Social media profiles and travel sport athletes

[Anonymous]

It became very popular in 2020 and 2021 when athletes could not travel to colleges for visits or meet the coach. Tournaments and showcases were cancelled. It was a way to get your skills out there in a close country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TBH the only kids I've seen these for are being pushed by parents and aren't really athletic stand outs. I feel like if your kid is going to get noticed, they'll get noticed. Maybe then they'll be coached to make a page but just to make one on your own because seems...desperate?

This is terrible advice. In high school, social media is 100% part of the recruiting process. Coaches dm and follow athletes, and a lot of tagging happens with clubs and tournament organizations. It (and email) has replaced the video tape process from previous generations.

Before high school, completely unnecessary and don’t worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Also, rereading your post, there is no “easing” once you allow a kid to create an account. They will be confronted with comments, who they allow to see, how many likes and followers, not to mention all the access they will have as an account holder.

(Also, as an older parent who has BTDT, refrain from describing your kid as being on the college or pro track at such a young age. It puts so much pressure on your kid. And, so much can and will happen between now and then. I know a lot of parents out there love to talk about their kids’ successes but I have always found my kids are better served when I keep those sorts of comments to myself.

OP here. Thank you! FWIW, I just wanted to describe his skill level on this post. Friends who have seen him play and his coaches and sports community are the ones who use college/pro track to describe him. So we actually shelter him from most of these comments and community (we don't socialize with his team mates or parents) and keep it as a very separate activity. At the end of the day, we don't need to feed his intensity any further or add to the pressure he already puts on himself and he is not my only kid and needs to stay grounded. As you confirmed, I think it's best that way.

I say this with respect, but even contemplating a sports social media account is the exact opposite of shielding your kid from those sorts of characterizations - it is inviting them in the form of likes and comments. You may want to reconsider how you are approaching all of this if your goal is to protect your kid from intensity. I believe that you want to be a non-intense parent and you are well-intentioned but there is a disconnect between what you say you are trying to do and what you are considering doing (signed a parent who also wants to protect my kid and really grapples with what that looks like too).

OP here. No disrespect taken! Yes, I definitely recognize that inconsistency. The kids have bugged me about learning to make their own videos and "posting" it. And I have seen similar kids who have parent-run profiles and I wondered whether I'm missing something. Hence my post but I agree with you, it's silly to even consider it. I may still let them make videos and it seems like a good skill to learn that will also keep them preoccupied over the summer.

So nice to have civil convos in this board. And fwiw, Non-posted/shared videos are a great idea. Like home movies in the 80s.

I also think a nice halfway house is what others have described: a private parent-managed account for family & friends; it's a nice record of your kid's journey and you can open it up/cherry pick things to make public someday if you/they want to.