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Post by coachfd on Oct 26, 2011 19:15:04 GMT -6
GREAT QUESTION from Another Message Board:
Do any of you REQUIRE your players to "friend" you on Facebook or MySpace, so that you can monitor the things they put on there? If you do, do you (or would you) discipline them for anything they say or post on their profile pages?
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OUR POLICY:
We have a Facebook Group for our team, which we use to send messages about scheduling, meeting times, etc. Also, we do monitor our players' pages, not necessarily to "catch them" or get them in trouble, but to protect their own image.
We actually have a discussion about "online etiquette" at the start of the year, during which we talk about the importance of THINKING about what they post on Facebook or Twitter. Especially when it comes to pictures.
We stress that future employers and college coaches will look at their Facebook profiles, MySpace pages, and other online activities.
I didn't think it was such a big deal until I started talking to college coaches, and they all starting telling me about how much they look at Facebook profiles. I even had one D-1 coach tell me flat-out that they cross-off kids from their recruit lists just from stuff they see on their Facebook pages. "If a kid is dumb enough to be drinking underage, smoking weed, or with a girl...and POST pictures of it on Facebook...then he's not smart enough to play for us. He makes bad decisions and he's imature."
Also, from a college coach's perspective, you look at what you see a kid doing in high school, and then you plan on him doing those things on your campus once he gets to college. You ask yourself: "Do I really want to have to deal with this type of behavior or worry about it with this kid?"
So in a sense, we educate our kids. We also monitor them infrequently, just to make sure they're not posting stupid things that will potentially hurt them in the long-run.
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Post by Chris Clement on Oct 26, 2011 19:41:09 GMT -6
What does he mean "with a girl?" Facebook is pretty proactive with their no-nudity policy, and even still, it seems more than a little Puritan.
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Post by Coach Huey on Oct 27, 2011 6:53:21 GMT -6
of all the things on our staff's to do list..... having room for 'monitor facebook' just isn't real urgent.
if that is what you wish to do, then i won't try to say it's good, bad, whatever... but i do have some questions
what are the repercussions if a player declines to friend you? how solid a 'case' do you feel you have if a player's parents say "we don't want our teenage son friending an adult"? or the family is offended that a coach already has preconceived ideas about their sons life outside of football and voices concerns to the administration?
has any of the above actually happened?
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Post by wingtol on Oct 27, 2011 7:13:58 GMT -6
No. I will never have a player/student as a facebook friend until they graduate and are in college. I have zero time to monitor what they are doing in their private lives, and really it's none of my business. There are other people in their lives who should be worrying about what they put on facebook and what they do in that time. We stress making good choices, being men of character, all of that stuff during the season, and I warn them about facebook and college but outside of that it isn't my job.
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mia305au
Freshmen Member
"We're either coaching it to happen, or allowing it to happen."
Posts: 41
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Post by mia305au on Oct 27, 2011 7:14:46 GMT -6
I may be mistaken, but I believe Missouri was the first state that passed a law prohibiting teachers from friending any current students on Facebook.
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tlala2
Freshmen Member
Posts: 21
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Post by tlala2 on Oct 27, 2011 7:20:40 GMT -6
That's my policy... I'll be friends with you when you graduate. It usually ends up working out because they are friends with other coaches whom the other coaches on staff and I know rather well so we know when they are posting inappropriate material. When this happens we usually just address it and tell them it doesn't match with our philosophy (the material, not the fact that they are using social media).
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Post by coachcb on Oct 27, 2011 7:41:09 GMT -6
I take the policy a step further; I'll friend them a full year out of high school. I have found that there are still too many ties within the school if you add them right after they graduate.
I honestly don't like adding them at all. There's a select few that I'll 'friend' but that's it.
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Post by pittss11 on Oct 27, 2011 7:50:16 GMT -6
I don't have time.
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Post by blb on Oct 27, 2011 7:54:52 GMT -6
What is "Facebook"?
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Post by paulsonj72 on Oct 27, 2011 15:52:04 GMT -6
I may be mistaken, but I believe Missouri was the first state that passed a law prohibiting teachers from friending any current students on Facebook. THey did but under pressure they repealed the bill but did mandate schools put policies in place |
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jacobdonaldson55
Probationary Member
Most Games Are Won in the 4th Quarter By Heart and Pure Determination to Outlast the Opponent
Posts: 13
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Post by jacobdonaldson55 on Oct 28, 2011 3:45:12 GMT -6
I think that all internet activity by players should not be addressed until it becomes a problem. Facebook is a site all students are a member of and we as coaches are not obligated to watch all aspects of are players lives outside of the locker room. It only becomes are concern when a player abuses that online community and it results in embarrassing the whole team and putting us under the radar in the community and surrounding areas. So when it comes to this conclusion, make an example of the guilty party or parties and make the remainder of the team aware of what happens when you use an online resource for something other than what it was created for.
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Post by k on Oct 28, 2011 10:12:01 GMT -6
I killed my personal facebook when I became a teacher. Don't trust my friends that much. =) I have one under an alias and there is a program one. All the kids friend the program one but nothing is forced.
That said I follow a bunch of players from my old college team on twitter. It is clear no one is following these tweets. Tons of inappropriate stuff posted almost on a daily basis. The staff are all older people and they're sleeping on some major issues.
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Post by fantom on Oct 28, 2011 10:19:00 GMT -6
I think that all internet activity by players should not be addressed until it becomes a problem. Facebook is a site all students are a member of and we as coaches are not obligated to watch all aspects of are players lives outside of the locker room. It only becomes are concern when a player abuses that online community and it results in embarrassing the whole team and putting us under the radar in the community and surrounding areas. So when it comes to this conclusion, make an example of the guilty party or parties and make the remainder of the team aware of what happens when you use an online resource for something other than what it was created for. For argument's sake if you don't monitor how do you know when there's a problem? |
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Post by coachking8 on Oct 28, 2011 11:06:04 GMT -6
Anyone who forces their kids to intertwine their personal, away-from-school lives with the football program 24-7 are asking for trouble. In my opinion, any coach who feels like he needs to monitor his players' social networking accounts is way too insecure about hsi control of his program or too much of a control freak. Let your kids be kids. They are going to do things away from school that you don't approve of much, but that's life. Worry more about the things you can control.
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Post by fantom on Oct 28, 2011 11:24:36 GMT -6
Anyone who forces their kids to intertwine their personal, away-from-school lives with the football program 24-7 are asking for trouble. In my opinion, any coach who feels like he needs to monitor his players' social networking accounts is way too insecure about hsi control of his program or too much of a control freak. Let your kids be kids. They are going to do things away from school that you don't approve of much, but that's life. Worry more about the things you can control. So, you're sitting across from the superintendent. He points out the provocative picture of an underage girl, or pics of your starting OL at a beer bong, or firing up a giant blunt. Somebody in the community sent them to him. He asks why you didn't do anything about it. What do you say? |
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Post by John Knight on Oct 28, 2011 11:34:32 GMT -6
"Amazing what they can do with Photoshop these days, Don't you think, boss?"
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Post by CoachA21 on Oct 28, 2011 11:41:57 GMT -6
Working with a collegiate program, all of our players are required to accept friend questions with their facebooks and twitter accounts. Our program monitors our players statuses and facebooks closely and disciplinary action is highly likely depending on the situation.
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jacobdonaldson55
Probationary Member
Most Games Are Won in the 4th Quarter By Heart and Pure Determination to Outlast the Opponent
Posts: 13
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Post by jacobdonaldson55 on Oct 28, 2011 11:42:02 GMT -6
For one the pic was sent to you the superintendent and not me the coach. Then i would ask that the player be called into the office and allow him to see the picture and see what he has to say for himself. And after hearing is explanation for his action i would expect a punishment be handed down by the school and then i as a coach would pick a punishment that would fit the crime.
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Post by blb on Oct 28, 2011 11:42:11 GMT -6
Last year a community member reported a Facebook picture of one of our players smoking a cigar.
He was suspended for one game for violating school's athletic code-training rules.
But there was no suggestion that it is coach's responsibility to monitor those things. Nor do I think it should be.
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jacobdonaldson55
Probationary Member
Most Games Are Won in the 4th Quarter By Heart and Pure Determination to Outlast the Opponent
Posts: 13
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Post by jacobdonaldson55 on Oct 28, 2011 11:42:39 GMT -6
That is just it only becomes an issue when a member of the team, coaching staff, or anybody outside of the team brings it to your attention that somebody affiliated with the team has used an internet site to embarrass the team in some way. I feel we were hired to coach a game that for most coaches consumes most or all of there time on and off the clock. In the job description it doesn't state that we must monitor internet activity by players. But i do think it is a topic that needs to be brought to attention of the team during the pre season and make sure it is something that wont be tolerated. But its not an issue that needs to be constantly brought up till it becomes an issue that affects the integrity or image of the team. When that time comes do are best as coaches to solve the problem and make sure it doesn't become a constant issue that affects the team, community and the season.
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Post by coachking8 on Oct 28, 2011 11:43:21 GMT -6
Anyone who forces their kids to intertwine their personal, away-from-school lives with the football program 24-7 are asking for trouble. In my opinion, any coach who feels like he needs to monitor his players' social networking accounts is way too insecure about hsi control of his program or too much of a control freak. Let your kids be kids. They are going to do things away from school that you don't approve of much, but that's life. Worry more about the things you can control. So, you're sitting across from the superintendent. He points out the provocative picture of an underage girl, or pics of your starting OL at a beer bong, or firing up a giant blunt. Somebody in the community sent them to him. He asks why you didn't do anything about it. What do you say? I would ask how I am supposed to know everything that happens away from school with my players. EVERY coach is going to have a player drink a beer, smoke a joint, have sex, etc. If you have proof that a student was doing something illegal away from campus, you deal with it appropriately and move on. It's not YOUR job to parent your students. You're a football coach. If you try to monitor your kids 24-7 you're going to cause yourself more headaches than you can handle. So, what if you are monitoring those pages and you miss one? Are you going to be in more trouble because the one you missed is the one that ended up in the supe's hands? I think this is a Pandora's Box that no coach needs to open. |
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Post by fantom on Oct 28, 2011 12:15:41 GMT -6
"Amazing what they can do with Photoshop these days, Don't you think, boss?" LOL. |
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jacobdonaldson55
Probationary Member
Most Games Are Won in the 4th Quarter By Heart and Pure Determination to Outlast the Opponent
Posts: 13
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Post by jacobdonaldson55 on Oct 28, 2011 12:21:21 GMT -6
Technology is just a resource that is everywhere in the everyday lives of all people, we can only hope that the ones we are coaching use it for what it was intended for and not abuse it.
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Post by ajreaper on Oct 28, 2011 18:32:42 GMT -6
Would you react to a report of a player doing something outside of school that was contrary to program rules and expectations? Would you reach out if it was something dangerous or that could have negative reprecussions for that youngman that perhaps he is clueless about?
Society changes and social media is part of that change and it can create problems for the youngmen we work with- I don't know if they need to be monitored but certainly educated (perhaps parents as well) and I can see HC having rules to address issues created by social media and why not- It exsists and can impact players and reflect on a schools program in a negative way.
As to friending players or students on Facebook I do it- my behavior is an open book, I walk the walk and I have no ploblem with them being able to see what I have on Facebook or what my friends might post.
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Post by lilbuck1103 on Oct 29, 2011 6:24:29 GMT -6
This came from our administration this fall during our in-service in regards to teaching staff - student "friends" on facebook:
As a professional, you are putting yourself in a very undefendable situation. If you choose to "friend" your students and they post / have material on their website that is not appropriate or in violation of school conduct or athletic codes you are required to report the violation.
That part is pretty self explanatory to most of us. Here is where the legal trouble can come into play...
"There is an expectation of knowledge that the professional needs to have regarding the website. Even if you did not see it, the argument in the court was that you SHOULD have been aware of it. You are putting your professional career in a very difficult situation."
Basically it is saying that even if you don't see it, you SHOULD have. And because it was posted and you DIDN'T see it, you obviously did not report it. If you did not report something you SHOULD HAVE seen, you are going to find yourself in a tight spot. THe message from our administration was clear...
Unless you are going to monitor the page of the person you friend, plus all of their high school age friends, it will be in your best interest to not "friend" high school students.
That is what came down from the administrations surrounding us based on what is going on throughout the country.
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Post by ajreaper on Oct 29, 2011 19:00:38 GMT -6
This came from our administration this fall during our in-service in regards to teaching staff - student "friends" on facebook: As a professional, you are putting yourself in a very undefendable situation. If you choose to "friend" your students and they post / have material on their website that is not appropriate or in violation of school conduct or athletic codes you are required to report the violation. That part is pretty self explanatory to most of us. Here is where the legal trouble can come into play... "There is an expectation of knowledge that the professional needs to have regarding the website. Even if you did not see it, the argument in the court was that you SHOULD have been aware of it. You are putting your professional career in a very difficult situation." Basically it is saying that even if you don't see it, you SHOULD have. And because it was posted and you DIDN'T see it, you obviously did not report it. If you did not report something you SHOULD HAVE seen, you are going to find yourself in a tight spot. THe message from our administration was clear... Unless you are going to monitor the page of the person you friend, plus all of their high school age friends, it will be in your best interest to not "friend" high school students. That is what came down from the administrations surrounding us based on what is going on throughout the country. LOL, what a bunch of horse crap- that being the case shouldn't a parent "know" their child is selling drugs or using drugs? Shouldn't a wife "know" her husband is stealing from his employer? Good Lord I can go on and on- an absolutely silly statement. |
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Post by brophy on Oct 30, 2011 5:10:41 GMT -6
Anyone who forces their kids to intertwine their personal, away-from-school lives with the football program 24-7 are asking for trouble. In my opinion, any coach who feels like he needs to monitor his players' social networking accounts is way too insecure about hsi control of his program or too much of a control freak. Let your kids be kids. They are going to do things away from school that you don't approve of much, but that's life. Worry more about the things you can control. So, you're sitting across from the superintendent. He points out the provocative picture of an underage girl, or pics of your starting OL at a beer bong, or firing up a giant blunt. Somebody in the community sent them to him. He asks why you didn't do anything about it. What do you say? how is this any different if those pics were posted on a REDDIT, FLICKR account? You don't honestly think the correct answer involves cyber-stalking your players, do you? |
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Post by lilbuck1103 on Oct 30, 2011 11:40:41 GMT -6
Don't shoot the messenger. Just sharing what is being told to us by administration(s). It is happening all over the country.
Easiest answer is to not "friend" them. Better question is...what would you NEED to be friends with them for anyway???
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Post by fantom on Oct 30, 2011 12:55:29 GMT -6
So, you're sitting across from the superintendent. He points out the provocative picture of an underage girl, or pics of your starting OL at a beer bong, or firing up a giant blunt. Somebody in the community sent them to him. He asks why you didn't do anything about it. What do you say? how is this any different if those pics were posted on a REDDIT, FLICKR account? You don't honestly think the correct answer involves cyber-stalking your players, do you? No. I'm not reading their stuff because I can't. I'm too used to capitalization, punctuation, and actual words. |
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Post by coachjd on Oct 30, 2011 13:22:38 GMT -6
We always discuss social media with the team prior to the season. Enough said. Why would I want to monitor their facebook page?  ?? |
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