Media Interviews and Social Media Policies

Interview Policies

Media Requests
All interview requests, including telephone, Zoom, written, podcast, television, radio, and in-person interviews, should be coordinated through Yale Athletics' Strategic Communications Office.

If you are contacted directly by a member of the media, including the Yale Daily News, please forward the request to the Strategic Communications Office. A member of the Strategic Communications Office will help coordinate the interview and provide any guidance you may need.

Please find your designated media contact here.

Interview Tips
  • Be calm and level-headed during interviews. Interviews provide an opportunity to tell your story and highlight your teammates, coaches, and program.
  • Keep the focus on your team. Positive comments about teammates, coaches, and opponents are always appropriate and reflect well on Yale Athletics.
Examples
  • "Really happy with the way the team competed today."
  • "We didn't get the result we would have liked, but we really battled and gave it all we could."
Handling Difficult Questions
If you are asked a question that makes you uncomfortable or you are unsure how to answer, it is perfectly acceptable to say:
  • "I'd rather not discuss that at this time."
  • "I'd prefer to let our coaching staff or Strategic Communications Office address that."
Remember
  • Interviews are on the record unless otherwise stated. Take a moment to think before answering, and if you are uncertain about a topic, refer the reporter to the Strategic Communications Office.
  • To protect everyone's privacy, student-athletes should not discuss injuries or the health status of themselves or their teammates.
Social Media Guidelines
Social media is an excellent way to connect with teammates, alumni, fans, family, and the Yale community. The following guidelines are intended to help student-athletes use these platforms responsibly.

Think Before You Post
  • Remember that posts are public. Even if an account is private or a post is deleted, screenshots and shared content may remain online indefinitely.
  • Before posting, consider whether you would be comfortable seeing the content on the front page of a newspaper or discussing it with a future employer.
  • Employers, graduate schools, and other organizations may review publicly available social media as part of the application process. Think carefully about how your online presence reflects your personal values and your role as a Yale student-athlete.
Appropriate Online Conduct
Student-athletes should avoid posting content that:
  • Disrespects teammates, coaches, classmates, officials, opponents, or members of the Yale community.
  • Includes discriminatory, harassing, threatening, or bullying language.
  • Depicts or promotes behavior that violates University, team, NCAA, Ivy League policies, or applicable laws.
  • Shares confidential team information, including injuries, team meetings, travel plans, or internal communications.
  • Suggests knowledge of potential NCAA, Ivy League, University, or team violations.
Confidential Information
Student-athletes should not share team strategy, practice footage, locker room content, travel logistics, or other non-public team information on social media.

Policy Violations
Violations of University, department, team, NCAA, or Ivy League policies may result in disciplinary action consistent with applicable University and team procedures.

Questions
If you have questions about interviews, social media, or media requests, please contact athleticcommunications@yale.edu or your designated Strategic Communications contact.
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