AFC Oakley Football Club

Official socal media channels

Please note the following are the official club social media channels.

Please circulate this information to all players, parents, coaches and other volunteers.

Website

http://afcoakley.co.uk/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/afcoakleyfc

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/afcoakleyfc/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/afcoakleyfc/

It is recognised that some teams will have their own arrangements on social media.  Please ensure you apply this policy to all social media activity.   Please also link any activity to the club social media channels.

PLEASE NOTE:  FA guidelines state that results should not be published until the team is U12 and above.

1. Coaches and other Volunteers

When using social media such as internet sites, text message or other forms of digital communication all coaches and other volunteers must abide to the following policies to protect themselves and their players.  Please do not;

• Use club social media including group messaging platforms used for AFC Oakley communications, for sending pictures, jokes or other items of a personal nature or engage in any ‘banter’ or comments with or about children at the club or other teams. No pictures should be posted of AFC Oakley or opposition players without consent.  NOTE: all AFC Oakley players have signed consent when registering unless they have opted out.  If the parent/player has opted out they should not be included.  Also full names should not be used for players under 18.  For example if a player is called Joe Bloggs you should use Joe B or JB. All coaches / Volunteers have a responsibility to ensure parents using any of the social media or messaging platforms also observe the above.

• Use club social media to send personal messages of a non-football nature to a child or young person.

• Respond to emails or texts from young people other than those directly related to club matters.

• Use language that is directly (or could be misinterpreted as being) racist, sexist, derogatory, threatening, abusive, discriminatory or sexualised in tone.

• Share personal social networking activity with children or young people involved at the football club or ask them to be your ‘friend’.

• Make contact with children or young people known through football outside of the football context on social networking sites without permission of parents.

• Post personal comments in relation to the management or operation of the club, club officials. match officials, children, parent/guardian or opposition teams or any family members of those groups.

• Delete any inappropriate text or email messages sent to you as they may form part of any subsequent investigation.

Also remember;

• As a coach or other volunteer at the club you are responsible for and need to abide by the club policy, The Football League Policy Guidance and The FA Rules and Regulations regarding comments that you place online about the club or club officials, The Football League, players, managers, match officials, opposing teams players or family members of any of those groups.

2. Parent/Guardian/Supporter Guidance

When using social media such as internet sites, text message or other forms of digital communication all parents must abide to the following policies to protect themselves and their players.  You should;

• Know who the club Club Welfare Officer is and how to contact them if you have any concerns about the content of club web pages or in relation to the welfare of your child

• Ensure you are aware of how coaches and other volunteers should communicate with your child

• Show an interest in the communications between the club, you and your child. Open communication about club activities/issues often means that concerns are picked up early and issues can be resolved more easily

• Understand the club’s communication practices. If the club uses text messages or emails as a source of communication you may request to be copied into anything sent to your child

• Ensure your child understands that they should tell someone that they trust about communications that make them feel uncomfortable or when they’ve been asked not to tell their parent/carer or coach about the communication players or family members of any of those groups/

• Inform the club Club Welfare Officer as soon as possible if you or your child receives any inappropriate communication from any member of staff/volunteer or other person associated with the club and save the communication

• Parents must not use social media to speak ill of the club or any staff or associates or to comment on players, training or matches.

• Parents must not ‘share’ any information they may have received about a player

• Remember as a parent/carer of a child at the club you and your child are responsible for and need to abide by the club policy, The Football League Policy Guidance and The FA Rules and Regulations regarding comments that you place online about the club or club officials, The Football League, players, managers, match officials, opposing teams.

3. Player Guidance

When using social media such as internet sites, text message or other forms of digital communication all players must abide to the following policies to protect themselves and their players.   Please do not;

• Post, host, text or email things that are hurtful, insulting, offensive, abusive, threatening, or racist as this would go against football club’s rules and could also be against the law. Or post personal comments in relation to the management or operation of the club, club officials, match officials, players, opposition team member(s), or any family members of those above.

• Engage in any personal communications, ‘banter’ or comments with coaches, other volunteer(s) or players of opposition teams.

• Give out personal details online including mobile numbers, email addresses or social networking account access to people you don’t know well offline.

• Invite any adult involved with the club to become your friends online, or accept them as a friend on any social network site. They have been told they must not to accept such invitations

• Use internet, web-based, phone or any other form of communication to send personal messages of a non football nature to any coaches or other volunteers at the club

• Delete inappropriate text or email messages sent to you as they may form part of any subsequent investigation

• Use inappropriate language on or linked to club social media.

• Reveal information about training, fixtures, results etc using social media posts.

Also remember;

• As a player at the club you are responsible for and need to abide by the club policy, The Football League Policy Guidance and The FA Rules and Regulations regarding comments that you place online about the club or club officials, The Football League, players, managers, match officials, opposing teams players or family members of any of those groups

Remember ALL coaches, other volunteers, parents and players are representing AFC Oakley by association.

Failure to adhere to this policy could result in disciplinary procedures at the discretion of the club officials.

For the avoidance of doubt any content posted on any media by any person that could bring the club, Chiltern Youth League, MKDDL (and any other league), Bedfordshire FA or national FA into disrepute will be subject to disciplinary procedures.