BORDER INDOOR HOCKEY
SOCIALMEDIACODEOFCONDUCT
1.Social media canbefun, helpful anddangerous.
Comments, notesandphotospostedon socialmedia sitessuch asFacebook,Twitter andon-lineforumsareusuallyconstructive and positive.Butnegativecommentsandimages,bullying,criticism andsexistremarks can bedangerousandharmful topeople’swellbeingandreputationandtheimageofthesport.
2.Donotusesocial mediato becritical of teammates, coaches, officials,administrators,volunteers orspectators.
Anycommentyoumakeon social mediasites hasthepotential tobeseen bymillionsofpeople.That isgreatifcommentsarepositive.Butit canbe extremelynegative and harmfulifcritical ofpeople.Beforeyoupost acomment onsocial mediaask yourselfthis:WouldIwantmillionsofpeopleto readsomethingnegativeaboutme?
3.Alwaysassumethepersonyou are talking/writingaboutwill seewhat hasbeensaid/written.
Justbecause anonlinechatisbetweentwopeople does not meanit remainsprivateandnobodyelse canseeit. Social media isaccessible to everyone.Evenif thepersonyou arediscussing does not see it,somebodyelsemay. Theresult isyourather thanthe personyou areridiculingwill be seen in a negativelight.
4.Usesocial mediaasa positiveoutlet topromoteplayers,teammates, teams,clubs andothersinvolved in hockey.
Postingresultsandacknowledgingindividualandteamperformances onsocialmediamakesmanypeopleawareofteam andindividual achievements. Thatcanhave apositiveeffect formanypeople and shouldbe used,encouraged andembracedwhereverandwheneverpossible.
5.Remembertoshowrespect.
Whenusingsocialmedia,showthesamerespectandregardfor peoplethatyouwould showand are expectedtoshowwhenplaying, officiating or attending ahockey game.
6.Whenin doubt leave it out.
Ifyou areunsure ifwhatyou areposting on social media isappropriate then itisbestnot to postit.Whenindoubtleave itout.
7.Donot tolerateor condonepoorsocial mediabehaviororactions.
Ifyou areawareoforobserve poor social mediabehaviororactions, donotacceptit. There isno placeforit inhockeyand itwillnotbecondoned.Youshouldremindpeople oftheir responsibilitieswhenusingsocial mediaandwarnthatactioncan betakenagainst them. Intheinstance of minorsbreaching the code ofconduct,alerttheirparentstothesituation. Ifyoubelieve the breachisserious, reportit toteam,clubor associationofficials.
8.Beawarethat youractionson social mediamayhaveseriousconsequences.
Negativecommentsandimages, bullying,criticismandsexistremarksdonot onlyimpact negativelyon thepeople theyareabout.If you arefoundtohaveactedimproperly on social mediaregardingahockeyrelatedmatter, you are liable todisciplinaryproceedingsand mayberequiredtoface atribunalhearing toexplainyouractions. A suspensionfromhockeycouldbe imposed.
9.Considersocial mediato be yourpersonal brand.
YourInternet presencefuelsanyperception ofyourpersonal brand- whetheryoulike itor not. Doesyoursocial mediaidentitymatchyourrealidentity? Bemindfulofthe content ofphotos, statusupdates, Tweets. Aretheytrulyreflective of whoyou areandhowyouwantpeople tosee you?