Guidelines for Electronic Correspondence and Social Media Use in Athletics
Electronic correspondence rules for student-athletes, staff members, and boosters are outlined along with distinctions between public and private messages. Regulations regarding social media usage in relation to recruiting, campus visits, and media presence during college sports activities are also provided in detail.
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Presentation Transcript
Agenda Electronic communications. Publicity. Timing and correspondence. Proposed legislation.
Electronic Correspondence/Transmissions There are no restrictions on the timing or number of telephone calls and private electronic correspondence with a prospective student- athlete. Telephone calls or electronic communications may not be made with a PSA at the site of organized competition. Who can call and/or have electronic correspondence with a PSA? Student-athlete. Staff member. Booster.
Electronic Correspondence/Transmissions cont. Remember! An enrolled SA may send public correspondence to a PSA if it is not for recruitment purposes. However an enrolled SA must send private communication if it is for recruitment purposes or at the direction of the athletics department. NCAA Bylaws 13.02.5.1 and 13.02.11
Electronic Correspondence/Transmissions cont. What is a private message? Call, text, FaceTime and email. Private direct message. (That only the PSA can see.) Who can see it? Only the sender and the receiver should be able to see the communication. Bylaw 13.02.11
Electronic Correspondence/Transmissions cont. What is a public message? A tweet that tags a PSA - @suzyswimmer. A post on a Facebook wall. A direct link of a PSA's name on Facebook. Snapchat with a group of people. GroupMe with a group of people. Email with multiple people (that is not blind carbon copied). Who can see it? More than just the sender and receiver. o Bylaw 13.02.11
Publicity Presence of media during recruiting contact (Bylaw 13.10.1). Comments before acceptance (Bylaw 13.10.2). PSA's visit to campus (Bylaw 13.10.4). Photograph of a PSA (Bylaw 13.10.6).
Publicity and Social Media Accounts Generally, publicity and electronic transmission legislation apply to the following social media accounts: Institutional athletics accounts; Team accounts; Athletics department staff member's personal accounts; and SAs' accounts when directed by athletics department or staff. Bylaw 13.10
Timing of Correspondence Before Financial Deposit After Deposit, Before May 1 After Deposit, After May 1
PSA Timing of Correspondence Before Financial Deposit Private Communication Bylaw 13.02.11
PSA Timing of Correspondence cont. Is the message private or public? Is the PSA publicly linked?
PSA Timing of Correspondence cont. Private Communication Announce PSA's Commitment After Deposit, Before May 1 Bylaw 13.10.7
PSA Timing of Correspondence cont. Announcement of acceptance: Announce PSA's commitment to attend institution. May post a photo of the PSA. May post a press release about PSA. May provide general data and information about PSA in posting. DO NOT publicly link the PSA (e.g., tag).
Social Media Example Has the PSA paid his deposit? Is the PSA publicly linked to the tweet?
PSA Timing of Correspondence cont. Public and Private Communication After Deposit, After May 1 Bylaw 13.02.11.4
Social Media Example Is the PSA publicly linked to the tweet? Has the PSA paid his deposit? Is it after May 1?
Departments Outside Athletics Recruiting legislation applies to athletics-based recruiting and does not limit an institution's admissions office from the recruitment of prospective students generally. Therefore Admissions office (and other departments outside athletics) may publicize a PSA's visit to the institution's campus in the same manner done for prospective students generally. Staff member outside athletics may publicly initiate or respond to social media correspondence as long as the staff member o Acts in the same manner for prospective students generally. o Does not act at the direction of or on behalf of athletics. Bylaws 13.01.1 and 13.10.4.2 Staff Interpretation: 04/23/2015 and Official Interpretation: 12/17/2015
Social Media Involving Family and Friends An athletics staff member may use a personal social media account to comment or post about his or her prospect-aged child, family member or friends provided: The post or comment is focused on the athletics staff member's child, family member, friend and no other PSAs; Other PSAs by the institution are not publicly linked to the posting or commented about; and The athletics staff member is acting on behalf of himself or herself and not the institution.
Social Media Division III An institutional staff member is NOT permitted to initiate a "friend" or "follow" request to a PSA through a social networking site and take actions (e.g., like, favorite, republish). Bylaws 13.02.11 and 13.10.2 Division III Education Column: 01/18/13
Social Media Divisions I and II Athletics department staff member may take actions (e.g., like, favorite, republish, etc.) on social media platforms that indicate approval of content on social media platforms that was generated by users of the platforms other than institutional staff members or representatives of an institution's athletics interests. NCAA Division I Bylaw 13.10.2.8 Division I Staff Interpretation: 12/5/13, Item Ref. a NCAA Division II Bylaw 13.10.2.1 Division II Official Interpretation: 11/28/17
Proposed Legislation 2019-7 Permit institutional staff members to connect with (e.g. friend, follow, etc.) PSAs on social media platforms. Allow an institutional staff member to engage in actions that indicate approval of content on social media platforms that were generated by users of the platforms.
Questions? @NCAADIII @D3SAAC
