Bad news for every parent who struggles to get a teenager away from the digital screen and out into the fresh air: Social media have invaded youth sports.
A growing number of Web start-ups are making their play to bring youth baseball teams, soccer leagues, and hockey clubs into the era of Facebook and Twitter by offering Internet platforms designed to link coaches, parents, and players. These specialized networks offer the digital means to swap game photos, share team updates, and keep track of who’s responsible for halftime snacks. And they provide a good excuse to break out a smartphone, even in the middle of a game.
Comments
Thanks for talking about what is definitely a shifting world of youth sports. We started TeamSnap three years ago with the focus on making life easier for coaches and team managers. Our goal was to reduce the administrative work of running a youth sports team so you can spend more time working with the kids. We focused more on the administrative side of youth sports for many of the reasons mentioned in the article - when you are on the field/court/ice/etc. it is time to shut off the social media and focus on the game at hand. Ken McDonald Vice President TeamSnap