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Company Prepares to Introduce a Social Media Coach for Athletes

I am just a little bit obsessed with Twitter.  Truthfully, all sports agents should be attached to the social media service, as well as competitors such as Facebook.  I do not know of many athletes who are not active on Twitter and/or Facebook.  Thus, agents need to be active in monitoring their clients’ activities on those networks.

Recently I received a press release from a company called “The Big Fat Mouth,” introducing a new division titled, “Social Media Coach for Athletes” (SMCA).  From the press release:

In today’s sports world, athletes are coached in every aspect of their game, including position skills, speed, strength, conditioning, agility, nutrition, sports psychology and more.  Beginning at the college level athletes are coached on how to answer questions from press and news media, but very few are coached on how to responsibly use social media, not to mention on how to use it to build their brand and future opportunities.  With SMCA’s programs and proper coaching, professional athletes can not only enhance their brand image,  but significantly enhance their income and future earning potential.

But how will athletes be coached?

SMCA provides live or Skype one-on-one training, live seminars, team and organization training and guidelines, with online training options becoming available before the end of May.  Each live training package is customized to the individual athlete where goals are identified and a specific strategy and game plan are created, exactly like every other aspect of an athletes training regimen.

The concept looks like it has potential.  I look forward to giving the training a try once it becomes available later this month.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

2 replies on “Company Prepares to Introduce a Social Media Coach for Athletes”

Most people have a very limited understanding of the influence Social Media channels have on our society today.  Boomers, Gen X & Y…you name it, we are all impacted by the internet and the sites we frequent.  For most of us, making a few errors on our FB page or tweeting the wrong message will have minimal or no negative impact.  But, what if your 6’8″ High School Senior is the Star player for his Basketball team and has his sights set on a professional career, hoping to be in the top pick of his first NBA draft.  Good grades, a stellar record in High School sports, academic recognition,  active in community projects and the WILL to do whatever it takes to be a star would seemingly position him to reap the rewards of his efforts.  But,  the offers never materialize. The fame and money never comes.  When the dust settles and everyone is trying to determine why things went badly, it all becomes very clear. 

It seems that our sports prodigy never thought that all the crazy, illegal, bizarre, foul or otherwize unneceptable posts, tweets and videos he generated would be taken seriously.  Ooops, guess again!  Poor management or even total lack of presence on Social Networks is the fastest rising variable in the recruitment industry. This includes pro sports, Ivy League colleges and corporate recruiters. If not managed properly, the Social Media activities of a rising star can completely derail their career plans!

Check out The Social Media Coach For Athletes and learn why, as a parent you need to be proactive.  I personally know and hold in high regards the Creator of this company and believe in his mission to help budding or mature athletes project the right image to the right people throughout the ever-changing architecture of todays complex Social Media matrix.

Chris Walker, CHSE, CDME  

Hi,
I recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a Communications Degree. I have a passion for social media outlets as well – specifically Twitter.  I am interested in an opportunity within the sports and marketing fields. I have witnessed how social media channels can significantly impact an athlete or celebrity’s image. Is there really a job as a social media consultant? Do you know of any companies with opportunities to be one? I would really appreciate any advice or recommendations you may have.

Best,

Lindsey Shaw
lshawtay@gmail.com 

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