Positive Engagement
– Foster a supportive and positive online community for players, parents, coaches, and
supporters.
– Encourage constructive discussions about grassroots football.
Respectful Communication
– Promote respectful and inclusive language in all social media interactions.
– Discourage any form of bullying, discrimination, or unsportsmanlike behavior.
– It is against Academy and FA rules to post comments that are or maybe conceived as
offensive, insulting, abusive, threatening, racist, and discriminatory or any other reference that
may cause offence or harm to others.
– The academy must NOT post comments about other clubs, players or referees and any
controversial or potentially inflammatory subjects.
– Avoid hostile or harassing communications in any posts or other online communications.
Harassment is any offensive conduct based on a person’s race, sex, gender identity, national
origin, colour, disability, age sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, religion or any
other status identified by SYFA or SWF and protected by law.
– Parent group chats are set up in the name of the team and are only used by coaches / staff
and parent/carers. At no time should these be used for personal communications, ‘banter’ or
comments.
Team Announcements
– Limit team announcements to essential information like match schedules, events, and general
updates.
– Avoid sharing personal details or sensitive information about players without consent.
Volunteer Recognition
– Acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of volunteers, coaches, and parents.
– Share success stories and positive contributions to strengthen community spirit.
Youth Protection
– Prioritise the protection and well-being of youth players.
– Obtain appropriate permissions before posting any content related to youth players.
– Children and young people should be advised to always tell an adult they trust about
communications that make them feel uncomfortable or where they’ve been asked not to tell
their parent/carer about the communication.
– Consent must be given to the academy to post any photos or videos on our social media channels or when sharing in parent group chats.
Promotion of Local Events
– Use social media to promote local community events, fundraisers, and initiatives related to
grassroots football.
Official Representation
– Designate specific individuals for official academy communications on social media.
– Ensure accurate and up-to-date information in official announcements.
Fundamental Values
– Reinforce fundamental values of fair play, teamwork, and enjoyment in grassroots football.
– Share content that highlights the positive aspects of the grassroots football experience.
Consistency Across Platforms
– Maintain a consistent tone and branding across all social media platforms.
– Keep information updated and relevant on each platform.
Code of Conduct Awareness
– Regularly share and remind the community of the club’s code of conduct.
– Encourage all members to adhere to the established guidelines.
Remember: we all create our own digital footprint every time we post comments, photos and
videos. Be sure before you post. If you wouldn’t say or do something face-to-face – then don’t do
it online.
Our grassroots football community thrives on the positive contributions of everyone involved.
Let’s keep the spirit of the game alive both on and off the pitch!
If there are any concerns regarding the use of social media, or you feel a member of the
academy is not adhering to the above policy, please contact the academy immediately.