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Lineshot Volleyball Club Social Media and Electronic Communications Policy

By Beth, 11/05/23, 10:15AM EST

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IMPORTANT!

Please read our policy on social media and Electronic Communications Policy.  If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know! 

Lineshot Volleyball Club Social Media and Electronic Communications Policy

PURPOSE

Lineshot Volleyball Club (the “Club”) recognizes the prevalence of electronic communication and social media in today’s world. Many of our student-athletes use these means as their primary method of communication. While the Club acknowledges the value of these methods of communication, the Club also realizes that there are associated risks that must be considered when adults use these methods to communicate with minors. THIS INCLUDES ANY OUTSIDE GROUP/TEAM CHATS THAT THE PLAYERS AND/OR PARENTS MAY HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE SPORTS ENGINE APP. THIS WOULD BE GROUP TEXT, GROUP SNAPCHATS, ETC.

GENERAL CONTENT

All communications between a coach or other adult and an athlete must be professional in nature and for the purpose of communicating information about team activities. The content and intent of all electronic communications must adhere to the USA Volleyball Code of Conduct regarding Athlete Protection. For example, as with any communication with an athlete, electronic communication shall not contain or relate to any of the following:

• Drugs or alcohol use; • Sexually-oriented conversation; sexually explicit language, sexual activity

• The adult’s personal life, social activities, relationship or family issues, or personal problems; and

• Inappropriate or sexually explicit pictures.

• Note: Any communication concerning an athlete’s personal life, social activities, relationship or family issues or personal problems must be transparent, accessible and professional.   

Whether one is an athlete, coach, board member or parent, the guiding principle to always use in communication is to ask: “Is this communication something that someone else would find appropriate or acceptable in a face-to-face meeting?” or “Is this something you would be comfortable saying out loud to the intended recipient of your communication in front of the intended recipient’s parents, the coaching staff, the board or other athletes?”

With respect to electronic communications, a simple test that can be used in most cases is whether the electronic communication with athletes is Transparent, Accessible and Professional.

Transparent: All electronic communication between coaches and athletes are to be transparent. Your communication should not only be clear and direct, but also free of hidden meanings, innuendo and expectations.

Accessible: All electronic communication between coaches and athletes should be considered a matter of record and part of the Club’s records. Whenever possible, include another coach or parent in the communication so there is no question regarding accessibility.

Professional: All electronic communication between a coach and an athlete shall be conducted professionally as a representative of the Club. This includes word choice, tone, grammar and subject matter that model the standards and integrity of a staff member.

If your communication meets all three of the T.A.P. criteria, then it is likely your method and manner of communication with athletes will be appropriate.

FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, SNAPCHAT, BLOGS AND SIMILAR SITES

Coaches may have personal Facebook (or other social media site) pages, but they are not permitted to have any athlete member or parent of an athlete of the Club join their personal page as a “friend.” A coach shall not accept any “friend” request from any athlete or parent of an athlete in the club. In addition, the coach will remind the athlete and/or the parent of the athlete that this is not permitted. Coaches and athletes or parent of an athlete in the club are not permitted to “private message” each other through Facebook. Coaches and athletes  and parents of  an athlete in the club are not permitted to “instant message” each other through Facebook chat or other IM methods. The club has an official Facebook page that athletes and their parents can “like”  for information and updates on team-related matters. Coaches are encouraged to set their pages to “private” to prevent athletes from accessing the coach’s personal information.

 

TWITTER

Best Practice: The club has an official Twitter page that coaches, athletes and parents can follow for information and updates on team-related matters. Coaches are not permitted to follow athletes  or parents of an athlete in the club on Twitter. Likewise, athletes or parents of an athlete in the club are not permitted to follow coaches on Twitter. Coaches and athletes or parents of an athlete in the club are not permitted to “direct message” each other through Twitter.

TEXTING

Coaches and athletes and/or parents are NOT permitted to exchange personal cell phone numbers. Therefore, coaches and athletes and/or parents are NOT permitted to send or receive text messages. Please use the sports engine app to communicate with your coach either through the chat or message feature. Player to Player and Parent to Parent text messages are OK! Just keep things positive! 

EMAIL

Coaches and athletes and/or  parents are NOT permitted to exchange personal email addresses. Therefore, coaches and athletes and/or parents are NOT permitted to send or receive email messages. Please use the sports engine app to communicate with your coach either through the chat or message feature. Player to Player and Parent to Parent email messages are OK! Just keep things positive! 

REQUEST TO DISCONTINUE ALL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

The parents or guardians of an athlete may request in writing that their child not be contacted by coaches through any form of electronic communications. Immediate compliance without repercussion must be granted.

MISCONDUCT

Because social media and electronic communications can be used to commit misconduct (e.g. emotional, sexual, bullying, harassment and hazing), such communications by coaches, staff, volunteers, administrators, officials, parents or athletes will not be tolerated and are considered violations of our SafeSport Handbook.

VIOLATIONS

Violations of the Club’s Social Media and Electronic Communication Policy should be reported to your immediate supervisor, a Club administrator or the Regional SafeSport Contact for evaluation of complaints and allegations. A USA Volleyball participant or parent of a participant who violates this policy is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including but not limited to: suspension, permanent suspension and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.