Lately, news has been interesting regarding social media in the sports world.

For instance:

• The NFL has recently finished a social media policy that prohibits players from using Twitter during games.
• The International Tennis Association banned players from using Twitter to discuss their on-court activity during the US Open.
• The NBA is reportedly working on a social media policy.

So, what does this have to do with the young employees you’re managing?

It’s simple: you’re watching these organizations deal with some of the same problems you’re dealing with. NFL players enter the draft at around age 22 or 23. NBA players can enter the draft after a single year of school. LeBron James was playing in the NBA before I had graduated from college. Up-and-coming tennis players can be very young.

And while one might demand a higher level of professionalism and maturity from people earning multi-millions of dollars than from first-time workers earning eight or ten bucks an hour, anyone who has seen Terrel Owens, Chad Ochocinco, or Brandon Marshall knows that this isn’t the case.

These guys, amongst others, have been case studies in entitled talent, which is a problem front-line managers across the nation are dealing with.

If nothing else, this news tells you that you can take comfort in knowing that you aren’t the only one who is facing these problems.

Then take note of the ways that these organizations deal with their problem children. Look for both the positive and the negative lessons. What did the Patriots do that the Raiders didn’t to make Randy Moss behave? How will the NBA’s players receive the new social networking policy?

Let the big leagues be the testing grounds for some of the policies you’re kicking around. Best part: you can do your research by watching Sports Center.