PURPOSE
The Horseshoe Volleyball Club (“HVC”) 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 HVC acknowledges the value of these methods of communication, HVC also realizes that there are associated risks that must be considered when adults use these methods to communicate with minors.
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 and it is recommended to include the parents/guardians. The content and intent of all electronic communications must adhere to the KRVA and USA Volleyball Code of Conduct regarding Athlete Protection.
For example, as with any communication with an athlete, electronic communication should 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 or videos.
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 should be transparent. Your communication should not only be clear and direct, but also free of hidden meanings, innuendos and expectations.
Accessible: All electronic communication between coaches and athletes should be considered a matter of record and a 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 should 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, BLOGS AND SIMILAR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
Coaches may have personal Facebook (or other social media site) pages, but they are not permitted to have any athlete member of the Club join their personal page as a “friend”. A coach should not accept any “friend” request from any athlete. In addition, the coach should remind the athlete that this is not permitted. Coaches and athletes 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” or “friend” 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.
X (Formerly Twitter)
The club does not have an official X page. However, coaches are not permitted to follow athletes on X. Likewise, athletes are not permitted to follow coaches on X. Coaches and athletes are not permitted to “direct message” each other through X.
Band
HVC uses the Band app for communication between coaches and players/parents/guardians. The coach(es) of each team will create their own Band group for that team. Also, there is a Band app for coaches to communicate with each other.
TEXTING
Subject to the general guidelines mentioned above, texting is permitted but discouraged between coaches and athletes. The primary means of communication should be via the Band app between the hours of 7am and 10pm. There may be times that texting is appropriate, but only for the purpose of communicating information directly related to team activities.
Athletes and coaches may use emails to communicate. When communicating with an athlete through email, a parent/guardian must be copied along with another coach or club administrator.
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 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 the SafeSport Handbook.
VIOLATIONS
Violations of the HVC Social Media and Electronic Communication Policy should be reported to your coach or a Club administrator for evaluation of complaints and allegations. A Horseshoe Volleyball Club participant, or parent/guardian 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.