HOW THEY DO IT
LM surveyed more than 50 Division I men’s and women’s sports information directors, who are charged with providing news, scores and other updates about their teams to the public, about how their lacrosse teams use social media. Most teams use some combination of sports information staff and coaches or support staff to run their accounts. Two-thirds of teams had at least one coach involved in producing content, such as practice photos, motivational quotes and more. Women’s programs had significantly more coach involvement, at 80 percent.
“There are two main reasons why I use it,” Lehigh men’s coach Kevin Cassese said. “One, to find out what is happening in the world, and specifically the lacrosse world. Twitter has become my morning newspaper and it is custom made for me. And two, it allows me to get messages out to some key core groups like current players, recruits, alums and parents. ... It also allows us to keep tabs on our players and recruits.”
FOLLOW THEM Paul Rabil
@PaulRabil 52.4K followers
The biggest individual brand in lacrosse is a social media maven, pumping out consistent amounts of content on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, including, recently, insightful and funny Q&A videos with fans via YouTube’s The Lacrosse Network.
John Danowski @John_Danowski
6,356
The coach of the two-time defending national champs had embraced social media to an extent. He’ll go off the grid during the season, but during the rest of the year provides great, authentic entertainment. From trips to Durham Bulls games, looks
around the Duke campus and trips back to his native Long Island, he does it all with enthusiasm and lots of exclamation points!
Lindsay Munday @LMunday01
1,690
A view from the West Coast from the head coach of the USC women’s team, Team USA veteran and Northwestern alumna. Get some free picturesque California views snapped from Munday’s phone, and thoughts on lacrosse as it relates to other sports.
Dave Cottle @CoachCottle
2,672
The current Chesapeake Bayhawks coach and former
Maryland, Loyola and Salisbury head man does it all: provides inspirational leadership quotes, supports his favorite Alabama Crimson Tide football team, shows off pictures at the horse stables, breaks down Xs and Os of a lacrosse game on TV, and regularly interacts with followers.
Kyle Harrison @KyleHarrison
19.8K
Another Left Coaster who takes you on a seemingly endless tour of the country as he heads from camp to camp, MLL games or LXM Pro Tour events. Follow him on Instagram, too.
More: @PaulCarcaterra, @DixonLacrosse,
@GerryByrne, @officiallaxgirl, @JohnGrantJr24
SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT TIPS
Kevin DeShazo, founder of the social media firm Fieldhouse Media, shared with LM tips for players and recruits to keep in mind when using social media. Here are the biggest takeaways:
1. Build Your Core
Just like you would build your athletic strength by working out your core, build a core identity to use on social media. Come up with three or four words that represent what you want to be known about, and think about them when it comes time to post something. How will it impact your identity? Will it build it up or tear it down? How will it reflect on your team?
2. Add Value, Not Noise
In other words, live your life, don’t tweet your life. It may not even be inappropriate content that turns some people off. There is a lot of noise out there. This is what I had for lunch? It’s 3 o’clock in the morning and you’re tweeting, ‘Why am I so tired?’ It’s because it’s 3 o’clock in the morning and you’re awake on Twitter. You’re adding noise to an already noisy space. Add value and stick to your core. Bring fans and followers up-to-date on what it means to be an athlete on your team.
3. Think Before You Tweet
For high school kids or recruits, your audience is much bigger than you think it is. You might think you’re just talking to your friends on social media but coaches, your parents and sometimes even college admissions people are looking. It doesn’t matter how many followers you have, the world has access to what you’re doing online. Parents can help here, too. Would you want to bring your kid onto your team, seeing what they post online?
4. You Represent the Sport
This is something unique to lacrosse. If a basketball player posts something inappropriate, it mostly sticks with the school, as opposed to an entire sport. You’re going to be judged individually, as a team, as a school and as a sport for the words and pictures you share online. The great news about that is you’re the one who controls it. Show what type of character or work ethic lacrosse players have. There is a unique culture around lacrosse. It’s a big family. You have unique opportunity to build that community, and build awareness of the sport the way you use social media.
laxmagazine.com october 2014 » LACROSSE MAGAZINE 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76