Yorkton Minor Hockey players had a unique type of training last week. The training took players, parents and coaches away from the ice and had them focus on the world of social media.
Sheri Trapp, the manager of marketing and communications with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, made a stop in Yorkton to talk all about the responsibility that players have when it comes to social media. Players from pee wee, bantam and midget age groups gathered at the Anne Portnuff Theatre to hear what she had to say.
Trapp said that the SHA believes in making all players the best that they can be both on and off the ice. The social media sessions help to ensure that players are portraying the best version of themselves online. Trapp speaks to hockey players all over the province about social media behaviors.聽
鈥淚f they鈥檙e looking for a future in their sport, it鈥檚 important that they realize for scholarships, for teams, for basically life responsibility they need to learn this stuff now,鈥� Trapp said.聽
The presentation consisted of a variety of examples of people who have made mistakes, both big and small, on social media. All of those mistakes had severe consequences on either their sports careers or their professional careers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit of shock value in the sense of giving examples of what not to do,鈥� Trapp said.
She said that it can take years and years to get over any damage that is done online. Something that may be seen to one person as a joke, can be seen as the complete opposite from someone else.
Trapp explained that what one person posts online reflects not only the individual, but their family and work, or in this case their team and sport.
鈥淚t鈥檚 to get them thinking about what you post now, matters,鈥� said Trapp.
