E Safety Guidance
Many members use sites such as Facebook and Twitter or messaging services such as WhatsApp, and as a Club it is essential that we promote safety for senior and junior members online. It is a responsibility that all adults connected to the Club play a key role in actively promoting this.
As a Club that uses Facebook for events and discussions it is important that senior members keep a professional distance from junior members online just as you would in the “offline” world. It is essential to remember that all conversations can be read by others and can be misinterpreted. As an England Hockey Accredited Club it is our duty to protect all our members especially the junior ones. Once something is posted on Facebook or a similar social network platform it is effectively in the public domain and can be accessed by others.
Below are a few guidance points:
- Committee members/captains/coaches/volunteers/senior members are in a position of trust.
- Some sites have an age restriction (Facebook has a minimum age of 13 years, WhatsApp 16 years).
- Adults should not communicate with junior members from their personal social networking account but to use the Club’s one.
- Conduct yourself in a way as you would face-to-face.
- Do not engage in a one-to-one conversation with junior members via chat facilities, this is effectively the same as going into a private room and closing the door.
- Do not publicise or provide personal details such as e-mail address, school names etc, for young people on the Club’s website or social networking platforms.
- Before publishing any photos that include junior members make sure that they are registered and that their parents/guardians are happy for these to be published: This can be checked with the Club Membership Secretary.
- Do not publish junior members full names on websites, social networking platforms or media, just their first name and if needed, the first letter only, of their surname.
- When sending out e-mails ensure you have members e-mail address in the BCC option to avoid unnecessary sharing of addresses.
- All information put on the Club’s social networking platforms site should be monitored by the administrators and any inappropriate comments should be deleted.
WhatsApp is a popular communication tool used in hockey: The leaflet below highlights the do’s and don’ts for safe and effective use, and the Club’s guidance and policy on the use of WhatsApp can be found at YSHC WhatsApp Policy.
