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I enjoy reading my sons team fan boards for all sports. I will admit that have also posted. I find some of them very entertaining and I especially get a kick when a parent posts talking about their player, how good he is, when he hasn't even stepped foot on the field. I know I am not the only one who gets a kick out of that. 
I also try to follow some other fan boards where I know players are from. Fan boards are especially entertaining right before a rivalry game and most are not ever edited. MN-Mom would be very busy on the Clemson boards right before a CU-USC east game.
I got a bit of advice once from one of our very wise posters. Not all fan boards are positive toward their players, so a parent may see things that they might not agree with written about their son and has to learn to be objective. Last year there were very ugly comments made about a football player and it did start to affect his game, it got really ugly at one point and became an issue off of the boards. The players read and post as well. So it is a personal decision on what you want to do.
I also try to follow some other fan boards where I know players are from. Fan boards are especially entertaining right before a rivalry game and most are not ever edited. MN-Mom would be very busy on the Clemson boards right before a CU-USC east game.
I got a bit of advice once from one of our very wise posters. Not all fan boards are positive toward their players, so a parent may see things that they might not agree with written about their son and has to learn to be objective. Last year there were very ugly comments made about a football player and it did start to affect his game, it got really ugly at one point and became an issue off of the boards. The players read and post as well. So it is a personal decision on what you want to do.
I read them frequently (as I believe the large majority of players and parents do), and I have VERY mixed feelings about them.
Because the knowledge level varies so much from participant to participant, they're EXTREMELY uneven in their treatment of the topics there. Unfortunately, because most are quite distant from the team's day-to-day existence, assertions made there can be WAY off base and questions downright ridiculous...and that's on a good day. On worse days, people's posts can be cruel. On the worst days, they're both cruel AND uninformed/clueless.
I'm far from certain that this is the right approach, but I try to be very selective about my direct involvement on a board; limiting my posts to positive/encouraging comments regarding the team (I never single out individual players for fear that I might unintentionally slight another deserving teammate of my son's.) and clarifications that I feel are absolutely necessary to prevent the team's fans from believing something that's downright ludicrous or particularly hurtful.
Because I vacillate in terms of my own involvement, I offer no advice there. However, I would advise parents who are new to the college experience to keep in mind that most of what you disagree with (and you WILL see plenty with which you disagree) stems from the combination of a fan's passion and his/her woefully incomplete view of the team's actual circumstances. In other words, they mean well; but just can't help themselves.
Good topic, Dad04.
P.S. Our team's parents help release the "steam" sometimes created by inaccurate/cruel posts by parodying and laughing at them when we get together. A frequent topic among us is how relatively "clueless" the average fan is. The term "idjit" is reserved for a select few whose screen names shall remain undisclosed.
Because the knowledge level varies so much from participant to participant, they're EXTREMELY uneven in their treatment of the topics there. Unfortunately, because most are quite distant from the team's day-to-day existence, assertions made there can be WAY off base and questions downright ridiculous...and that's on a good day. On worse days, people's posts can be cruel. On the worst days, they're both cruel AND uninformed/clueless.
I'm far from certain that this is the right approach, but I try to be very selective about my direct involvement on a board; limiting my posts to positive/encouraging comments regarding the team (I never single out individual players for fear that I might unintentionally slight another deserving teammate of my son's.) and clarifications that I feel are absolutely necessary to prevent the team's fans from believing something that's downright ludicrous or particularly hurtful.
Because I vacillate in terms of my own involvement, I offer no advice there. However, I would advise parents who are new to the college experience to keep in mind that most of what you disagree with (and you WILL see plenty with which you disagree) stems from the combination of a fan's passion and his/her woefully incomplete view of the team's actual circumstances. In other words, they mean well; but just can't help themselves.
Good topic, Dad04.
P.S. Our team's parents help release the "steam" sometimes created by inaccurate/cruel posts by parodying and laughing at them when we get together. A frequent topic among us is how relatively "clueless" the average fan is. The term "idjit" is reserved for a select few whose screen names shall remain undisclosed.
After reading and posting for three years on a college fan message board I will give you some advice. Be careful what you say and how you say it. Be thick skinned because fans have no compassion for parents and no tolerance for player errors. For the most part they support their COLLEGE ...NOT the team NOT the players or NOT the coach. The majority of posters are armchair quarterbacks and are continually changing lineups and critiquing every player at every position. If your son does great on Sunday he’s the hero on Monday but if he does poorly he becomes a terrible burden and needs to be benched. I've seen more than one parent get highly upset over the un-moderated college message boards. The only player that is safe is the one on the bench.
Fungo
Fungo
I appreciate the feedback. I enjoy the boards. The fans are passionate. I'm thinking the fan boards are for the fans, though. I'm thinking as my son's team role grows, my very limited participation on those boards will decrease. You folks are right on from what I read. It is school first for those folks.
quote:It is school first for those folks.
Absolutely true. And a corollary might be, "Only winning counts."
A quick "vent" on this topic: A poster on one of UNC baseball's boards recently expressed the hope that our preseason ranking would translate into wins late in the season...when it "really counts." Well, "Duh!"
This is probably the same sort of guy who sits in the grandstand and hollers "Just throw strikes!" to his team's pitcher. VERY helpful.
quote:and hollers "Just throw strikes!"
...or my all time favorite.... "DON'T LOSE'EM!!!"
I have read a few sites, as noted, some are really funny or absolutely mean. Every so often, reading opposing teams message boards can give slight insight, but not enough to change game plan 
Referencing TPM's observation, I have learned not to doubt (so much) the parent that feels their son is more talented than his playing time reflects. I can think of a young man who was not going to see any playing time where he was, he transferred to a highly ranked ACC team has has been their starter 2 yrs. This happens very frequently. It is alot about the fit. He was "beat out" by a freshman, but he was still good enough to play. Frankly, you don't get on a college roster if you can't hang with the rest of the roster. There are too many reasons to list why a player may not play. Talent is USUALLY not the case. IMHO.
Referencing TPM's observation, I have learned not to doubt (so much) the parent that feels their son is more talented than his playing time reflects. I can think of a young man who was not going to see any playing time where he was, he transferred to a highly ranked ACC team has has been their starter 2 yrs. This happens very frequently. It is alot about the fit. He was "beat out" by a freshman, but he was still good enough to play. Frankly, you don't get on a college roster if you can't hang with the rest of the roster. There are too many reasons to list why a player may not play. Talent is USUALLY not the case. IMHO.
I have seen those sites but do not read them at all. I have no desire to know what the fanatics think or feel. It would be a wast of my time, and I only have 168 hours a week.