The National Football League is the most profitable and powerful professional sports league in the US by far.  With the recent popularity of social media they have adopted very stringent rules and regulations for all members of the league.  Coaches, players, referees, and even media have some limitations.  Here is a brief synopsis of the current social media rules from the NFL.

The use of Twitter and other social media platforms by players, coaches and other team personnel on game days, prohibiting such use beginning 90 minutes before a game until following the conclusion of media interviews after a game.

The league did not restrict Twitter use by players and coaches on other days.

The NFL issued a written announcement that said in part: “The growth of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook has created important new ways for the NFL and clubs to communicate and connect with fans. The NFL has been at the forefront of the use of new media and will continue to emphasize innovative and appropriate use of these new forms of communication.”

Players, coaches and other club personnel from using cell phones, computers and other electronic devices on the sideline, in the locker room and in the coaches’ booth in the press box between pregame warmups through the conclusion of a game.

NFL officials felt the need to issue an amended set of rules because of the prevalent use of Twitter by many players

That’s prohibited under this policy, which says that “coaches, players and football operations personnel are permitted under league policy and with club permission to use social media on game day during specific time periods before and after games… up to 90 minutes before kickoff and after the game following media interviews,” according to the NFL’s written release.

The NFL banned updates during that period by a player, coach or team official “or anyone representing” one of those people.

The league barred its game officials and members of its officiating department from using social media platforms at any time.

The NFL also indicated that its previous policies prohibiting play-by-play descriptions of games while they’re in progress apply to Twitter and other social media platforms.

If I was in charge of the most powerful professional sports league I would do the same.  What do you think?  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for sharing.  -DL