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Social Media Policy

Social Media Policy


1. Purpose


Coventry Blaze Junior Academy recognises that social media and messaging platforms can be useful for communication and building a positive club community. However, communication involving junior players must be managed in a way that protects children, parents/carers, coaches and volunteers.


This policy sets out how club and team-related communication should take place and establishes the Team App as the club's official communication platform.


2. Official Team Communication


The Team App is the sole official channel for team and club communication.

All information relating to:

  • Training sessions and changes

  • Fixtures and tournaments

  • Match arrangements

  • Team selection and availability

  • Travel arrangements

  • Club announcements

  • Team events

  • Fundraising and volunteering

  • Other hockey-related information

must be communicated through the Team App wherever reasonably possible.


Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that their Team App notifications are enabled and that they regularly check the information provided.


3. Parent- and Player-Created WhatsApp Groups


To ensure consistent, inclusive and appropriate communication, parents/carers must not establish or participate in private WhatsApp groups for the purpose of communicating official team or club information.


The club does not support private parent WhatsApp groups being used as an alternative to the Team App.

In particular:

  • No parent or carer should be excluded from official team communication because they are not part of a private WhatsApp group.

  • Important team information must not be shared exclusively through WhatsApp.

  • Parents/carers should not be expected to join a private WhatsApp group in order to receive team information.

  • Team managers and coaches should not use private WhatsApp groups as the official means of communicating with parents/carers.

  • If parents/carers choose to communicate socially amongst themselves, this must remain separate from official club/team communication and must not replace the Team App.

The club's intention is not to prevent parents from having friendships or social conversations, but to ensure that all official communication remains accessible, consistent and appropriately managed.


4. Communication with Junior Players


Where communication involves junior players, adults should use club-approved communication channels and follow the club's safeguarding procedures.


Coaches, managers and volunteers should avoid unnecessary one-to-one communication with junior players through personal social media accounts or private messaging services.


Where communication with a player is necessary, the club's approved communication procedures should be followed, with parents/carers included where appropriate.


5. Social Media Conduct


Players, parents/carers, coaches and volunteers are expected to behave respectfully when posting or commenting online.


The following are not acceptable:

  • Bullying, harassment or intimidation

  • Abusive, threatening or discriminatory comments

  • Criticism or discussion of individual junior players in public or private online forums

  • Posting confidential team or club information

  • Sharing photographs or videos of junior players without appropriate permission

  • Public criticism of coaches, officials, referees, opposition players or other families

  • Comments that could bring the club, its members or junior hockey into disrepute

Disagreements or concerns should be raised directly with the appropriate coach, team manager or club official rather than through social media.


6. Photographs and Videos


Photographs and videos involving junior players must only be taken, shared or published in accordance with the club's safeguarding and photography/consent procedures.


Parents/carers should respect the wishes of other families regarding the sharing of photographs or videos of their children.


No photographs or videos should be used to embarrass, criticise or ridicule a player, coach, official or other member of the hockey community.


7. Concerns and Complaints


If a parent/carer has a concern about team management, selection, coaching, playing time, conduct or communication, the matter should be raised through the club's established complaints or concerns procedure.


Social media, WhatsApp groups or other online forums should not be used to resolve disputes or organise opposition to club decisions.


8. Enforcement


The club reserves the right to address breaches of this policy in accordance with its disciplinary and safeguarding procedures.


Where a private messaging group is being used to distribute official team information instead of the Team App, the club may require that information to be moved to the Team App.


Serious or repeated breaches may be referred to the appropriate club committee or safeguarding/disciplinary officer.


9. Key Principle


One team, one official communication process.


The Team App provides a central, transparent and inclusive method of communicating with all families. Parents/carers are welcome to maintain personal friendships and social groups, but official team communication must remain on the Team App and must not depend upon membership of a private WhatsApp group.


All members of Coventry Blaze Junior Academy are expected to support this approach in the interests of consistency, inclusion, safeguarding and the smooth running of the club.

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