To every employee working a desk job with a boss who doesn’t allow you to log into Twitter or any other social networking sites, you are not alone. In fact, it isn’t just desk jockeys who aren’t allowed to Facebook or tweet during their downtime at work; The NHL has implemented a new policy regarding social media as well. Players will not be allowed to post anything to social networking sites two hours before their game starts, during their game and not until after all their media obligations are fulfilled post game.
The NHL is a little slow on its game to implement a social media policy. The NBA and NFL have had policies on this same issue for nearly two years, in an effort to keep players focused on their respective sports. The new NHL regulations are stricter than those of the NFL, which prohibits social media 90 minutes before the game, during the game and until all media obligations are fulfilled; and stricter still than the lenient 45 minute blackout windows before and after NBA games.
Players can expect a hefty fine if caught breaking the policy; it doesn’t only apply to the players but coaches and team personal as well. The Dallas Mavericks coach, Mark Cuban was hit with a $25,000 fine when he tweeted about a ref’s “bad call” in a match up against the Denver Nuggets, when he thought J.R. Smith should have been called for a technical foul.
So don’t expect to see your favorite pro athletes tweeting from the sidelines anytime soon. No matter how much we love these live updates from the floor, we’ll have to wait until after the game to hear their comments. Athletes nowadays should probably be focusing a little more on the game, anyway.