Tag: Coach Mike

Social Media Strategy Tips

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Building a strong social media presence can be a powerful tool for student-athletes looking to share their journey, connect with fans, and attract college coaches—but it must be done strategically and responsibly. A well-planned social media strategy helps athletes maintain a positive personal brand, showcase their character, and communicate effectively while protecting their reputation and safety. Here are some key steps to consider when developing a social media strategy for student-athletes.

  1. Establish guidelines: Create clear guidelines for what is and isn’t appropriate to post on social media. This includes topics like language, images, and content related to the school or team.
  2. Determine platforms: Decide which social media platforms to use based on your target audience and goals.
  3. Develop a content calendar: Plan out what you will post and when. This can include game updates, behind-the-scenes content, and personal stories.
  4. Engage with followers: Respond to comments and messages to foster engagement and build relationships with followers.
  5. Monitor analytics: Track metrics like engagement and reach to evaluate the success of your strategy and adjust as needed.

Remember to always prioritize student safety and well-being when creating and implementing a social media strategy.

5 Tips for Creating a Standout Recruiting Highlight Video

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When creating a recruiting highlight video, the main goal isn’t to show how each game unfolded with a chronological series of plays. Instead, the purpose is to tell the story of why you’re a serious prospect. You do this by showcasing your best position-specific skills and athleticism.

Here are five key tips for assembling a standout recruiting video: 

1. Keep the video time between 3-5 minutes
2. Frontload the best plays in the first 30-60 seconds
3. Showcase position-specific skills
4. Keep the focus on you by spotlighting
5. Avoid plays with cheap shots or penalties

Choosing the Right NCAA Eligibility Account

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The NCAA Eligibility Center offers three types of accounts. To start your registration begin with the free profile page. As students move through their high school career the NCAA helps you progress through the verification process by sending an email with instructions to help prospective student athletes matriculate through the verification process.  

 Athletes are advised to begin the Clearinghouse process in the beginning of their junior year. At that time, athletes must arrange to meet with a guidance counselor at your high school in order to review the Clearinghouse process. If you are a senior and have not already begun the Clearinghouse process, don’t panic, there is still time. Set up to meet with your guidance counselor in the next few days and get started with the Clearinghouse process.

3 types of NCAA Eligibility accounts:

  • Profile Page (Free) – A great starting point! If you’re not sure about competing in college yet, this account allows you to receive updates and easily upgrade later.
  • Certification Account (Required for D1 & D2 Athletes) – If you plan to compete at the Division I or II level, you’ll need to upgrade to this account to get officially certified.
  • International Student Account – Designed for student-athletes from outside the U.S.

The link to the NCAA Eligibility Center can be found in the Locker Room tab of your PrepStar recruiting profile.  For athletes not PrepStar verified, search for the The NCAA Eligibility Center.

Train. Learn. Recover:

Posted on by eliteathletesrecruiting

A High School Athlete’s Formula for Success

Success in high school athletics doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of dedication, smart preparation, and consistent effort both on and off the field. To truly stand out, athletes must commit to more than just showing up for practices and games; they need a structured plan for skill development,coaching and feedback. Not to leave out the discipline to care for their bodies and minds- especially during the demands of in-season games and practices. 

By focusing on training with purpose, being coachable, and prioritizing recovery and mental preparation, student-athletes can unlock their full potential and position themselves for long-term success in their sport.

1. Commit to Consistent Training and Skill Development
Train with purpose: Follow a structured training program tailored to your sport and position.

Master the fundamentals: Build a solid foundation by refining basic techniques before advancing to complex skills.

Cross-train: Incorporate strength, agility, speed, and mobility work to become a more complete athlete.

2. Seek Coaching and Feedback
Work with coaches: Regularly ask for input on areas to improve and apply their feedback.

Film review: Analyze game and practice footage to identify mistakes and opportunities for growth.

Be coachable: Maintain a growth mindset and stay open to constructive criticism.

3. Focus on Recovery, Nutrition, and Mental Preparation
Prioritize recovery: Get enough sleep, hydrate, and take rest days to allow for muscle repair and performance gains.

Eat to perform: Fuel your body with nutrient-rich foods that support training and recovery.

Build mental toughness: Set goals, develop confidence, and use visualization and positive self-talk to stay focused and motivated.

By staying disciplined in these three areas, athletes can maximize their potential and consistently elevate their performance throughout their high school career.

Game On: What September 1 Means for Your Recruiting Journey

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September 1 of a student-athlete’s junior year in high school is one of the most important dates in the recruiting calendar, especially for Division I and II prospects. On this date, college coaches are officially permitted to begin direct communication with prospective student-athletes. This includes phone calls, emails, text messages, direct messages on social media, and other personal recruiting correspondence. Before this date, coaches are limited in how they can interact with underclassmen, typically only able to send camp invites, questionnaires, or general recruiting materials.

In addition to communication, September 1 also marks the point when athletes may begin receiving recruiting materials and more personalized information from programs. Coaches can start scheduling unofficial and official visits, although the actual timing for when official visits can take place may vary by sport. Prospects may also begin discussing scholarships, roster opportunities, and other program details directly with coaches.

This date is especially significant because it is the first opportunity athletes have to see which programs have genuine interest. For many sports, September 1 serves as the “starting line” for meaningful recruiting conversations and can accelerate the process of narrowing down college options.

Athletes preparing for this milestone should have their highlight film, academic information, and athletic resume updated and ready to share. Being proactive on or before September 1 can make a major difference in attracting coach attention and building early momentum in the recruiting journey.

Boost Your Athletic Edge: Key Strategies for Nutrition, Hydration, and Rest

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For optimal athletic performance and health, start by understanding your daily calorie intake to meet your body’s energy needs. Boost your meal frequency to maintain energy and support muscle growth by eating smaller, balanced meals every 3-4 hours. Choose whole, nutrient-dense foods over processed options, focusing on lean proteins, clean carbs, and healthy fats. Stay well-hydrated with at least 8-10 glasses of water daily, especially during intense activities, to maintain performance and reduce injury risk.

It is also important to ensure your body has ample time to recover by incorporating rest days into your routine. Finally, aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night to optimize recovery, enhance mental focus, and support muscle growth. By integrating these practices, you’ll improve your overall health and athletic performance.

Prepstar featured athlete- Kaleb Layton

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The PrepStar featured athlete for this week is Kaleb Layton. Kaleb is a dynamic quarterback with a strong arm, impressive athleticism, and the ability to make plays both in the air and on the ground. The recent transfer to Buena High School (AZ) Kaleb had a stellar 2024 season, throwing for 1,943 yards, 19 touchdowns, and maintaining a 101.0 QB rating while also rushing for 210 yards and 8 touchdowns. His performance throughout the season earned him multiple Player of the Week honors, including recognition from Tucson ESPN Radio, KVOA News 4 Tucson, the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, and more. Recently, I caught up with the rising Senior about preparation for the coming season and some memorable moments.

Metrics
Height 6’2”
Weight 170

Academics
GPA 3.0

Link to recruit profile: PrepStar 360 Athlete
Link to Hudl: 2024 Season Highlights
Twitter/X: @kaleb_Layton4

What are your goals after high school?
To go college and study business and continue my football dream and goals.

Are you looking to play in college?
Yes, it’s always been my dream since I was little to play at the next level in college.

What’s your dream school or team?
My dream college has been LSU ever since I was a kid. I’ve been watching them from the ups and downs.

What has been your favorite moment in competition?
The opportunity to get better, with good competition means that I’m pushing myself to be my best every rep.

What part of the game do you love most?
The family that it creates around a group of boys and creating memories with a team that is a part of something special.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
There is always something you can work on or get better at and your biggest competition is always the guy that looks back at you in the mirror.

What’s your pre-game routine / or pre-game superstition?
Locker room getting hyped up with my brothers.

If a movie was made about you, who would play you?
It would have to be my closest friend because he knows everything about me.

If you could try another sport, what would it be?
Yea, I wanna play baseball this year.

What’s your favorite game-day food?
Canes. Me and my teammates have always eaten canes before games. It helps us through the game

How to build muscle and gain weight in the off season

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Many athletes talk with me about how to gain weight and add muscle to their frame, especially during the busy summer activities of camps, practices and workouts. My reply is always to ask if they know how many calories they eat every day compared to the amount of calories they burn every day. Most athletes do not know they answer to either question.

For example, say you have car and enough gas in your tank to get 100 miles. But the trip you are about to take is 200 miles. Obviously, if you don’t add more gas to your take you’ll surely end up stalled out on the side of the road. So, simply, you need more gas to get where you want to go. Likewise, to continue to gain weight and add muscle to their frame athletes should be in a calorie surplus.

I’ve mentioned in articles from previous newsletters that to grow muscle and add weight the body needs surplus calories. Which means that at the end of the day you have consumed more calories than you have burned during an active day. Also, unless you have the time to weigh food and do complicated math to figure out your daily caloric intake I suggest using an calorie counting app, to help you track how many calories you burn daily and how many you need to consume to build muscle effectively.

In-Season Edge: Train Smart to Stay Fast, Fit, and Powerful

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During the high school sports season, it’s easy for athletes to lose strength, muscle, and speed if training takes a back seat to games and practices. An effective in-season training plan doesn’t need to be intense—it just needs to be consistent, efficient, and focused on maintenance rather than growth. The goal is to preserve the strength and explosiveness built during the off-season while staying fresh and injury-free for competition. Here’s a simple, outline designed to help high school athletes maintain their performance edge all season long.

Strength Maintenance + Mobility
Speed & Agility + Core
Full-Body Power + Recovery Focus

Key Components.   
Strength Maintenance
Focus: Preserve muscle and power without overtraining

Speed & Agility
Focus: Quickness, lateral movement, acceleration

Mobility & Recovery
Dynamic warmups before games/training
Post-session stretching, foam rolling
Light yoga or mobility circuits 1–2x/week

Supportive Elements
Nutrition: Stay consistent with protein intake (1g per lb of body weight) and fuel pre/post practice.
Sleep: Prioritize 8+ hours of sleep for recovery.
Hydration: Maintain high water intake throughout the day.

3 Recruiting Tips for High School Athletes During the NCAA Quiet Period

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Take the Initiative — Reach Out to Coaches via Email or Social Media
Even though in-person contact is restricted, coaches can still respond to emails, messages, and letters.

  • Send personalized emails with your highlights, GPA, test scores, and a short message expressing interest.
  • Follow and interact (appropriately) with college programs on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

Tip: Include a link to your recruiting profile or highlight video in your message.

Update Your Recruiting Profile and Highlight Video
Make sure your Hudl, YouTube, or PrepStar profile is current and polished.

  • Include your latest stats, updated film, and academic info.
  • Coaches will often evaluate from afar during quiet periods, so your online presence is critical.

Tip: Pin your best clips first—coaches often only watch the first 30–60 seconds.

Schedule Unofficial Visits and Campus Tours
You can visit campuses at your own expense, but coaches can’t meet you in person during the quiet period.

  • Take a self-guided tour and get a feel for the campus environment.
  • Snap a picture in school gear and tag the program to show your interest (it keeps you on their radar).

Tip: Check each school’s recruiting calendar to ensure your visit aligns with NCAA rules.