Breakthrough Basketball Coaching Lab

Breakthrough Basketball Coaching Lab


#16 Alex Cervasio “Social Media Madness, A Coach’s Guide to Survive and Thrive”

December 09, 2015

Why You Should Listen?

In recent years, social media has grown rapidly.  Services like Twitter, Facebook and Intagram have provided opportunities for people to speak in real time for everyone to see.  It seems like a great idea, but unfortunately it can be costly if not used appropriately.   Coaches are constantly attempting to find the balance between implementing rules, bbeducating players and placing restrictions on usage during the season.   This year, Dabo Swinney banned all Clemson football players from using social media during the season.  It has worked out really well for them, but that is not the best option for every program.

All of this can be a daunting task for coaches that didn’t grow up with the technology of today.  I can completely understand because I didn’t get a computer until I was 20 years old.  Today, kids are getting laptop computers at the age of 10.  So what should a coach do to make social media a benefit instead of a detriment to their program?

We brought in social media expert Alex Cervasio, with CVAS Consulting, to build out a plan that will assist coaches, parents and players to maximize the benefits of social media usage.  Alex has setup social media strategies for Billy Donovan, George Raveling, Kevin Eastman and many others.  He is sought out by the top coaches and leaders within the basketball community.

In this Podcast, Alex goes over how you can build an online presence with the proper social media strategy.  This can be done even if you are working on a limited budget.  He gives simple strategies to educate student-athletes on social media usage that will help protect the program’s culture.  He educates parents as well how to instill good habits at young ages within the home.  There is so much great information throughout his interview.  Our hope is this podcast will help coaches, parents and players use social media in a constructive way!

Enjoy this episode of The Jim Huber Show!

What You will Hear In This Podcast

0:22- Who is Alex Cervasio
0:32- The Importance of Talking to Kids Where They are at Today
2:08- John Calipari the King of Social Media
3:33- Coaches Need to Realize that Different Departments have Different Goals
4:09- Social Media Tools to use to be Efficient in Posting Information Online
6:10- The Services that Alex Provides to Help Coaches Online Presence
7:13- How Can a Coach Gain an Advantage with Recruiting on Social Media
8:32- With a Limited Budget Anyone can Setup an Online Presence
8:55- Website Design and Management can go a long way in Recruiting and Getting a Better Job
10:03- What Social Media Rules Should Coaches put in Place for their Program
11:02- Kids Need to be Taught how to Learn from Social Media
11:30- Who Should Kids Follow on Social Media
12:32- Who Should Coaches Follow on Social Media
13:11- Techniques to Implement to Educate Kids on how to use Social Media
14:40- Ohio State Football Example of not Reacting to Games on Twitter
16:05- How to use Social Media in Promoting Events
16:55- Realizing that you can’t Take Back What you put out on Social Media
17:32- Loss of Scholarships and Jobs due to Ignorant Posts on Social Media
18:28- Ways Coaches can Follow Players' Activity on Social Media
19:26- What Parents can do to Prepare their Children to use Social Media Properly
21:15- Best ways to Contact Alex Cervasio
21:55- The Trifecta with Alex Cervasio

Movie: “Empire Strikes Back”
Book: You Will Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi “Teaches you to realize that something positive can come from every possible moment you have with people. You could meet your mentor, the love of your life, someone that is going to hire you, etc. Every interaction there is potential for growth and it is a new opportunity.”