 |
|
     
|
|
Student-Athletes Use Facebook And MySpace - Jul 20, 2006
posted by: Josh
At the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meetings in Dallas this past weekend, all three committees addressed the issue of popular online social networks like Facebook and MySpace, and how they impact student-athletes. The general consensus from the SAACs was that student-athletes should use discretion when posting statements and pictures on the Internet, but institutions and athletics departments shouldn’t restrict use of the sites. I read a story this morning about Kentucky reporting itself to the NCAA for a secondary rules violation because fans were bombarding the MySpace Web site of a high-profile prospective student-athlete. I understand that boosters aren’t allowed to interact with prospective student-athletes, and that’s a good rule. The Internet has changed things, however, and I think it’s unfortunate that we find ourselves in a position where we have to police a 16-year-old kid’s personal Web site. If the athletics department had somehow been responsible for the posts, that would seem worthy of a violation. Otherwise, I truly don’t understand what the fuss is about. Are we telling prospects that they shouldn’t have Web sites? Is it wrong for people to find his site and plead for him to go to their favorite team? If the prospect didn’t want people to know who he was or what he was doing, he shouldn’t have his own site. Additionally, how would anybody truly know who made those posts? If Kentucky’s rival knew the school would have to report a violation because of obsessive posts from Wildcat fans on a prospect’s site, why wouldn’t fans of the rival school pose as the Kentucky faithful? Kentucky reported the secondary violation to be cautious, and I can’t blame the university for taking that approach. I take the stance that if random people can post on any other individual’s Web page and say what they want, why can’t they post on a prospective student-athlete’s site? Some institutions have banned student-athletes from using Facebook and MySpace and while I understand their trepidation, I think we need to ask student-athletes to be responsible for their own actions. If you don’t want people to see pictures of you drinking a beer, don’t post pictures with a drink in your hand. If you don’t want people to know you skipped class, don’t brag about it online. If you think your coach is a jerk and don’t want him to know, you probably shouldn’t discuss it on the Internet. But to specifically tell student-athletes they can’t participate online is wrong. Just because you’re an NCAA student-athlete shouldn’t prevent you from being a teenager and participating in activities with other people your age who don’t play sports. 
CommentsHey you shouldn't be saying stuff like this: "If Kentucky’s rival knew it the school would have to report a violation because of obsessive posts from Wildcat fans on a prospect’s site, why wouldn’t fans of the rival school pose as the Kentucky faithful?" Why do you want to give people ideas on how to make it seem like another school is committing a violation? Do you have any other ideas for how I could get Kentucky in trouble? I hate the Wildcats!!! In the original story about the situation at UK, there's a mention of false posts being put on the prospect's site. I don't think Josh was trying to give anyone ideas, just pointing to what has already happened. According to the rule (NCAA bylaw 13.1.2), contact with prospects is limited to "institutional staff members" with varying exceptions based on necessary or unavoidable prior relationships. While I would never condone ignorance (of the rule) as an excuse, I doubt that fans comb through the NCAA manuals, familiarizing themselves with the bylaws. Without meaning to be so, these fans posting to the prospect's web page can be considered illegal recruiters. This just adds to the vagueness and confusion of recruiting time. I cannot tell a lie....I love Facebook! I have found it a great way to interact with friends, stay in touch with people that I may otherwise lose contact with, and I have reconnected with people from high school that I haven't seen in over 5 years. I do however think it is important to understand the consequences of putting various information on the internet. We have tried very hard to educate our coaches and staff on what Facebook and MySpace are, how our students are using these sites, and the dangers associated with them. We have also had sessions with our student-athletes about the risks of putting personal information on the web for anyone to view. Many schools have had minor and major incidents associated with these sites, and it is important for these issues to be addressed from the highest levels of the department. Go Bobcats! When the telephone and later internet were invented there were those who thought it would be detrimental to society. Advances in technology and changes in society such as changes in the way people communicate are always scrutinized. Those who are unfamiliar or resistant to change have the hardest time both changing and accepting change in others. Facebook can be viewed as a change in the way some individuals choose to communicate. In an old yet relative study conducted in 1982 by Sowe and Grissard researching Student Athletes it was found that developmentally there were three areas which the athletes showed slower growth than "traditional" college students. The three areas were educational, occupational and social development. Specifically in the area concerning social development it was found that Student Athletes have limited contact with individuals outside of there respective teams. The daily life of the athlete is very structured. Time is occupied by study table, practice etc… therefore interaction is limited to coaches and teammates. Athletes are often viewed as a separate group from the student body. In my opinion facebook is a way in many but not all cases to merge the two groups. It allows for a more traditional college experience by increasing social networks beyond the team or Athletics Department. The college years after all are about social development as much as educational and occupational. At the same time it must be understood by the athletes as well as other students or individuals using the internet to socialize that caution must be taken when giving out sensitive information. True, it’s scary what one will post up on their facebook site. Lots of people even put up their phone numbers and their address. While there's probably little that schools can do about Student Athletes from using websites like Myspace and Facebook, its definitely a good idea to recommend that the schools warn the athletes about said dangers. Heck, wasn't there some incident out in California where somebody from a rival PAC-10 school posed as a girl to try to set up a date with a player on USC's basketball team, to only have the student section ride him about it all game? It wasn't until recently that I realized that facebook was an issue in collegiate athletics. I became aware of the issue when facebook offered march madness polls for its members. Although it was free to join, there were prizes involved, and I was informed by my athletic director that since prizes were involved, it was a violation of the NCAA's gambling rules. I have also heard stories of employers searching facebook and myspace for information on a potential employee. The fact is that anyone can find a way to view your page, and that being the case you should not offer information that you wouldn't want any stranger to have access to. As far as athletes and facebook/myspace pages go, I believe the athlete should have the choice to have one or not to have one. They have the option to make their pages private, and to control who they are friends with,what they can see, and what they can write on their pages. I don't think the use of them should be banned, but I do believe that the athletes need to be better educated about the sites. Post a Comment |
  
Sox-Yankees happens 18 times a year; this is Figgy's second major league start in four years. Always take the chance to see something you've never seen before.
- Adam
   
|
