DURHAM CSFA STATEMENT on USING TEXTS and EMAILS with UNDER 18s

DCSFA will ensure they manage their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. It aims to ensure children, young people, coaches, referees and adults in a position of trust are not subjected to improper communications or improper allegations.

Parents / carers will be advised that email contact ONLY with themselves concerning their son/daughter are used to communicate with players.

DCSFA will ensure that emails are only in relation to specific Association related activities e.g., informing Parents / Carers of match details, about changes in travel arrangements, training times or venue changes etc.

DCSFA will ensure players report to the Child Welfare Officer, team manager, DCSFA official any instance(s) where they have received any inappropriate communications. The Association Welfare Officer will then agree what action the Association will take, notifying parents / carers and any other appropriate individuals or agencies.

DCSFA will not use emails for personal conversation, sending pictures, jokes or other items of a personal nature to any player. All DCSFA staff involved will be advised to follow this principle nor to respond to emails from young people other than those directly related to DCSFA matters and then inform the DCSFA Child Welfare Officer of any non -Association related emails they receive.

At all times DCSFA website content and posts will not use language that is directly (or could be misinterpreted as being) racist, sexist, derogatory, threatening, abusive or sexualised in tone.

Any photographs that appear on the website of players will be with the acceptance of the player’s Parent / Carer and will be solely in connection with DCSFA activity e.g., a team photograph.

No detail about any player will appear next to their photograph on the website.

FURTHER FA GUIDANCE IS AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

1. Social networking, websites, mobile phones, and email communications

2. Running a website: Do’s and Don’ts

3. Responsible use of Social Networking sites

4. Communicating responsibly with Young Leaders, Coaches and Referees Under 18

5. Using Texts and Emails with U18s – Do’s and Don’ts

6. Guidance for parents / carers - Responsible use of text, email and social networking

7. sites

8. Guidance for U18s: Association Web Pages, Social Networks, Email and Texts

February 21