In this episode I review how I train athletes to best use social media to connect with fans while maintaining their primary goal – performance on the court/field/track.
On this Sports Geek Podcast you will learn about:
- Social media policy for athlete in FOUR words
- What is my key advice to athletes
- How social media can be a distraction and how to handle it
- Why the Olympic movement is behind the curve on digital
- Two teams with two different (and successful) outcomes – Hockeyroos and Kookaburras
- What do social media platforms want from athletes?
- What platforms will work best for athletes in Rio
- What athletes need to know about privacy
- Importance of knowing the rules and staying in control

Sports Geek social media rules for athletes at Olympics (or any sport)
- “Athletes should be focussed on performance. social media is a distraction” – Don't forget why you are there!
- Athletes need a routine, find out where social media fits for you.
- Match social media platform to athlete, don't force it.
- Understand the why:
- administrators
- coaches
- media
- social media platforms
- fans
- Privacy – know your settings and be wary of privacy of others
- Play by the rules (and know them)
- Be social and have fun
- Stay in control
Resources from the podcast
- Connect with Hockeyroo Anna Flanagan on Twitter (@Anna_Flanagan) on Facebook and on Instagram (@Anna_Flanagan)
- Daily Telegraph article – Hockeyroos star Anna Flanagan says athletes shouldn't be banned from using social media at Rio Olympics
- Reply from Kitty Chiller, athletes will not face social media bans
- Read my article on Kobe's retirement and the power of the athlete digital platforms
- Revisit my podcast with George Rose and Andrew Swallow on how athletes deal with social media
- Listen to the BBB episode with David Meerman Scott on Newsjacking
- Have you signed up for weekly Sports Geek News?
Facebook Post that triggered this podcast
Sports Geek Podcast by the numbers
Thanks for the review on iTunes
Great information from an insider
in iTunes by citizenchimp from Australia on September 10, 2015
This podcast is truly full of gold if you’re a marketer or agency looking for insights in the sports industry. Sean really knows his stuff – he’s spoken publicly at many occasions (I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him firsthand) and as someone in the trenches the anecdotes and data couldn’t be more up to date and valuable. Well worth a listen!
Get your digital team on the right track
Sports Geek Guide to Social Media for Athletes
See you at SEAT in Salt Lake City
Join us at SEAT Conference in Salt Lake City Utah on July 14-15 2023. Many of our podcast guests are SEAT attendees.
SEAT is the conference where sports technology executives unite to discuss and solve the tech problems the sports industry is facing. Collaboration across multiple tracks of technology, digital and data has helped the sports industry deliver improvements across stadium access, wi-fi, security, fan engagement, social media, digital content, ticketing and sponsorship revenue. Sean Callanan, Sports Geek