Do’s and don’ts of social media

Editor's note: Nancy Justis is a former competitive swimmer and collegiate sports information director. She is a partner with Justis Creative Communications.

By Nancy Justis, correspondent

Remember when everyone passed notes in the classroom? Getting caught by the teacher was the least of your worries. It was what was said in those notes and who told who what was said that could ruin a friendship and make you a subject of hallway chatter.

There were no computers and cellphones back in those days. No Facebook, Twitter, email, texting. It was pretty simple, actually. But in today's world those seemingly private or benign messages can go viral in a heartbeat. The consequences can cost the sender big time. As a student-athlete, you may not just miss one start, have to sit out one game, or two games, or three games. You could lose out on your opportunity to participate at all.

For example. Remember Mo'ne Davis, the pitcher from last year's Little League World Series? It was reported in the spring that she was the victim of a tasteless tweet by an individual who should have known better, a college athlete. A junior first baseman from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, tweeted, 'Disney is making a movie about Mo'ne Davis? What a joke. That slut got rocked by Nevada.”

The consequences? Casselberry was dismissed from the baseball team. His case was to be reviewed by the school's disciplinary committee.

What was the purpose? None. The player doesn't know Davis. He is the adult in this scenario. This generation has grown up with ever-changing technology. Kids should know by now that other adults in charge are watching and checking. School officials, coaches, professors, and yes, future employers.

Does your school, athletics department and/or coach have guidelines surrounding the use of your athletes' social media practices? They should, no matter at what level of competition. The UConn women's basketball program, one of the most successful year after year, at one time had placed a season-long ban on players using Twitter. Players were not allowed to use their cellphones during team meals or other group get-togethers.

The University of Northern Iowa women's soccer team is provided a sheet explaining 'The Do's and Don'ts of Social Media” at the beginning of each season and is reminded of the guidelines often throughout the year. The 'Do's” include, in part:

- Be Positive!

- Only post what you would like Grandma to see!

- Check your PRIVACY settings! Find out who can see your stuff.

- Think before you CLICK! 'Dude, you gotta un-tag me.”

- Remember you're a role model!

The 'Don'ts” include:

- Accept friend requests from people you don't know.

- Forget that a post cannot only affect you today but years from now. 'Please hire me! Just don't Google me first.”

- Give the opposing team the upper hand on your teammate's injuries/personal information.

- Assume the other person on the other end of the computer is who they say they are.

Positive Coaching Alliance (www.PCADevZone.org) has developed a 'Student-Athlete Social Media Agreement” that can be signed by your student-athletes. Checking the following bullet points:

- I take responsibility for my online profile, including my posts and any photos, videos or other recordings posted by others in which I appear.

- I will not degrade my opponents before, during, or after the game.

- I will post only positive things about my teammates, coaches, opponents and officials.

- I will use social media to purposefully promote abilities, team, community, and social values.

- I will consider 'Is this the me I want you to see?” before I post anything online.

- I will ignore any negative comments about me and will not retaliate.

- If I see a teammate post something potentially negative online, I will have a conversation with that teammate. If I do not feel comfortable doing so, I will talk to the team captain, or a coach.

- I am aware that I represent my sport(s), school, team, family and community at all times, and will do so in a positive manner.

Parents, don't leave the responsibility up to your child's coaches to have the social media conversation. You need to talk about self-discipline on and off the field.

FOLLOW-UP

My last column discussed the trophy culture surrounding youth sports. im Miller, President and Co-Founder of the Youth Sports Foundation, wrote: 'We give every kid a participation certificate that says he or she participated in (sport). The reason we do not award a trophy to a team who wins every game is because at the youth level (in my opinion) it should be about learning the game and having fun. I just think that the time for championships (in my opinion) is ninth grade and above. I say let the kids play the game without the pressure to win that trophy. We have no issues with coaches or parents because everyone knows we don't crown a champion. The player can make a mistake and not cost the team a championship at the youth level. It's ok to make a mistake. That is called learning.”

l Let us know what you think. Send comments to njustis@cfu.net