WLHC Supplementary Guidance to England Hockey Policy
Social Media
Do not accept friend or follower requests on your personal account if:
- You are in a position of trust in respect of that young person.
- You hold a position of trust in the club.
- Your contact with the young person is through the club and consent from the parent/guardian has not been given.
In addition/amendment to this policy stated in the England Hockey Good Practice Guide WLHC state that parents of under 18s will be asked to sign a permission slip to acknowledge that their child’s Facebook account can be added into the club and /or team group in order that they can have access to club/team information such as training and match details. This would allow the junior member to be in contact with adult club members on Facebook within a closed group setting only. Within these group settings it is expected that all members of the club, both senior and junior members, adhere to the following good practice use on the social media accounts:
– Does not post information that they don’t want everyone seeing.
– Does not use social networking to abuse or criticise another club or association member.
– Does not use inappropriate language or humour, or link to any unsuitable content.
This is the same whether the post is related to hockey or not and whether the post is directed at the junior member or not.
England Hockey, and therefore Worksop Ladies Hockey Club, strongly discourages the acceptance of junior members as friends on personal Facebook or social media accounts if the main reason for their contact is through the hockey club.
Communication
- WhatsApp or a closed Facebook group is the recommended method of communication that can be used for a team ‘chat’.
- Communication with Under 18s must not be made by ‘phone, text, message or email individually by an adult club member. The communication either needs to be via their parent/guardian, copied into their parent or guardian or in a group format i.e. group text, group WhatsApp or post on WLHC Facebook group/team Facebook group.
Club Events/Social Events
- All official club events (i.e. presentation night/Christmas meal) must be held at a venue appropriate for all club members. The club must make an effort to ensure that all members can attend and participate in the event. This doesn’t mean alcohol may not be available at the event or be served at the venue but the venue must be a place where under 18s are permitted and scheduled at a time they are permitted to be there. Alcohol must NOT be provided to any junior member knowingly by another attendee at the event. Drinks may NOT be purchased for under 18 club members by adult club members.
- Any other club nights out/team nights out or gatherings with hockey friends must either be held at an appropriate venue for all age groups invited/attending and the above alcohol rule adhered to. OR. If the event will be held/moving onto a venue not appropriate for under 18s (i.e. nightclub) then only adult members should be invited/attend.
Adult club members must not knowingly allow junior members to take part in illegal activity (drinking/drugs etc) and have a duty of care to ensure they are safe and looked after including ensuring they have an appropriate means of returning to their parent/guardian’s care at the end of such an event. We should not take junior members home from a night out alone or without prior consent from their parent/guardian.
Transportation
- No junior member should be alone with an adult member either to/from training, a game or any other hockey related event.
- If at all possible the junior member’s parent/guardian should transport them to/ from hockey. If this is not possible we must have their parent/guardians prior consent to transport their child and this must not, unless in exceptional circumstances and with specific parental/guardian consent, be on a 1 – 1 format.
Contact away from Hockey
- If a senior member’s main contact with a junior member is via hockey then England Hockey and therefore WLHC strongly advise that the senior member should consider avoiding regular engagement in social meetings with the junior unless it is a club/team organised event and you have their parent/guardian’s permission.
- Any contact or communication you have with junior members is expected to be appropriate and encourage positive behaviour. All adult members of WLHC are expected to conduct themselves as people in a position of trust at the club. You should not encourage unnecessary/excessive contact between an adult member and junior member as in extract below
Positions of trust in hockey will include young leaders, coaches at all levels, captains, team managers, umpire coaches and mentors. This list is not exhaustive and essentially includes all adults attending the club. Adults must not encourage a physical or emotionally dependant relationship to develop between the person in a position of trust and the young person in their care