NCAA Twitter Rules
May 15th, 2009 - byThe NCAA has made their official ruling on Twitter. Shockingly (at least to me) they have determined that the social media service can be used to directly message recruits. In my opinion this
“We view that option on Twitter the same as we view normal e-mails,” Cameron Schuh, Associate Director of Public and Media Relations for the NCAA, told ESPN. “It’s just you can’t post those (direct messages) on your main page.”
“We view Twitter as a blog. As long as coaches are on there talking about what they’re doing with their day and how their practice went or things like that • not getting into specific terms, that’s fine. They can’t talk about a person they’re recruiting, or they can’t use it to talk about their whereabouts on a recruiting trip.”
The fact that Twitter can hook directly to any cell phone makes this a realistic alternative to coaches that miss the ability to text message recruits. There is no doubt in my mind that coaches will be rushing to this new medium to contact recruits in a new “cool” way. Good recruiters will be able to seperate themselves by direct messaging recruits useful tidbits in real time and positively enhancing their programs image on their public tweets.
If you are a recruit I would recommend joining Twitter and making sure your Tweets are athletically focused. Its especially ideal because the recruit can choose who’s messages they allow. they need to follow a coach to allow a direct message and give specific permission for that coaches direct messages to link up to their phone.
I predict Twitter’s explosive growth rate will soon be taking off with coaches and recruits alike. The only question will be who jumps on the bandwagon first and who uses it most effectively.
Follow NCSA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ncsa
Twitter Messaging on a Phone
