Chalk it up to the fear of the unknown. Or perhaps it’s just plain 
ignorance.
Whatever the reason, most people I’ve informally surveyed this week disagree with the statement pro athletes should be allowed to use a social network at halftime of a game for example.
Most said so emphatically, calling it an “unnecessary distraction” while others likened it to playing an xbox 360 video game.
Huh? Talk about apples and oranges comparisons.
Distractions, if a social network such as Twitter can be considered as such, are commonplace for an NBA player. Teams subject their players to inane questions from TV “reporters” at halftime. Loud fans are de rigeur. How is a tweet, which could take all of 30 seconds during halftime, take a player’s attention away from the game?
The answer of course is that it doesn’t. The real issues for noted taskmasters like Scott Skiles, the Milwaukee Bucks head coach, are trust and control. Skiles called Twitter a distraction and banned it from the locker room last week after it was discovered that Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva sent a tweet during a game in March against the Boston Celtics.
Social networks aren’t about subterfuge. Teams should view the tools as a way to facilitate fan or community outreach efforts not unlike traditional media. The Detroit Red Wings, who employ a community manager named Shannon Paul, have wisely taken this approach.
Like anything else in life, the use of Twitter or any other social network needs to be moderated. If it takes away from a player’s performance, then the tool should be reviewed if not banned. Chances are that won’t be the case. Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal, who’s enjoying one of his best seasons in recent memory, is a frequent Twitter user.
Good employers trust their employees. As long as players represent the team in a manner the team deems to be acceptable, leave them be.
Most pro sports teams have yet to exploit social media. Once the benefits are fully realized, teams will in fact mandate its use.
So tweet away Charlie V and Shaquille O’Neal. They’ll thank you later.
One Comment on “Should Pro Athletes Use Social Media During Games?”
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sports and social media are a match made in heaven. fans are looking for more and more ways to engage with their team and teams are looking to monetise that engagement through ticket sales, merchandise sales, premium services and even advertising.
however, i think the larger thing that most people have ignored when talking about the CV31 issue is that the twitter update actually focused him. he made a commitment to the fans to be tougher and he fulfilled that commitment by exploding in the second half. the bucks won that game against the NBA champions thanks in large part to his contribution. was that due to him making the twitter update or in codifying his thoughts and making them a reality?
if i were his coach, i’d be asking him to twitter during time outs if it has this affect on his game! clearly that works (rather worked since it has now been banned!) for him as a motivational tool.
moving from the sports arena to the office, the same applies: if going on twitter makes my team more productive, more knowledgeable and adds more value to our clients then why wouldn’t i want them to go on twitter? different people get motivated in different ways and the art of management, it seems, is working out what works for each team member and running with that.
it’s pretty short sighted to ban anything that creates a winning atmosphere just because you don’t understand it.
ed
Posted on March 25, 2009 at 12:29 pm.