Packers Prohibit Use of Fan Video at Training Camp

The Packers have instituted a new policy effective for the first time in 2014.

As perhaps noticed first by our own Aaron Nagler, the Green Bay Packers have prohibited the use of video recording by fans at this year's training camp.

When exactly this policy went into effect is unclear. The Packers did not alert media in a press release, perhaps fearful of the negative publicity they would receive.

This does, however, mark a change in policy from previous years when fans were not subject to such restrictions.

According to the "Attending Practice" sub-section on the team's Training Camp website:

Video recording devices (including cell phones as recording devices) and still cameras with lenses more than 12 inches long are prohibited at practice. Fans are welcome to use still photo camera (with lenses less than 12 inches in length) for your personal enjoyment. Commercial use of any photos taken at practice is prohibited.

This news comes on the heels of the release of the team's training camp schedule release in which they reduced the amount of training camp practices open to the public by three compared to the previous season.

Coming from a writer of fan-run website, the Packers would be wise to re-visit their roots as a community-owned organization that has relied on taxpayers to renovate Lambeau Field and its fanbase to buy stock in the team.

This isn't to suggest the Packers are ignorant of their fans. Many initiatives they've undertaken in the past and are currently doing so at Lambeau Field—such as the atrium's renovation to include an expanded Pro Shop and a more accessible Hall of Fame—are mindful of the fan experience.

However, the team's attitude toward social media in general and fan video at training camp in particular comes off as tone deaf.

The Packers organization is failing to recognize the important role of social media to today's fan that wants share with friends video of their pilgrammage to Packers training on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Vine and Snapchat to name a few.

If the Packers think they'll be at a competitive disadvantage due to some fan's video being dispersed on the Internet—and presumably available to opponents—they're overestimating the impact and would be advised to focus on more important aspects of coaching pedagogy, player development and training techniques that will have a greater influence on their success.

Consider this two steps forward and one step back by the Packers organization. Unfortunately, it doesn't have to be that way.

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Comments (7)

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Bear's picture

July 08, 2014 at 05:26 pm

Many teams Pro and College having tighter policies regarding cameras. I think the idea for a team is to win period! If in doing so it upsets a reporter or fans that don't really understand the total competitve nature and extremes some teams take to to win.....tough.

Reporters and fans don't need to know every little thing a team is doing, sometimes to much information given out can hurt a team.

Brian, sometimes I feel reporters etc. think they have the right to know everything, they don't. It becomes an ego thing......I'm so important how dare they do this to me attitude.

Let the team do what they think is necessary to win and get off their back when they do.....support the team don't undermine it with needless negativity.

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PackerAaron's picture

July 08, 2014 at 10:47 pm

Yes, I'm sure a potential championship run from the Packers would be completely de-railed by Joe Fan's Vine of a blocking drill.

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Jamie's picture

July 09, 2014 at 12:15 pm

"...I feel reporters etc. think they have the right to know everything, they don't. It becomes an ego thing......I'm so important how dare they do this to me attitude."

"...support the team don't undermine it with needless negativity."

These statements describe Naggler to a tee. His twitter account is god awful with pompous and presumptuous, trumped up, negativity, now including taking a training camp rule that has been in place for what appears to be years.

In this case, Naggler had never seen the rule before, and if he hadn't seen the rule before, because he is so important, then it must be new. AND NOW THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!!

He is the pied piper of the idiot casual fan that doesn't know any better...and he's proud of that!!!

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Icebowler's picture

July 08, 2014 at 08:56 pm

They don't want Bitter Beer Breath taking video showing how great Abbrederis is in the slot and on kick returns.

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Allan Murphy's picture

July 08, 2014 at 09:19 pm

loose lips sinks ships ............

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Koostyroosty's picture

July 09, 2014 at 10:10 am

I was at camp last year and I know for sure the same policy was in effect, We went in 2011 as well, and I checked all of my video, nothing from practice. Some video shots in the hotel and plenty of still pics, but I just don't remember. So....maybe the policy has been around for a few years?

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DraftHobbyist's picture

July 10, 2014 at 01:39 pm

This isn't a new policy at all. It's been around for years but it was just never enforced.

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