Is Your Highlight Reel Visible When Coaches Are Actually Watching? How to Time Your Social Media for Lacrosse Recruiting Success
You spent hours editing that highlight reel. Your best goals, assists, and defensive plays are all there.
But here's the problem: you posted it at 3 PM on a random Tuesday in July when most college coaches are running their summer camps.
Nobody saw it.
Timing your social media posts matters just as much as what's in your highlight reel. Coaches aren't scrolling Twitter at midnight. They're not checking Instagram during practice. They have specific windows when they're actively looking at recruits.
If you want your content to actually land in front of college coaches, you need to understand when they're watching: and post accordingly.
Understanding the NCAA Recruiting Calendar
Before you post anything, know this: coaches have restrictions on when they can contact recruits.
The NCAA divides the year into different periods:
Dead Period: Coaches can't have any in-person contact with recruits. They CAN watch your social media.
Quiet Period: Coaches can watch you play but can't talk to you off-campus. They're definitely online.
Contact Period: Coaches can meet with you anywhere. They're busy traveling and evaluating.
Evaluation Period: Coaches are watching games and tournaments. Less time online.
Your best posting windows? Dead periods and quiet periods.
That's when coaches are back in their offices, doing research, and scrolling through recruiting profiles. They're not on the road. They're not coaching. They're evaluating talent online.
Check the NCAA lacrosse recruiting calendar before you plan your posting strategy. Time your biggest content drops when coaches are actually at their desks.
Best Times to Post Your Highlight Reel
Let's get specific about timing.
Post during these windows:
Sunday evenings (6-9 PM EST): Coaches are prepping for the week. Many are reviewing their recruiting boards and checking social media updates from the weekend's tournaments.
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (8-10 AM EST): Mid-week is when coaches catch up on recruiting tasks. Early morning posts catch them during their first coffee.
Thursday evenings (5-8 PM EST): Coaches are wrapping up the week and planning their weekend travel. They're checking who's playing where.
Avoid these times:
Friday nights and Saturday mornings (coaches are traveling to events)
During major recruiting tournaments (they're watching live, not on their phones)
Late nights and early mornings (nobody's working)
Major holidays (they're not checking Twitter on Christmas)
Post your best content during dead periods. That's when coaches have the most time to really dig into your profile, watch your full highlight reel, and take notes.
Making Yourself Easy to Spot in Your Highlight Reel
Even if you post at the perfect time, your content needs to work.
Coaches don't have time to hunt for you in game footage.
Use these tools to make yourself stand out:
Arrows pointing to your position
Circles or spotlights highlighting you
Isolation effects that blur everyone else
Your jersey number displayed on screen
Include your name, email, and phone number at the beginning AND end of your video. Make it easy for coaches to follow up immediately.
Your first 30 seconds are everything. Start with your absolute best play. Don't waste time with an intro montage or music buildup. Show your best goal, best assist, or best defensive play right away.
After that opening, include 20-30 plays showcasing all the skills for your position. Keep the total length between 3-4 minutes. Anything longer and you'll lose their attention.
What to Include in Your Social Media Posts
When you post your highlight reel, don't just drop the video link and walk away.
Your caption matters.
Include:
Your grad year and position
Your club team and high school
Key stats from the season
Your GPA and test scores (if they're strong)
Contact information
Tags for coaches you're targeting
Example:
"2027 Midfielder | 3.8 GPA | 45 points this season with @MBLightningLax. Looking for a competitive D2 or D3 program. Contact: [your email]. Full highlights ⬇️"
Tag coaches strategically. Don't blast 50 schools at once. Pick 5-10 schools you're genuinely interested in and tag those coaching staffs.
If you're working with Myrtle Beach Lightning Lacrosse Club, ask your coaches which schools are watching your games. Those are the programs to prioritize in your posts.
Use Tournament Weekends to Your Advantage
Here's a smart strategy: post your highlight reel the week BEFORE a big tournament.
Send it to the 20-30 schools on your target list. Tag those coaches. Let them know where you're playing that weekend.
That gives coaches context before they see you live. When they show up to watch your game, they already know what to expect. They've seen your best plays. Now they're watching to confirm what they saw online.
After the tournament, post fresh clips within 48 hours. Strike while you're still on their minds. If you had a great game, get that content up fast.
Most players wait weeks to edit and post tournament footage. By then, coaches have moved on to the next event.
Track What's Actually Working
You need to know if your posts are landing.
Check these metrics:
Video views: Are coaches actually watching your highlight reel?
Profile visits: Are coaches clicking through to learn more about you?
Engagement: Are college programs liking, commenting, or sharing your posts?
DMs and emails: Are coaches reaching out after you post?
If your posts aren't getting traction, adjust your timing. Try different days and times. See what works.
Also pay attention to which CONTENT performs best. Do coaches engage more with full highlight reels or short skill clips? Do they respond to stats or game footage?
Give them more of what they're already watching.
Make Your Profile Easy to Navigate
When coaches click on your profile, they should find everything in under 30 seconds.
Pin your highlight reel to the top of your feed. Don't make coaches scroll through 50 posts to find your video.
Keep your bio clear:
Name
Grad year
Position
Club team
Contact email
Link to your recruiting profile or additional highlights in your bio.
Update your pinned post regularly. If you have a great tournament performance, swap out the old highlight reel for fresh content. Keep it current.
Don't Just Post and Ghost
Social media recruiting isn't a one-way street.
Follow the programs you're interested in. Like and comment on their posts. Show genuine interest in their team culture and season.
When coaches post about recruiting, engage with it. Ask smart questions. Be visible in their feed: but don't be annoying.
Respond fast when coaches reach out. If a coach likes your post or sends you a message, reply within 24 hours. That shows you're serious and engaged.
The Bottom Line
Your highlight reel doesn't matter if nobody sees it.
Post when coaches are actually watching. Use the NCAA recruiting calendar to your advantage. Drop your best content during dead periods when coaches are at their desks.
Make yourself easy to spot in your videos. Start strong. Include your contact info. Tag the right schools.
And keep posting consistently. One highlight reel in September isn't enough. You need fresh content throughout the recruiting cycle.
Ready to take your recruiting to the next level? Contact Myrtle Beach Lightning Lacrosse Club to learn how our tournament schedule and coaching staff can help you get in front of college coaches at the right time.
Post smart. Stay visible. Make it easy for coaches to find you when they're actually looking.
