest question for most athletes is whether or not they’ll actually get to play on the college team they join.

I know several athletes who were “good enough” to play at the top level of collegiate sports, but weren’t quite good enough to receive substantial playing time. Yet they chose to go with that route instead of going to a school where they could actually play and contribute on a consistent basis. I’m not saying one is right or wrong, but it’s all about your priorities.

Division I sports also represent a massive time commitment. It’s essentially a full-time job in addition to school, as most days fall into the pattern of work out, classes, practice, dinner, studying, bedtime. Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat.

This is where Division II, Division III and NAIA sports can help a student-athlete find the right balance. These different levels of collegiate play are highly competitive and are excellent options to explore. Great academics plus competitive sports plus a great college experience equals Winning as a Parent of an Athlete. These other levels are a part-time job compared to the full-time commitment of Division I.

4. Don’t Tie Their Self-Worth to Their Sports

How do you introduce and describe you child?

If it’s something along the lines of “This is Johnny, our star second baseman,” perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate this habit. The words we use to describe our own child carries meaning and can have a massive impact on their feelings of self-worth. What happens if Johnny gets hurt or doesn’t make the all-star team?

Instead of linking your child’s worth to their sporting achievements, praise them on their positive personality traits or work habits. Click here to find out the best name to call your kid.

5. You Can’t Want it More Than They Do

“The will to prepare has to be greater than the will to win.” – Bobby Knight

Passion is the prerequisite for achieving anything great in life. As bad as you may “want it” for them, if they don’t take ownership and want it themselves, then the struggle will be real.

Those who have passion often don’t have to be asked to practice, nagged to work on something, or coerced into playing. There’s a good saying that goes along the lines of “it’s tough to be driven when you’re being driven.” If the drive to get better doesn’t come from within, you can’t force it on them. They are the ones that have to want it.

As opposed to simply forcing your goals upon them, have a conversation with your child about the goals they have for themselves. Then find out how they want to achieve those goals and how involved they want you to be in that process. Simply knowing what they do and do not want you to do in regards to their athletic career can help you build a much healthier relationship.

6. Get Off the Emotional Roller Coaster and Ride the Carousel

Vicarious parents live through their child, whereas supportive parents live with their child. If you treat every performance as life and death, then you’re on the roller coaster of emotions. That equals stress, stress and more stress.

Your role as a parent of an athlete is to provide balance, stability and support in their life. You must remain detached from outcomes! If you get caught up in the drama or results of winning and losing, you can’t remain level-headed. Think of your energy and attitude as being more of a consistent carousel then a rollercoaster of alternating rage and ecstasy.

7. Your Body Language Matters

In sports, we see positive and negative body language all the time. Players and coaches know the benefit of positive body language as well as the negativity that can radiate off bad body language. But as a sports parent, are you aware of your own body language?

Since your child was little, they watched for your reaction in the crowd. They saw you slumping in your chair or throwing your hands up in disgust when they made that bad play or mental error. Your body language spoke so loud, they didn’t even need to hear what you were saying.

Negative body language does not show that we care or are passionate, it communicates that we are not confident. We are signaling that we do not have faith in our own child to overcome a mistake and have a short memory.

This is not easy, but essential: Your own body language must ride the carousel as well. It must be confident and supportive. Head up, clapping or cheering. If they do look, always a thumbs up, a smile or some clear sign of support!

8. Don’t Fight With the Cook

How many of you have eaten out at restaurants? I’m guessing all of you, and it’s an experience most of us enjoy.

How many times have you been dining out and personally returned a dish to the cook to belittle their effort? I’m guessing almost never.

So why do we feel that we can go talk to the coach and criticize their methods or style of play? Sports parents yell, coach from the stands, complain, and even write anonymous emails to the administration or other parents. I’m here to tell you to stop this behavior.

If your own son or daughter wants to develop the skill of communication and ownership, then it is their responsibility to talk to coach about playing time on their own. Role-play with them all you want, but it is ultimately up to them. Being able to establish a productive dialogue with a superior or authoritative figure won’t just serve them well in sports, but it’s also a crucial skill for life.

9. Let Your Child Lead the Car Ride Conversation

There are good times to provide feedback to your child on their play, and then there are not so good times. The car ride home immediately after the game is not the time to offer unsolicited advice. Waiting for a time when everyone is cool, calm and collected to thoughtfully discuss the game is a much better approach than having an emotionally charged discussion minutes after the conclusion of the competition. This video explains how parents often ruin the car ride home!

10. It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

The best 12-year olds in the nation right now (pick the sport) should go on to become the best 14-year olds, the best 18-year olds, the biggest college stars and, eventually, the best pros.

Right? Well, it does happen in the case of phenoms like LeBron James, but such cases are extreme outliers. It is rare because there are so many factors in play when it comes to long-term and sustained success. But for some reason, we still rank the top 7th graders in the nation!

We look at the short-term development with a microscope, and speculate into the future with a telescope! The point is that there will be many losses, failures and setbacks along the way. If we don’t allow our children to experience these setbacks, we slow their progression as a person and an athlete.

Difficult times are what produce character. It’s not about the setback, it’s about the comeback. Sport teaches whatever we want it to teach. So as a parent of an athlete, should we focus only on the material gain our child may reap from sport? Or should we care more about all the lessons they can learn from their sport?

Leadership, creativity, effort, passion, confidence, teamwork, communication, perseverance, mental toughness, focus, letting go of mistakes, handling conflict, overcoming obstacles and being in the zone are all skills that last way beyond the conclusion of an athletic career.

If your entire focus is trying to turn your child into a world-class professional athlete, you run the risk of developing a person with second-rate social and life skills.

If you have some additional reminders you’d like to share with sports parents, please email me. Maybe it’ll make my next book.

Photo Credit: vernonwiley/iStock

READ MORE:

• 10 Signs You’re a Horrible Sports Parent
• 5 Behaviors of High-Performing Sports Parents
• 10 Things Sports Parents Should and Shouldn’t Do