SOFTBALL AND SOCIAL NETWORKING
As has been well-chronicled for some time now, social networking sites and applications such as Facebook and Twitter have inundated almost every area of American’s lives. It is doubtful that anyone not living under a rock has a friend or relative with one or more of these accounts, if they don’t already have one, themselves. Peer pressure is just way too strong to refrain, especially for someone in their late teens. So going on the premise that it is inevitable that eventually we all will participate in this pop culture phenomenon, the question becomes how to make it a positive and productive experience.
It’s strictly for entertainment purposes you say? That is all well and good, as long as your level of “entertainment” participation doesn’t end up affecting your “real” life.
As an athlete who has chosen to be on a path that will ultimately bring about college and life-changing opportunities, putting your best foot forward in everything that you do is imperative. This holds true in the area of social networking as well.
The popularity of this communication connection has actually provided a very useful tool for coaches and schools to evaluate the character of the athletes they are recruiting or considering recruiting. When a school offers a scholarship to an athlete they are making a huge commitment on behalf of their school and own ability to judge talent and character. Consequently, the depth of their investigation of an athlete has increased greatly over the years, and has boiled over into the social networking area.
There are already several examples that I myself have observed, where highly-recruited athletes have had scholarship offers pulled because of posts or pictures on a social networking site. Posting pictures of yourself partying or in a drunken stupor with a drink in your hand, cannot in any way bring about anything positive into your life. Unless of course your only goal is to perhaps have all of your friends anoint you the number one party animal of your group.
Schools are looking for mature athletes with high moral values. I admit it. I personally partake in social networking. I purposely “befriend” the players currently playing for me as well as ones I am interested in recruiting. No coach wants to be surprised or blind-sided by one of their player’s bad behavior not only damaging their own reputation, but that of the team or institution they represent.
Don’t think that there aren’t ways to view anything and everything that you may assume only the person it is meant for will see. And remember, when it comes to recruiting, perception is reality! Be smart and be accountable!
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