The Grand Junction High School baseball team learned this week they won’t be playing in the 5A Baseball Playoffs. Coach Donnie Alexander allegedly sent text messages to players on February 1st, which was a Sunday. Colorado High School Activities Association has a rule which states that coaches can’t have contact with players on Sunday, even during the offseason. By breaking this rule, Grand Junction is banned from postseason play this year. Coach Alexander will not coach the first two games of the regular season. CHSAA is going to add a bylaw for social media this summer. CHSAA is not the only governing body that has rules on communication. The NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB have restrictions on communication and social media.
The NFL has a strict communications policy for game days. During games, coaches in the booth may not use a cell phone to communicate with players or coaches down on the sidelines. Players and coaches may use social media, cell phones, and any other devices up to 90 minutes before kickoff. After that they are not permitted for the remainder of the game. This all makes sense. The NFL doesn’t want teams to gain a competitive edge over another team. The only communication coaches can use are headsets to talk to players or other coaches. The NFL also allows teams use of overhead photos. This helps the quarterback see how a defense is lining up and how to adjust. The only personnel allowed a tablet, cell phone, or smart phone are team doctors and members of the athletic training staff to update injury information.
The NHL loves to use social media for players to have fan interaction. Players may use social media up until two hours prior to the opening face-off. They must stay off of all social media until they are finished with the post game media. People who work for the NHL teams aren’t allowed to use social media beginning at 11 a.m. on game days. If players send out something to degrade the game, they will receive discipline. This could be a fine, a suspension, or even losing their social media privileges.
In the NBA coaches and players are not allowed to use social media during games or 45 minutes before tip-off.
Major League Baseball prohibits cell phone use 30 minutes before game time by players, managers, coaches, and other clubhouse staff. Players may use it but they need to be careful. They can’t rip umpires, use copyright logos without permission, or send messages about PEDs or banned drugs. If they abuse any of these rules, they will be asked to meet with the Commissioner of Baseball. The Commissioner will then decide what punishment they will receive.
Social media regulations are there to help coaches and athletes focus on the game and interact with fans. It’s a great tool to use as long as they don’t abuse it.
How should coaches and athletes use social media?
As social media becomes more and more sophisticated it will be more difficult to supervise. I think the time will soon come when there will be no restrictions at all
You have to have restrictions otherwise you are going to have players tweeting or messaging from the bench. They will not pay attention to the coach.
It won’t be long before they are all wearing cameras and you can watch the individual play of every player.
Yeah that is true. They are experimenting with that technology as we speak.
I had no idea they had all these rules in place. They do seen hard to enforce.
This rules are for this year.