Earning a National Team call-up at any level is a pivotal moment in a player’s life. For the player, it is an opportunity earned. To know that among the hundreds or sometimes thousands of players that are eligible for the position that they are selected is a testament not just to their soccer skills, but also their ability to persevere.
It is also important to consider what this means for the player’s family. Much like for the players, playing youth soccer in the United States requires an abundance of long hours and of course physical and mental stress (not to mention monetary as well). Parents want to feel proud that their kids earned these accomplishments and sharing with close friends and families, as well as college recruiters, is a big deal for them.
While earning a call-up is a major moment for both the player and their family, there are some key things to keep in mind when posting national team call-up announcements on social media. Here are a few things to keep in mind before players hit send.
All National Team Call-Ups Are Important
This should go without saying, but not every player gets the chance to play for a National Team, whether it’s at the youth or senior level. Earning the chance to represent either the U.S. or another country is a major accomplishment that should not be taken lightly. Even if it’s for a basic training camp, getting the chance to wear one’s national team jersey and compete at a high level is something worth noting. So posting about it is highly recommended.
One other thing to note: even if it’s not for the U.S., it’s still something to share and be proud of. Although recent results have shaken the confidence of the American youth soccer soccer system, it’s still a major scouting area for soccer federations, in particular those from Central and Latin America and the Caribbean. As evidenced by Jamaica’s run through the World Cup and at the recent CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Qualifiers, U.S.-based players are becoming more prominent fixtures on other national teams.
Always Read The Fine Print
The first immediate reaction of anyone when they receive good news is that they want to share it with everyone that is closest to them. While that feeling is certainly understandable, do note that there are processes that still need to be followed. Many Federations will ask that players and parents keep the information private until they are ready to announce rosters publicly. This is done for a variety for reasons and depends upon the situation but in short, it is very important to follow through with this and wait. There may be late changes or information with other players that they are still finalizing. As is often the case, organizations are also building social media graphics that both they and parents can share publicly (More on that in a minute).
If there is nothing on the official message that is provided to parents, it’s still a good idea to follow up with your point of contact within the Federation and ask if it’s okay to post your announcement. Contacting the player’s youth club as well for additional advice on the subject if no further insight was given is also a good idea as they have will have likely had experience in similar situations.
Make Sure To Hit All Of The Relevant Information
Especially when it comes to Youth National Team announcements, it’s important to hit on some of the basic key information. Your post should always include the following information:
- What age group the announcement is for (U15, U16, U17, etc.).
- When the event is taking place.
- If it’s for a major tournament or just for training.
In terms of photos and graphics, it depends upon what is provided from the Federation. Some may do media sessions with the players prior to the event where they take pictures of the players in their national team gear. Others may just do a simple list. If there are specific guidelines to follow, it’s best to follow them. But if there aren’t any when it comes to images being provided, the player can create their own graphic.
Make Sure To Review and Edit Before Hitting ‘Post’
When it comes to posting on social media it is always important to make sure that each post is reviewed and edited before sending it out into the world. For other smaller occasions, grammar errors or missed words might not be as big of an issue. But when it comes to a National Team call-up, it’s very important to make sure that the post is the best reflection of the player and their capabilities. Letting the post sit in draft for a few minutes, walking away from it, and then re-reading it again is a great way to catch nagging spelling errors and grammar mistakes. So too is sending it to a trusted mentor or family member to look at. Remember: there is no rush when posting.
