The Internet Frontier
Posted September 8, 2008
The internet, also known as the information superhighway, is revolutionizing sports. Everyone is well aware of the major sports media sites (www.espn.go.com, www.CBS.Sportsline.com, local and national online newspapers, etc.), but now there are a variety of other types of sites that allow the fans to discuss their team with other fans across the country, create their own sites and discuss their personal feelings about a team or sports topics (blogs). In some cases, fans have created sports websites that rival the main players in popularity.
This interaction with the game not only allows fans to become a part of their team, but also gives them more power to influence the direction of the team than ever before. The internet is a major factor in sports, and it will only get bigger in the future.
Besides the fan sites, there are now web-based recruiting services and other “inside scoop” sites that play directly to the coaches. Also, with the entire NCAA basketball tournament being streamed live this year on Sportsline.com, the ability to always watch what is going on in the field is increasing. With the internet growing in importance every year, it is key that you as a coach know how it works and utilize that knowledge for your own benefit.
The following is a quick run-down on some of the sites you will see:
Blogs: These are the easiest sites to create, and thus the fastest growing type of site on the web. Blogs can be set up in minutes and allow people to say whatever they feel. These are the types of sites that can call for the firing of a coach or the trading of a player. They can also be anonymous and can contain slanderous material on them. (Though these can be visited by many fans, it is best to ignore these sites as they can only induce anger at the lack of real understanding for the game.)
Fan Forums: These are generally run by real fans of the program and have moderators that keep the language clean and the attacks at a minimum. The users are usually required to register, and real topics concerning the program are discussed. (While the fans may sometimes have disparaging things to say about the program (one reason most of the coaches I talk to won’t read these sites), I can say this – they would love for a coach to pop up one day and discuss the team with them. This could win major points as these are the most rabid of fans.)
“New Wave” Sites: Just as some of the newer websites can be unprofessional, others are making waves as legitimate sports websites. Most coaches are aware of www.footballscoop.com (for the latest job openings), but there are also many others that follow traditional and non-traditional formats. www.Collegefootballnews.com is one of the best college football analysis sites on the web, while sites like www.deadspin.com look at sports from another angle. Deadspin.com is known for not only a quick analysis of all sports, but also for highlighting the pop culture aspects of sports (if you take a bad picture in public it will end up here).
There are many new sites on the web and we have discussed only a few. Just be aware, the internet is, and is going to continue to be, an important aspect in college sports. Thus, coaches need to have a working knowledge of the Internet Frontier to be successful in the future.
