[Infowarrior] - NFL adopts game day social media policy

[Richard Forno]

I love these guys....they just don't understand the information age at  
all.   ---rf


NFL adopts game day social media policy
Posted by Mike Florio on August 31, 2009 4:08 PM ET
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/31/nfl-adopts-game-day-social-media-policy/

The National Football League, ten days from the start of the 2009  
regular season, has rolled out its policy regarding the use of social  
media (such as Twitter and Facebook) on game days.

Per the release from the league office, the NFL has advised the 32  
member teams that coaches, players, and football operations personnel  
will be permitted, with club permission, to use these devices on game  
day during specific time periods before and after games.

The prohibited window starts 90 minutes before the game begins and  
extends after post-game media interviews have concluded.

The phrase "with club permission," however, allows the teams to (in  
theory) apply broader rules on the use of social media.

At some point, the matter could become a subject for collective  
bargaining.  (Actually, the NFLPA might contend that the league- 
imposed policy in and of itself represents a condition of employment  
that cannot be unilaterally imposed.)

"The use of these sites . . . is not permitted during the game,  
including halftime," the release states.  "No updates are permitted to  
be posted by the individual himself or anyone representing him during  
this prohibited time on his personal Twitter, Facebook or any other  
social media account."

The league also has blocked referee Ed Hochuli from tweeting apologies  
for his next blown call; the policy prohibits NFL game officials and  
the officiating department from using social media at any time.

There's also an aspect that applies to the media.

"Longstanding policies prohibiting play-by-play descriptions of NFL  
games in progress apply fully to Twitter and other social media  
platforms," the release states.  "Internet sites may not post detailed  
information that approximates play-by-play during a game.  While a  
game is in progress, any forms of accounts of the game must be  
sufficiently time-delayed and limited in amount (e.g., score updates  
with detail given only in quarterly game updates) so that the  
accredited organization's game coverage cannot be used as a substitute  
for, or otherwise approximate, authorized play-by-play accounts."

But while it will be fairly easy for the league to slam the door on  
play-by-play accounts posted by the likes of beat writers, accredited  
national media, and assorted Internet slapdicks like yours truly, we  
wish the league office the best of luck in keeping Joe Schmoe in  
Kokomo from trying to become the Twitter and/or USTREAM version of Al  
Michaels.

And that's where the rules become unfair and/or unrealistic.  Someone  
sitting in the press box will be prohibited from tweeting a play-by- 
play account of the game.  But the guy or gal sitting only a few feet  
away in the paid seating area will be able to tweet to his or her  
heart's content.

There's no way that the NFL will be able to police this.  Our guess is  
that, in the end, the league will to stop only those offenders who  
become the most popular and/or notorious.

All that said, our new friend (and we don't mean that sarcastically)  
Chad Ochocinco is on notice -- there will be no player tweeting during  
games.