The following policy must be reviewed with and agreed to by all athletes, parents, coaches and
other adults affiliated with KNVBC. The following is the KNVBC Social Media
policy for appropriate electronic communications between adults and athletes.
PURPOSE:
Kansas Networks Volleyball Club (the “Club”) 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 the Club acknowledges the value of
these methods of communication, the Club 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. The content and
intent of all electronic communications must adhere to the USA Volleyball Code of Conduct
regarding Athlete Protection.
For example, as with any communication with an athlete, electronic communication shall 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
• Inappropriate or sexually explicit pictures.
• 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, 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 are to be
transparent. Your communication should not only be clear and direct, but also free of
hidden meanings, innuendo and expectations.
Accessible: All electronic communication between coaches and athletes should be
considered a matter of record and 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 shall 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 SITES:
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 shall not
accept any “friend” request from any athlete. In addition, the coach will remind the athlete that
this is not permitted. Coaches and athletes are not permitted to “private message” each other
through Facebook. 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.
TEXTING:
Subject to the general guidelines mentioned above, texting is allowed between coaches and athletes
during the hours from 7am until 10pm AS LONG AS a parent or guardian is also included on the
message. Texting only shall be used for the purpose of communicating information directly related
to team activities.
EMAIL:
Athletes and coaches may use email to communicate AS LONG AS a parent or guardian is also included
on the message. When communicating with an athlete through email, a parent, another
coach or a board member must also be copied.
REQUEST TO DISCONTINUE ALL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS:
The parents or guardians of an athlete may send a request to their team’s coach that
their child not be contacted by coaches through any form of electronic 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 our SafeSport Handbook.
VIOLATIONS:
Violations of the Club’s Social Media and Electronic Communication Policy should be reported to
your Club administrator or the Regional SafeSport Contact for evaluation of complaints and
allegations.
A USA Volleyball participant or parent 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.