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I remember it vividly. It was a big deal. 1994. The black screen had a blinking orange light. I was half way through soccer pre-season at St. Francis Xavier University. I was sending my first email in the computer lab; I was writing my friend Pamela who was going through pre-season at Dalhousie University. I’m sure I was emailing about something important (ha). We emailed back and forth a lot - this made our parents happy because the brutal phone bills seized. Of course, this was before Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and whatever else will be rolled out before I publish this blog. We weren’t talked to about “digital footprint” - it wasn’t necessary. Since when did 1994 become the good ol’ days?
What’s out there?
There are many social media options these days - I am always grateful to my nieces and nephews for keeping me up to speed on the latest and greatest. Pinterest seems like fun - but, I don’t choose to spend time decorating my house right now. I have read cool ways to use it for teaching so I’m all set up and ready to roll. While I have an account, it’s currently quite bare. Facebook is a really special creation for those of us far from our family and loved ones - I’ve been on Facebook since 2004 ish and have loved keeping in touch with people and watching them live life to its fullest potential (or, initiating privacy settings for those who are more negative than my happy bubble would prefer). It’s also so much faster than emailing my family who wants to see my daughters grow. Click and send - done. Twitter is just its own beast. I’m pretty much a rookie myself. I have only been “active” on Twitter since January of this year. But, I do love it.
If not coaches, than who?
It is pretty crucial that coaches spend time with their developing (maturing) athletes in terms of proper social media use. We (coaches) make certain to adjust our practices (skill and tactical development) as they grow. This is no different. We can assume student athletes are being educated on appropriate use of technology - particularly social media - but I think that would be unwise. The reality is, most athletes are leaps and bounds ahead of their parents, teachers, and coaches in terms of social media. I truly advocate that athletic directors and coaches work with athletes on appropriate use of social media (if you need any help, let me know!).
Why?
Why watch negative attention come to athletes, sport, and humanity in general when it’s not necessary? As much good as social media gives, it can be really ugly. Yesterday Canada and the US Women’s soccer teams met in Toronto - it was a rematch of the semi-final game in London last summer during the Olympics. Leading up to the game, Sydney Leroux (Canadian born, dual citizen, US team member) “retweeted” a few very ugly Tweets that were sent to her. These Tweets were wrong. There was nothing nice about them. They were very unCanadian. We are a nation that is known for kindness. These comments (unwarranted by Sydney Leroux) were simply gross. MANY American fans took to her defense and sent equally-as-ugly Tweets in response. Members of the Canadian team responded to the ignorance with supportive Tweets, telling Canada to “do better” - unfortunately Leroux’s retweets (the ugly ones) receives thousands of views and retweets since she’s pretty much a rock star, while the Canadians’ only received hundred (we sooo love our hockey). Here’s what I am talking about...
All Leroux said was that she was on her way to Toronto (or, T-Dot - as we Canadians like to call it). She is not a betrayer of Canada, she’s a dual citizen. As a mother of dual citizens, I find people calling her a traitor very confusing. It’s possible to love two countries. It’s also fine to choose to play for a team that has been a powerhouse throughout the history of women’s participation in the sport, over a team this has more grit than talent (with the exception of several players). IN FACT, Canada has a player on its roster who was born and raised in the US. I do think it is unfortunate, and perhaps unnecessary, that Leroux retweeted some comments (as she did during the Olympics). I’m not judging her - I have never been in her soccer boots, nor will I (I was never remotely close to her talent!). But, I do think that in a game so highly profiled, that some social media intervention could have occurred to keep the focus on the positives.
Where is the line in what to share, like, and Tweet?
It’s a professional line, in my humble opinion. For example, I love when people I follow on twitter let me “in” to their personal life a bit. I cracked up seeing Leroux dressed at Nicki Minaj for Halloween. Leroux is hysterical (we Canadians can only hope to claim her comedic talents came from her Northern childhood - we like to think all the funny people are from Canada). I love seeing her recent Vine videos. Her spunk and charisma are enduring. However, I think by retweeting nasty comments by some ignorant fans in Canada, she used social media to motivate herself, to draw attention to the issue, and to fire her team up. Mmm....okay - maybe it worked. But, if my girls (who are one and three) were eight and ten and watching, I would have been sad (re: disappointed) to see her hush the crowd. Not everyone in the crowd was booing her. In fact, I would like to think it was again a small, albeit loud minority. I think that someone with US Soccer could have (should have?) advised (if this is even proper etiquette since these are smart and successful professional athletes) to retweet some of the supportive Tweets that came from Canadians. The hatred toward Canada from US soccer fans was difficult for me to read, too. I love my home country. I’m a proud citizen who loves, and is a permanent resident of, the US (yes, I think my hubs is worth it). This “event” that’s blowing up, could have been much smaller. Hey, don’t get me wrong! I’m thrilled women’s soccer is getting the most press since the Mia Hamm days - I just wish it was more positive. How about those two 17-year-old starters for Canada? How about Alex Morgan’s incredible back to back goals? How about one of Canada’s own getting the goal for the US? These are positive stories...these should be the headlines today. See how annoying social media can be?
I’m not picking on a few soccer players in this discussion. Remember this photo?
Remember this photo?
Yep. Armstrong Tweeted this out while his doping allegations were blowing up. (Don’t worry, I was duped too.) I watched his interview with Oprah where he said he honestly thought Tweeting this photo was a good idea at the time. That’s the point…“at the time” - the “time” may not last long - but the damage is often already done. We need to think a few days out and about the ramifications before we choose to Tweet, Like and Share - and, we need to teach our student athletes to do the same.
I’m not just talking about international or professional stages. I follow lots of college programs on twitter. A very high profiled athlete Tweeted a video that some teammates made which they thought was “funny” and/or “clever”. It was neither. It was inappropriate. It was bullying. While some might not have realized this at first - it could have caused a lot of bad press and even punishment to some smart kids, at a prestigious school, who did something very stupid. Luckily, someone with a brain intervened and forced the link off of YouTube. But, I saw it and...I wish I didn’t. When I was growing up, if you made a mistake, you made it. You could move on. Nowadays, it’s so much easier to mess up and it have a lasting impact. While student athletes have answers and opportunities at that their fingertips due to all the internet has to offer, they also have to learn to be more responsible and make more mature decisions than generations who have recently preceded them. The reality is, kids (and, college students) today have to pay a higher price for making dumb decisions than many of us did 20-years ago. The guy who wrote the horrible Tweet to Sydney Leroux messed up (at the very least). He should apologize. And, if he does, I hope Leroux would take to twitter to acknowledge his doing so. That’s using social media to spread good, to teach lessons, and to impact youth in a positive way.
What actions should coaches take?
- Don’t assume that your athletes know what proper use of social media is. Have discussion about representing your team, your school (if applicable), your country. Let’s support our athletes and educate them before they make a mistake. In some instances coaches are college students or recent graduates. In other words, they may be ready (and, able) to tackle the world - but they aren’t too old to impart wisdom upon.
- Remind your athletes that you never know who is watching/following (wow, that sounds creepy); teach them what digital footprints are - and - how harmful they can be.
- At your “beginning of the season meeting”, remind parents to have discussions with their children around appropriate use of social media.
- Pull examples of good and bad use of Twitter and other forms of social media off of the web and give to your athletes. Allow them to collaborate in small groups to determine what examples are good, what ones are bad, and what they could have done different. Define clear lines of how the members of the team want to use social media to attract fans to their team and to their sport.
- Understand that there is no age requirement to join Twitter. Kids have been documented to find it very easy to hide their internet use and choices from their parents. Don’t think because you are coaching young athletes that they aren’t using various forms of social media in an unproductive and even harmful way. Don’t think that it can’t influence your team and its reputation.
Social media is amazing. I am able to make a good living through connections I have made via social media. I love it, and I am completely grateful for it. I just hate seeing people mess up simply due to a lack of professional training in using it. I have lots to learn in social media, but I my years preparing pre-service (student teachers) for the education system - coupled with my years coaching - taught me a thing or two about merging the two together. In doing so, we use social media to build hype and spread positive stories about sport rather than using it to show what is bad about sport.
Note: Sydney Leroux, you are an incredible soccer player and a very witty gal. Canada is proud to call you one of our own. I hope that my kids grow up and have the courage to make choices that they are happy with. Know that the loud words of a few Canadians does not define us as a nation.
