Ep 47: Visible, Not Vulnerable: Social Media & Volleyball Recruiting

From recruiting DMs to viral highlight clips, today's volleyball players are building their futures in public—often without realizing what they're really sharing. In this episode of Bump, Set, Mic, Chuck takes over hosting duties while Brian and returning guest Leon Kasperski, TNT's Director of Operations, break down how athletes and families can use social media as a powerful recruiting tool without putting safety, privacy, or future opportunities at risk.

Drawing on Brian's 30+ years as a middle school teacher, along with his experience as a high school and club coach, and Leon's hands-on work guiding TNT athletes through the college recruiting process, the conversation covers volleyball-specific accounts, digital citizenship, red flags in online contacts, and the long memory of your digital footprint. Whether you're a TNT family, a player hoping to play in college, or a parent trying to keep your child safe online, this episode offers clear, practical guidance on staying visible to the right people—and inaccessible to the wrong ones.

Segment 1 – Social Media as a Recruiting Tool, Not a Toy (0:00 – 17:32)

• Chuck introduces Episode 47 and the role reversal: Chuck hosting, Brian as "color man," plus returning guest Leon Kasperski
• Why TNT is "all in" on social media as a major recruiting tool for its athletes
• How TNT leverages coaches' relationships and tournament exposure (e.g., AAU Nationals) to get players seen
• Leon's recommendation to create a separate volleyball/recruiting account (vs. mixing personal life and volleyball on one profile)
• What belongs on a volleyball recruiting profile:
  • Name, position, graduation year
  • Simple, professional contact info
  • Links to highlight video and recruiting platforms (e.g., YouTube, SportsRecruits)
• Brian's educator perspective on teaching teens to use technology safely and appropriately, including AI, and this episode as the club's effort towards a similar goal. 
• Early reminder: college coaches are absolutely checking social media to learn who you are off the court, not just how you play on it

Segment 2 – Legit Contacts, Scams, and Online Grooming Red Flags (17:32 – 30:20)

• Real-life scenarios:
  • "Hi, I'm Coach Smith from State University; I've watched your film…"
  • "We want to pay you for your name, image, and likeness (NIL)…"
• Leon on how legitimate coaches actually reach out:
  • Almost never via DM
  • Typically via school email, through the club, or directly to coaches
• Verification-first approach when a player gets contacted:
  • Look up the coach on the school's official website
  • Move the conversation from DM to email
  • CC a parent, club coach, or recruiting coordinator
• Red flags to watch for:
  • Personal email addresses (e.g., Gmail) instead of school domains
  • Requests to "keep this between us" or avoid involving parents
  • Attempts to move quickly into private chats, personal photos, or non-volleyball topics
• Brian's shares some research found regarding how often minors—especially teen girls—report being approached online by people trying to manipulate them
• A clear explanation of grooming behaviors and how they can target teenage volleyball players specifically
• What to do if you've already shared "too much":
  • Stop replying
  • Tell a parent or trusted adult immediately
  • In serious cases, involve law enforcement and the club, as TNT did in a prior possible grooming situation

Segment 3 – Digital Footprints, Emotional Posting, and Long-Term Consequences (31:02 – 53:00)

• Brian defines digital citizenship</