These days, children as young as five or six
often have cell phones and know how to use computers and tablets with ease,
often more deftly than even their parents, teachers, and coaches.
And, while there are many advantages to
children having cell phones, such as being able to reach their parents,
anytime, anywhere (and vice versa), it often leads to ugliness in the world of
sports. Parents and kids can use their phones and other devices to post a mean
comment about a teammate or someone from an opposing team. They can take
hurtful videos or pictures and spread them across the world in seconds, and
they can also be major distractions, taking kids away from their real lives and
into a sort of “virtual life” that is really no life at all.
If you coach youth hockey or are often a
spectator at youth hockey events, you’ve undoubtedly seen children stopping in
the middle of practice to check their phones or rushing to their beloved phones
the minute a game is over.
If you’ve seen, firsthand, the modern obsession
with technology, you know how damaging it can be. That’s why coaches and
parents are encouraged to institute a “no technology” policy for all things
hockey-related.
For example, you may want to consider requiring
young players to leave their phones at home or at least stashed away at all
games and practices, whether they’re on the bench or on the field. This might
lead to some initial protests, but if they want to play bad enough, they’ll
obey.
It’s also wise to institute a strict “no
cyber-bullying” policy that includes and enforces strict consequences, even up
to dismissal from the team, for ugly comments or messages posted on social
media or disseminated through text or email by players or their parents. And,
yes, sadly, sometimes the parents are the ones to blame. Think of this policy
as a way of teaching good sportsmanship both on and off the field.
And, since technology isn’t showing any signs
of going away anytime soon, consider finding a way to embrace the positive side
of technology. Maybe you could have a Facebook group where you highlight and
celebrate one player each week, or maybe you could create an “encouragement
board” where parents and friends can post positive, uplifting messages to players
before a game. Doing something good with technology will reduce the temptation
to do something bad with it.
Technology can’t be ignored, even when it comes
to hockey, or perhaps especially. Have strict rules and policies in place to
prevent problems that often arise with technology and that can permanently and
negatively impact team spirit and morale.
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