Omaha Sports Series: Athletic Directors Social Media Plans: High School Football Team

Objective:

The goal of this social media plan is to increase community engagement, showcase the team’s achievements, highlight individual and team progress, and foster school spirit throughout the football season. The focus will be on connecting with students, parents, alumni, and the local community, while promoting the team’s values of hard work, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

Social Media Platforms:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter (X)
• TikTok (optional for creative content)
• YouTube (optional for game highlights and interviews)

Tone and Style:

• Tone: Inspirational, team-oriented, and community-focused
• Style: Bold, visual, and action-packed, highlighting team dynamics, athlete achievements, and game moments

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Pre-Season (4–6 weeks before the first game)

Goal: Build anticipation for the upcoming season, introduce the team, and generate excitement around football in the community.

1. Team and Coaching Staff Introduction

• Content: Introduce key players (team captains, seniors, starters) and the coaching staff. Include photos, fun facts, and season goals.
• Frequency: 2–3 posts per week
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Hashtags: #MeetTheTeam #CoachesCorner #FootballSeason

2. Behind-the-Scenes Training

• Content: Share videos or photos from summer training camps and workouts. Include drills, team bonding activities, and conditioning routines.
• Frequency: 2–3 posts per week
• Platform: Instagram Stories, TikTok (if applicable)
• Hashtags: #OffSeasonWork #FootballGrind

3. Throwback Thursdays

• Content: Highlight memorable moments from past seasons, focusing on standout players or significant games in school history.
• Frequency: Once a week
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #TBT #FootballLegacy

4. Countdown to Kickoff

• Content: Create a countdown graphic or video leading up to the first game of the season. Build excitement with behind-the-scenes content from practices.
• Frequency: Daily in the final week before the season opener
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Hashtags: #CountdownToKickoff #ReadyToPlay

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Early Season (Weeks 1-3 of Games)

Goal: Showcase game-day highlights, individual player recognition, and team achievements.

1. Game Day Graphics and Live Updates

• Content: Create and post game-day graphics, including matchup previews, kickoff time, and location. On game days, provide live score updates, key plays, and final results.
• Frequency: Before, during, and after each game
• Platform: Instagram, Twitter (live updates), Facebook
• Hashtags: #GameDay #FridayNightLights #TeamVictory

2. Player of the Week

• Content: Highlight a standout player each week, recognizing them for their performance in games or leadership on the team.
• Frequency: Weekly
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #PlayerOfTheWeek #StarOfTheGame

3. Highlight Reels and Key Plays

• Content: Post short video clips of key plays from each game (e.g., touchdowns, big tackles, interceptions). Focus on the most exciting moments of the week.
• Frequency: Weekly (after each game)
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube
• Hashtags: #HighlightReel #BigPlays #GameChanger

4. Motivational Mondays

• Content: Share a motivational quote from a coach or team captain to inspire the team and community for the upcoming week.
• Frequency: Every Monday
• Platform: Instagram Stories, Twitter
• Hashtags: #MotivationalMonday #GetBetter

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Mid-Season (Weeks 4-6)

Goal: Maintain engagement, celebrate progress, and spotlight individual and team accomplishments.

1. Mid-Season Recap

• Content: Share a video or photo recap of the season so far, highlighting the team’s record, key moments, and standout players.
• Frequency: Once at mid-season
• Platform: YouTube (for video), Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #MidSeasonRecap #FootballStrong

2. Spotlight on Seniors

• Content: Highlight senior players as they near the end of their high school football careers. Share their thoughts, future plans, and favorite moments.
• Frequency: 1-2 seniors per week
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #SeniorSpotlight #SeniorSeason

3. Fan Polls and Q&A

• Content: Engage fans with polls, asking them to vote on favorite plays, predicted outcomes, or game MVPs. Host a Q&A session with coaches or players.
• Frequency: Once per week
• Platform: Instagram Stories, Twitter
• Hashtags: #FanPoll #YourMVP #AskTheTeam

4. Training Focus: Inside the Game

• Content: Share videos or photos from team practices with a focus on skill development and preparation for upcoming games.
• Frequency: 1 post per week
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #PracticeMakesPerfect #GamePrep

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End of Season (Playoffs and Postseason)

Goal: Celebrate the season’s accomplishments, build excitement for playoff games, and engage the community in postseason activities.

1. Playoff Push

• Content: Announce and preview playoff games with custom graphics, focusing on matchups, team preparation, and key players to watch.
• Frequency: Leading up to each playoff game
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Hashtags: #PlayoffPush #NextRound #ChaseTheTitle

2. Game Day Hype Videos

• Content: Create hype videos using highlights from the season, fan reactions, and team energy to build excitement for important playoff games.
• Frequency: Before major games
• Platform: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
• Hashtags: #HypeVideo #GetLoud #PlayoffMode

3. Post-Game Celebrations

• Content: Share photos and videos of team celebrations after big wins, including locker room celebrations, trophy presentations, and candid moments.
• Frequency: After each win
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Hashtags: #Victory #GameWinner #Celebration

4. Coach’s End of Season Message

• Content: Post a video or written message from the coach reflecting on the season’s successes, challenges, and growth. Thank the team, parents, and fans for their support.
• Frequency: Once at the end of the season
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube
• Hashtags: #CoachsCorner #SeasonReflection #ThankYou

5. Team Banquet Recap

• Content: Share highlights from the end-of-season banquet, including awards given to players (MVP, Most Improved, etc.), speeches, and team photos.
• Frequency: Once post-banquet
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #TeamBanquet #AwardWinners #TeamAppreciation

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Off-Season (Optional)

Goal: Keep the community engaged and continue promoting the football program even after the season ends.

1. Off-Season Workouts

• Content: Share videos or photos of players participating in off-season strength training, conditioning, or skill development to build excitement for next season.
• Frequency: Bi-weekly
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #OffSeasonGrind #BuildingForNextYear

2. Alumni Features

• Content: Highlight alumni who have gone on to play football at the college or professional level, or who have made an impact in other fields.
• Frequency: Monthly
• Platform: Instagram, Facebook
• Hashtags: #AlumniSpotlight #ForeverAFootballPlayer

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Additional Strategies:

• User-Generated Content: Encourage players, parents, and fans to share photos and tag the team’s social media accounts with a dedicated hashtag (e.g., #TeamFootball) for features and shoutouts.
• Engagement: Respond to comments and messages promptly, thanking fans for their support, and fostering interaction with the broader school community.
• Contests: Organize simple contests (e.g., “Best Fan Sign” or “Loudest Cheer”) with team-branded prizes to increase fan engagement on game days.

By implementing this comprehensive social media plan, the high school football team can build a strong, engaged community around the season, keep fans informed and excited, and showcase the talent and effort of the team and coaching staff.