KINGSTON, Jamaica – The MVP Track Club, led by Head Coach Stephen Francis, is contemplating a significant shift in its approach to athlete management with the potential implementation of a no social media policy during track season. This revelation comes in the wake of observations made during the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris.
Speaking on the final day of the Olympics, Francis noted the growing distraction posed by social media for athletes, suggesting that it might be beneficial for them to stay off their online platforms while competing. “I believe I’m going to try to implement a policy for the athletes to delete social media before they start competing. It’s too much of a distraction, and they spend too much time on their phones,” Francis said.
The comment was made in the context of discussing the future of young sprinter Tia Clayton. Clayton was the only Jamaican to make it to the women’s 100m final, finishing seventh with a time of 11.04 seconds on a rain-soaked track at Stade de France. St Lucia’s Julien Alfred claimed victory with a personal best of 10.72 seconds.
Francis highlighted that Clayton had clocked an impressive 10.89 seconds in the semi-finals and speculated that she may have succumbed to pressure when facing the world’s elite athletes. “Tia is in the process of learning how to be a professional. I believe she froze in the final. There were a lot of factors she wasn’t accustomed to, primarily the weather, which had turned cold. I also think the reality of being in contention, combined with possibly something she saw on her phone, might have caused her to freeze,” he explained.
Despite the less-than-ideal finish, Francis remains optimistic about Clayton’s potential. He acknowledged that she is at the beginning stages of her professional career and still has much to learn, including managing the distractions of social media. He also expressed pride in her accomplishments, given the challenge of competing against the world’s best. “It’s a big step to run as well as she did at an event of this calibre. It’s one thing to run against people who are not the best, but it’s another thing entirely when you stand up against the best in the world. That’s a little bit harder to do well,” Francis said.
Looking ahead, Clayton is slated to compete in three more events this season as she aims to qualify for the Diamond League final in Belgium. Francis’s proposed no social media policy could potentially be in place for these upcoming competitions, signaling a proactive approach to reducing distractions and enhancing focus for his athletes.
As MVP Track Club reflects on its strategies and the experiences from the Olympics, the potential social media ban highlights an evolving landscape where traditional coaching meets modern challenges.
Tags: MVP Track Club, Social Media, Tia Clayton, Olympic Games, Stephen Francis, Track and Field, Diamond League, Athlete Management
