Digital Smarts - Social Media Creating a Hostile Environment for Coaches?

There have been several articles in the press lately about how kids’ team coaches have decided to step down after being harshly criticized by some parents on social media. Social media does give parents a place to voice their complaints, without ever going to a coach directly, and some would say that districts are so hyper-conscious of their image on social media these days that they may be willing to sanction or fire a coach based on the comments that appear online. If you have a problem with a coach, try to talk to them in person before communicating in an offensive way online. Remember, this kind of one-sided commentary is akin to cyberbullying. Model the kind of behavior online you would like to see your children display before resorting to bashing others behind your keyboard.