If your strategy is cold messaging 100 players on Instagram, you are operating like an amateur. That behaviour damages your credibility before you’ve even started. Your first player rarely comes from volume. It comes from controlled proximity. Here’s what that actually means. 1. Stop Looking for “Big” Players New agents make the same mistake: They aim too high too early. Elite academy players already have: • Representation • Family advisors • Trusted networks You are not competing on equal footing yet.Your first representation is far more likely to come from: • Released academy players • Semi-professional environments • Local standout players lacking structure • Players in transition phases Build where access is realistic. 2. Warm Proximity Beats Digital Noise If a player doesn’t recognise you, they won’t trust you. And if they don’t trust you, they won’t sign. Your first client typically comes from: • Someone who has seen you consistently • A family that has observed your professionalism • A relationship that developed gradually Cold outreach feels transactional.Proximity builds legitimacy. 3. Academy Environments — With Discipline Attending matches is not networking theatre. Do not: • Hand out business cards aggressively • Pitch yourself to 16-year-olds • Interrupt families after games Observe first. Understand: • Who influences decisions • How the environment operates • Who already has representation If you misread the ecosystem, you look inexperienced immediately. 4. Parents Evaluate You Quietly At youth levels, parents are often decision-makers. They are not impressed by: • Loud confidence • Big promises • Aggressive positioning They evaluate: • Stability • Maturity • Long-term thinking • Professional conduct If you look opportunistic, you lose. If you look structured, you gain trust slowly. 5. Build Reputation Before You Ask For Business Most new agents ask too early. That’s insecurity disguised as ambition. Instead: • Show up consistently