Teen Sports Club - WhatsApp groups and safeguarding.

[YouTubeSensation]

I’ll warn you by stating that this is a very boring post and I have no actual concerns about anyone involved but something has struck me as a bit unusual.

Both my dc are teens and participate in a number of sports / clubs which have active WhatsApp groups for sharing event information etc. In all of these it’s either a parents’ only group run by the club officials, some of which dc can also join as they or an unofficial friendship type group the dc have set up themselves.

DC2 is 15 and is part of a club. I was always included in the main group as was he so I could keep an eye on what was going on and remind him of certain events and reply to things etc as he is one of those rare teenagers not enamoured with his phone (unlike dc1!). This year they have set up a new “members only” group, added dc but not me. I don’t participate in the club so am not a member, fair enough but it feels a bit odd that my 15 year old is now in a WhatsApp group with a lot of adults and other dc without me. None of the other clubs were involved in seem to do this, is this quite normal as these things go or would you question it?

I would expect that is a member is a minor it should be the parent added to the group. Do they have a social media policy?

This is what the NSPCC say https://thecpsu.org.uk/resource-library/tools/whatsapp-go-to-guide-for-sports/

Thank you, I’ll have a look at that. The only thing I’ve seen related to social media covers permission for photos etc but doesn’t mention WhatsApp as far as I can see.

Hmmmm I’m not sure that’s allowed actually, it’s certainly not wise of the club and I’m not sure itll
follow their child protection policy. I’d prob be asking x

It might depend on the sporting body, but till recently I was welfare officer for a swimming club and Swim England were very clear that that is not appropriate. If you have a welfare officer then speak to them.

I think that’s quite unusual and I’d be uncomfortable too. DC are involved in two sports, athletics there is a parents group for all U15/U13 athletes which children are not allowed to join. At U17 and above children can join the adults one, but a parent also needs to be on the chat.

Rugby has always been parents only, DS moves up to Colts this year and they want him to join a players only group with the coaches and team manager, which parents are not allowed on. DS is still only 15 (August birthday) and I’m incredibly uncomfortable with it. As it will be Y12 & Y13 boys together, I’m not keen on the idea that there could be lots of rugby ‘banter’ going on that I have no idea about - although I like to think the coaches & team manager keep an eye on things. I don’t actually know the coaches or team manager though so it doesn’t give me much comfort.