Social Media Policy

At Johnstown Football Club, we recognise that safeguarding is a responsibility that extends both on and off the field. All individuals associated with the club—including coaches, officials, players, parents, volunteers, and others—are expected to act responsibly, both in person and in their use of electronic communications.

The club has a duty to ensure proper safeguards are in place. This includes responsible communication by coaches, officials, and anyone in a position of responsibility. It is essential that any content hosted on the club’s websites, social media pages, and related platforms adheres to the Rules of The Football Association of Wales.

The Club’s Responsibilities:

Avoid publishing comments about other clubs, players, referees, or any controversial topics that could be inflammatory.

Refrain from hostile or harassing communication. Harassment includes any offensive conduct related to a person's race, gender, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or other protected status under the Equality Act 2010.

Ensure all copyrighted or borrowed material is properly cited and credited to its original source.

For any club-affiliated online platforms (such as websites, social media, or message boards), monitor responses to posts and address any concerns before they are published.

Seek advice from the Club Secretary if any negative or inaccurate comments about the club appear online.

Guidance for Volunteers (Managers, Coaches, Committee Members):

Volunteers must not:

Use texts, emails, or social media for personal conversations, jokes, or ‘banter’ with children at the club.

Use any electronic communications to send non-football related personal messages to children or young people.

Respond to messages from young people except for official club matters.

Use any language that could be interpreted as racist, sexist, derogatory, threatening, or abusive.

Accept friend requests or connect with young players (under 18) on social media.

Share personal social media profiles with children involved in the club or ask them to be ‘friends’.

Make personal contact with young people outside of the football context via social media.

Post comments online about the club’s management, officials, match officials, children, parents, or opposition teams.

Delete inappropriate messages sent to them, as they may be needed for future investigations.

Parent Guidance:

Parents are expected to:

Know the club’s Child Protection Officer and how to contact them for concerns about online content or child welfare.

Understand how the club communicates with their child and be aware of what is shared.

Show interest in the communication between the club and their child, and request to be copied on communications where necessary.

Ensure their child feels comfortable reporting any communications that make them uneasy.

Comply with the club’s policies and FA Rules regarding social media and electronic communications.

Report any inappropriate communications received by their child to the Club Welfare Officer as soon as possible.

Avoid using social media to speak negatively about the club, volunteers, or to question decisions made by managers or coaches.

Refrain from sharing confidential information regarding players.

Player Guidance:

Players must not:

Post or send hurtful, abusive, threatening, or racist comments that violate club rules or could be against the law.

Engage in personal communication or ‘banter’ with volunteers or players from opposition teams.

Share personal details (phone numbers, emails, etc.) with people they don’t know offline.

Accept or invite any adult associated with the club to become a friend on social media.

Use electronic communications to send personal messages unrelated to football to volunteers at the club.

Delete inappropriate messages they receive, as these may be necessary for an investigation.

Breach of Policy:

Any breaches of this policy will be reviewed by the Club Committee. All reports will be investigated thoroughly, and in some cases, the club may need to involve the police. Sanctions may include suspension or banning from the club.

In the event of a criminal investigation, Johnstown Juniors Football Club has no control over the process or outcome.

The Johnstown FC Club Committee

Issued October 2024