Notice to all Registered League Members

Please see below Social Media Guidelines published recently by World Snooker on 28 February 2014.  The Committee request that all registered league players read these guidelines and adhere to them whilst posting either on the SWDSL facebook page/twitter account, or any general posting in relation to the activities of snooker league whilst using their own facebook/twitter accounts.

These guidelines are designed to provide helpful, practical advice on using social media effectively.
To set the parameters for these social media guidelines, we should keep in mind three things:

1. We live in a society that promotes free speech and freedom of expression; it is generally
expected that persons playing sport at a professional level should reflect the values of the
society it represents.

2. Anything that you post is public and visible so you must be responsible in what you post.

3. Social networking is monitored and you may fall foul of the Members Rules if you act outside
these guidelines.

Do’s Don’ts

DO…Show your personality.
Being yourself and letting your personality shine is
what your fans are looking for. Personality creates
stars in our sport. However, try to avoid any humour
that might be considered in bad taste.

England cricketer Dimitri Mascarenhas was
uncomplimentary about national team selector Geoff
Miller and was fined £1,000.

DON’T…Talk negatively about other competitors,
countries, organisations or brands.
Any gossip or slanderous comments can be easily
highlighted and taken the wrong way. Remember that
you are an ambassador for your sport. This is likely to
put you in breach of the Members Rules.

DO…Remember everyone can see you.
Before you write anything, remember that it’s public
and anyone can take your words and put them in a
newspaper, on a website or the TV. Media will be
monitoring social media and will use your words as
quotes. Pause and think carefully before you mention
anything about you or other sports persons.

Stephanie Rice (an Australian triple Olympic
swimming gold medallist) lost a lucrative sponsorship
deal after she posted an inappropriate comment on
Twitter.

DON’T…Swear.
Even suggestions of foul or abusive language by
replacing letters with symbols e.g. s@£t should be
avoided. Similarly, don’t get into disputes with your
audience – instead, show that you have listened and
be responsive in a positive manner.

The ECB suspended Azeem Rafiq, the captain of
England under-19 team, for his use of inappropriate
language on Twitter.

DO…Be responsible.
You are personally responsible for the content you
provide and how you behave online. Be careful and if
you’re in doubt, don’t post it.

DON’T…Assume anything you delete will
completely disappear
It’s almost impossible to completely remove
information on social networking sites even if you
“remove/delete” it from the original source. There is
no way of knowing where it may have been reposted.
So think before you post.

DO…Report anything that concerns you.
If you see any comments or photos that concern
you or you feel in the course of a conversation that
somebody may need help or be in danger, report it
to the relevant authority.

DON’T…Be provoked into responding.
There are accounts set up to provoke you into
controversial discussions or to respond to abuse.
These accounts are often anonymous or created
using false details and the only person who is
identifiable is you. If someone provokes you in this
manner, just ignore or block them