bear42
Freshmen Member
Posts: 58
|
Post by bear42 on Feb 18, 2013 20:26:29 GMT -6
We have had two volunteer coaches start with us this winter/spring and they are big on technology. They have started a facebook page for all the team to become friends with so they can see information about practice, among other stuff. I don't have a
good feeling about this, but wanted to know other thoughts on this subject. Would you/do have a facebook or twitter acct for your team.
|
|
coachmitts
Sophomore Member
Always compete
Posts: 186 
|
Post by coachmitts on Feb 18, 2013 20:46:11 GMT -6
We have a basic twitter account that I personally run. I don't follow any of the kids but most follow me. It allows for updates and changes in the schedule to be sent out quicker then emails( that generally go to the parents anyway).
I don't think it's a horrible idea to remain connected to your athletes via technology, HOWEVER, there needs to be rules laid out for the athletes about proper use and expected actions on the Facebook/twitter accounts. They need to know they will be held accountable for what they post/say.
To ensure everyone understands this, we came up with a online agreement that every player had to sign. It lays out expectations and lays out punishments for not following said expectations. So far we have not had one issue.
|
|
|
|
Post by calicoachh on Feb 18, 2013 21:40:26 GMT -6
You should check with your district or admin for clearance or approval of this idea. CYA.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachbdud on Feb 18, 2013 23:48:40 GMT -6
I have a team twitter
keep it professional
keep it business like...
Practice times, meeting times/locations... reminders
that's it
Dont talk about opponents, don't talk about plays or even players
It can be a great tool to spread information
most of our kids have an account, my goal for this week is to make each of our kids get a twitter, then subscribe to our team twitter (That I run)
now whenever I send a tweet out, they get a text message with the tweet in it, so in essence without having to do much I have just texted every kid in the football program
Uncle Ben told Peter Parker "with great power comes great responsibility"
Twitter/facebook have great power, just have to be responsible with it.
Make every post, tweet, interaction as if the principal were watching you type it and you will be ok
|
|
|
|
Post by calkayne on Feb 19, 2013 2:38:44 GMT -6
We use FB to keep the team informed on their schedual. However a Forum would be better. This is much better for communication.
Problem with FB and Twitter: Each user is bombarded with other messages apparently much more interesting than football.
If you set up a forum, which can be done for free, you can control the information flow much more efficiently.
|
|
|
|
Post by cheetahs37 on Feb 19, 2013 4:17:09 GMT -6
It's a good communication tool.
Make the Facebook group private, ensuring only those you have added, can see the content. We have a team twitter, a good web-forum and a mailing list, the players voted for Facebook to be their preferred method of receiving info. In major communiques (of a non sensitive (training location changes etc)), we also tweet, and send a group email to the mailing list, as well as on the team website and forum.
We have one Coach managing all of these, so the info is clear, concise, and more importantly only the info the HC/Co-ordinators want sent out.
ALSO - importantly, our child welfare policy dictates separate FB groups for the Adult & Youth/Junior teams...
Just my two pence/cents.......
|
|
|
|
Post by jlenwood on Feb 19, 2013 8:18:39 GMT -6
We started a Facebook page about 3 years ago and it initially worked great. It was set up for players only. However, some parents/fans got on it and started trying to be the greatest motivational speakers ever and it created some issues. My advice for FB is to make sure no one other than a player gets on it, and if someone else does you boot them immediately!
The thing we have found with FB is that really it is kind of past it's prime as far as the kids are concerned. We now communicate almost soley via Twitter. We are trying to get all of our players with an account and as many community/fan followers as possible. Our thought is that this will be a great way to get our fundraising ideas directly to our target market/customer....the fans and community folks. Also, when a kid or the team receives an award or does something noteworthy, we can let the entire community know immediately.
|
|
|
|
Post by bird0660 on Feb 19, 2013 8:47:15 GMT -6
In an earlier post I wrote about the problems we were having with technology as a team. I think a great way to deal with the things they are saying is to have a team FB/twitter that they have to subscribe to, this way you are monitoring what they are saying on their personal pages....it will also have them thinking twice about what they are saying. may seem like an innvasion of privacy or something but ultimately its for the greater good of the team.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachkb14 on Feb 19, 2013 8:59:19 GMT -6
We have a Facebook group and it has worked great. I actually want my kids parents on there so they can get the announcements, schedule changes, etc. as well. Myself along with another coach are the administrators. I tell everyone on there if there is any negative comment they will be deleted and if the same person is making multiple negative comments they will be deleted from the group. This way I have control of everything being said on the page. The group is closed so it requires administrator approval to join.
|
|
|
|
Post by CS on Feb 19, 2013 9:15:15 GMT -6
Most of my kids don't have a computer. Or if they do its really old and they can't afford the Internet. The old way of doing things works fine for me. :-)
|
|
|
|
Post by gabehc16 on Feb 19, 2013 9:45:24 GMT -6
We have a team Facebook page. We use it mainly for communication on schedules, times, practices etc. We also use it as "propaganda." We post videos of college or professional players performing some of the same off-season lifts. We post links to articles that parents can read dealing with a wide range of topics like the importance of sleep, or the importance of regular weight training, diet habits, etc etc etc. It is a great resource for us as coaches and as a team. We also have a photographer that takes pictures at our game so we post photo albums of the games and players love using the pictures for their own FB accounts etc. We set the privacy settings so that no one can post on the page unless it is approved by the admin of the page first. This way, we can weed out any unnecessary or unprofessional posts.
Lastly, we have a 24/7 policy with social media on our football team. I make it known to our players that I will be checking their facebook/twitter accounts and I instruct them on what is acceptable to post and what is not. They are not allowed to have their accounts as private unless they allow the team page to "follow/like" their page.
We feel that part of our job as coaches and teachers is to instruct our players on how to properly use social media. Using a team facebook page is an example for our kids of how to properly utilize a tool such as facebook in their every day lives. Social media is here to stay and is a constant part of our players' lives. If we just ignore it or pretend it doesn't exist, they will inevitably use it the wrong ways and for the wrong reasons.
|
|
|
|
Post by CS on Feb 19, 2013 9:59:25 GMT -6
We have a team Facebook page. We use it mainly for communication on schedules, times, practices etc. We also use it as "propaganda." We post videos of college or professional players performing some of the same off-season lifts. We post links to articles that parents can read dealing with a wide range of topics like the importance of sleep, or the importance of regular weight training, diet habits, etc etc etc. It is a great resource for us as coaches and as a team. We also have a photographer that takes pictures at our game so we post photo albums of the games and players love using the pictures for their own FB accounts etc. We set the privacy settings so that no one can post on the page unless it is approved by the admin of the page first. This way, we can weed out any unnecessary or unprofessional posts. Lastly, we have a 24/7 policy with social media on our football team. I make it known to our players that I will be checking their facebook/twitter accounts and I instruct them on what is acceptable to post and what is not. They are not allowed to have their accounts as private unless they allow the team page to "follow/like" their page. We feel that part of our job as coaches and teachers is to instruct our players on how to properly use social media. Using a team facebook page is an example for our kids of how to properly utilize a tool such as facebook in their every day lives. Social media is here to stay and is a constant part of our players' lives. If we just ignore it or pretend it doesn't exist, they will inevitably use it the wrong ways and for the wrong reasons. that sounds a little extreme. It's not our job to get involved in their personal lives unless asked. It's ok to teach them about social media but what your doing is borderline dictatorship type stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by Coach Bennett on Feb 19, 2013 10:41:19 GMT -6
Question - to make a team page do you need a personal facebook account?
|
|
|
|
Post by gabehc16 on Feb 19, 2013 11:07:09 GMT -6
We have a team Facebook page. We use it mainly for communication on schedules, times, practices etc. We also use it as "propaganda." We post videos of college or professional players performing some of the same off-season lifts. We post links to articles that parents can read dealing with a wide range of topics like the importance of sleep, or the importance of regular weight training, diet habits, etc etc etc. It is a great resource for us as coaches and as a team. We also have a photographer that takes pictures at our game so we post photo albums of the games and players love using the pictures for their own FB accounts etc. We set the privacy settings so that no one can post on the page unless it is approved by the admin of the page first. This way, we can weed out any unnecessary or unprofessional posts. Lastly, we have a 24/7 policy with social media on our football team. I make it known to our players that I will be checking their facebook/twitter accounts and I instruct them on what is acceptable to post and what is not. They are not allowed to have their accounts as private unless they allow the team page to "follow/like" their page. We feel that part of our job as coaches and teachers is to instruct our players on how to properly use social media. Using a team facebook page is an example for our kids of how to properly utilize a tool such as facebook in their every day lives. Social media is here to stay and is a constant part of our players' lives. If we just ignore it or pretend it doesn't exist, they will inevitably use it the wrong ways and for the wrong reasons. that sounds a little extreme. It's not our job to get involved in their personal lives unless asked. It's ok to teach them about social media but what your doing is borderline dictatorship type stuff. I realize we probably are on the more radical end when it comes to our social media policy. We are a private/catholic school so we have school policies in place that also regulate the use of social media and what our students can and cannot do in their personal lives. We feel that no matter where they go or what they do, they are representing our school. We also have a 24/7 no alcohol or drugs policy. That doesn't mean that they don't do it, but it does mean that they cannot post pictures of themselves drinking etc. When I say we "regulate" what they can and can't post, it mostly is in regards to posting things that imply that they are breaking the school's rules. Since having the talk with our players about what is acceptable and what is not, I haven't had any issues with players posting inappropriate pictures etc. Our parents are completely on board and know this is our policy when they enroll at our school. I also used to be a college football coach and I talk to our players about how I used to check kid's facebook and twitter accounts when I was recruiting to find out what kind of character the kid had. If I was a recruiter and I was torn between offering one of two kids, I would pick the one that I felt had better character. Their FB/Twitter accounts would have played into my judgement of their character. If one of them could run a 4.4 and the other a 4.8....well then it didn't really matter. |
|
|
|
Post by CS on Feb 19, 2013 12:34:47 GMT -6
Ok that sounds better. And makes more sense now that I know you are at a catholic school. You are in a dictatorship  |
|
|
|
Post by larrymoe on Feb 19, 2013 16:48:25 GMT -6
I won't ever do a team Facebook or Twitter page just because I don't like to make deals with Satan.
|
|
|
|
Post by mholst40 on Feb 20, 2013 11:02:02 GMT -6
We have a team Facebook and Twitter account that our head coach and myself have administrative control over. We've never had any real issues with them. We use them more to keep fans and parents involved and informed. I think it's a good way to get out the image you want of your program.
|
|
|
|
Post by holmesbend on Feb 20, 2013 21:53:40 GMT -6
Love it. One of the first things I did last year when I took the job. I have a personal facebook and twitter, but we also have a football facebook and twitter page. Put it this way, outside of emergencies (which, thank goodness we haven't had any), I don't get texts past 7:00 pm like I stated in the first team/parent meeting I had almost a year ago. (It's also partly due to the fact that I told them I turn my phone off about that time, which I do for the most part, but a little white lie never hurt.... ) I told our parents and players then, that during the season, after practice (and, this hit home with the parents more than anything) I want to go home, leave work and be the same things that you all become when your horn sounds at work; become husband and daddy. I didnt need all 40 players plus their parents texting/calling me all through the evening about random bull. Check Facebook, twitter and email (or feel free to message me on either of those) for ANY change in plans. With these forms of social media I can answer a question and it get out to everyone, instead of answering multiples of the same questions. |
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 3, 2013 7:42:07 GMT -6
We have one, I (the HC) run it, and it has been a great tool to get information out. I do get a strange PM every once in a while but have yet to have anything posted that hasn't been appropriate. Also been able to have some "teachable moments" with our boys when they have posted a few sketchy things.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Clement on Mar 3, 2013 10:43:48 GMT -6
I've been with three teams that had it, and it always worked well, especially because there was no other way to spread information to the entire team in a timely way. For those of you who have some kind of "points" system, it allowed me to do a daily posting of who stood where.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachmoore42 on Mar 3, 2013 22:25:04 GMT -6
We had a team Facebook page, but parents always would post that so-and-so would be missing that day. Not really an issue in itself, but it seemed to open the floodgates. If one was missing, it seemed they all were coming up with a reason their little Johnny had to miss too.
Now, we use Remind101 for our updates (www.remind101.com). They can sign up for text or e-mail messages, most use the text option. We can send messages immediately and easily. The best part is that they have to go out of their way to respond that they are missing practice (in-person usually, sometimes via e-mail). Also, it doesn't make the absences public knowledge for everyone else who is signed up. That way we don't get the snowball effect on absences.
On a side note, I use it for my class too. Saved my butt with a parent complaint earlier this year. The kid's mom e-mailed my principal saying she never knew about tests or grades or yada-yada. I took a screen shot of my Remind101 account with her name, and her son's name, right there as being signed up. I also took a screen shot of the plethora of messages I had sent out detaling that information or how to access it. I sent that to my principal and the discussion ended there. Neither of us has heard from that mother since.
|
|
ramsoc
Junior Member
Posts: 431
|
Post by ramsoc on Mar 5, 2013 22:27:49 GMT -6
We have a team facebook page, but its secret, only who we invite and no one outside can see it. Its players and coaches only. Its a way for me to get out information and a place for them to run their mouths instead of on their personal pages that everyone, including their friends at other schools can see.
I have a personal twitter that I follow the players and they follow me and now we have a football program twitter that's followed by the local media outlets and players.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachlarsson on Mar 7, 2013 5:40:36 GMT -6
We started a facebook page at the previous school I was at. The coaching staff still runs it, but the kids also use it to organize pick-up 7-on-7 every Sunday afternoon. In four years there haven't been any issues.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachjd on Mar 7, 2013 6:23:07 GMT -6
As our schools AD, I manage our athletic department facebook and twitter accounts. Parents and community members follow us on facebook and the students and athletes follow on twitter. Facebook is not as popular with the high school kids as it was 2-3 years ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachHess on Mar 7, 2013 7:12:04 GMT -6
We just started a facebook page recently. I am very much against it, but gave in as a way to try and keep everyone involved and communicate to everyone. We are in a very rural setting, and reaching everyone is not always easily accomplished. At a recent parent/booster club meeting, we had 14 people. We set up the facebook page, and by the end of the first night, we had over 50 members. Players, parents, alumni, community supporters, etc. It is all for business and we set out some guidelines when we created it. I get on there daily and post a motivational type quote, we use it like others have said to post videos of lifts and such. So far so good.
|
|
|
|
Post by cqmiller on Mar 7, 2013 8:37:46 GMT -6
We created a group and we post football videos, lifting videos, and any changes to the schedule on that group so that the kids can get the info. We ask that parents and players join the group so that we are covered. Parents get all the same messages as the kids and they feel involved and like it when they get the message from me saying, "practice has been moved" but their kid tells them he is "going to practice".
Parents feel more involved, which leads to less headache
|
|
|
|
Post by Coach Bennett on Mar 7, 2013 9:00:55 GMT -6
I've never used Facebook before.
If I create an account, should I put my "first name" as our town and "last name" as football?
Also, once created, what are some considerations for setting page preferences?
Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachhart on Mar 7, 2013 9:21:39 GMT -6
We just started using the Twitter to disseminate information and "sell our brand." Our HC, who is an old-school guy, even joined the twitter fun and the kids ate that up.
Kids these days just don't use their e-mail like we would hope so we as coaches have to change our ways of talking to them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Clement on Mar 7, 2013 9:31:12 GMT -6
I've never used Facebook before. If I create an account, should I put my "first name" as our town and "last name" as football? Also, once created, what are some considerations for setting page preferences? Thanks in advance. No, you make an account for yourself, and then you make a group for the team, which you can set to private, and you can create a page for the team to serve as the public face. |
|
|
|
Post by coachjm on Mar 7, 2013 11:39:22 GMT -6
We made our account as a person rather then as a group this helped us further disassociate it from anyone person. If you want to see it and the type of stuff that goes on there go to www.facebook.com and put in whiteford bobcats you can see the type of postings that we put in and the type that parents/community members put on our wall. |
|
