Twitter on the court?

Shaq with 2.1 million followers is probably the biggest user of Twitter among the NBA players. Even the NBA has its own Twitter account with more than 1 million followers. But can you imagine an NBA player, sitting on the bench and sending out tweets as the game is in progress? It has been done before.

And now NBA commissioner David Stern is following the lead of the NFL and will soon issue guidelines on how professional players use social media tools inside and outside a game. NFL had recently announced its guidelines on the use of social media. It now prohibits players, coaches and football operations personnel from using social media networks like Twitter and Facebook 90 minutes before kickoff to the end of traditional media interviews after games. And NFL game officials are banned from using social media at all times. ESPN is also developing stricter guidelines.

According to a Yahoo! Sports story, Stern says, “Obviously, there is a happy medium between tweeting before the game and tweeting from our bench during the game.”

Stern says players need to stay focused on their game. “It would look unusual for a guy sitting on the bench to pick up his cell phone, and I think we can agree that he probably shouldn’t be writing e-mails. It’s not about Twitter; it’s about the line of communication. That’s what we’re focusing on.”

Yes, Twitter and other social media platforms help players connect to fans, but using these tools during games is definitely taboo! And if I was a coach, I would also restrict mobile phones in the locker rooms or on the bench. Like students inside a classroom, players need to focus and concentrate on their game. That is already tough with thousands of screaming fans.

Already, players and even coaches are on YouTube, facebook and Twitter. They all videos and profiles which keep fans updated. And they are just like you and me, fascinated on how technoloft works, in real time, 24/7.

There is always the right time and place for technology to work. And the court or the bench isn’t one of these places. You are either looking to get fired or get benched throughout the season!