Swimming coach photos

[AnonPostToday]

Ok, maybe less an AIBU and more of a 'is this weird or ok?' and 'what would you do?'

So DS swims in a local club.
We signed a waiver thing to say we were happy with photos being taken and put on the club website, Facebook etc .. for publicity etc.. (the standard kind of photograph waiver you sign for a lot of kids activities)

Anyway, in the last few galas I've noticed the coach taking quite a few photos of my son and other kids. My son has also said 'coach took photo of me and 'Jimmy' with the trophy', or 'coach took picture of me with my medals' etc ... I've also seen him taking group photos, individual photos, photos of kids striking silly poses etc ...

However, when I go to look on Facebook/the website/twitter etc.. I often don't see ANY photos from the relevant gala, or maybe just one (not usually of any kids I saw the coach take photos of). Even several weeks after the gala - nothing(?)

It's unnerving me a bit because I want to know what he's doing with all the photos(?). I'm happy for him to snap them to put on Facebook, and accept a few might be deleted because they turned out badly focussed etc .. so we won't see those. But, over the last few galas in total, this coach must have taken at least 30 or 40 photos (at a minimum) of kids, but more than likely over 100 photos, many of which featured my DS.

AIBU to ...

• Think if he took some photos of my kid (and other kids) he should put them on the Facebook or website/twitter etc.. (the club as a whole do post photos from time to time, so it would be a normal and expected thing to do).

• Wonder what he's done with all the photos of DS (and others)?

• Feel creeped out he has photos of my kid on his phone that I don't know about and he's not discussed with me, and although I have consent for the 'club' to take photos for advertising etc...- I don't feel I've given this coach direct consent to take his own photos of my child and others, to keep on his phone

What would you do? Think?

Am I just being daft and should stop over thinking this??

Withdraw consent?

I probably will. Was just wondering if I'm overe-reacting/over thinking? Wondered other people's thoughts ?

Would anyone else feel a bit weird about it? Or just me?

Who runs the club?
Do they have a safeguarding officer?

He should not be using a personal phone to take photos. In schools, staff are provided with devices to take photos and they are regularly deleted. I would enquire about the safeguarding procedures around photography.

Mothers intuition usually right. Go with your gut.

1. Escalate in person to someone in charge asap and follow up in writing. Be specific about when you've seen him taking pics and of which kids.
2. Remove consent immediately. I'd also be tempted to remove my child until you've got to the bottom of things.

Good luck.

I don't know who runs it! I guess the committee? Which consists of parent volunteers and the coaches.

Safeguarding - well they have a welfare officer, but I'd feel weird brining it up with them because they are very friendly with the coach and would likely talk about it between themselves and nothing helpful would come of it

If you’re not sure - you can speak to the LADO.

Thanks. Who are LADO?

Each swimming club will have a safeguarding officer, it doesn't matter if they are best friends with the coach your concern should be dealt with seriously.
Other options are notifying Swim England and the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer).

I used to Team Manage at a swimming club and we were not allowed to take photos of the swimmers unless they had their t-shirts on. This was mainly for club events and was used on the club website. I certainly didn't take hundreds of photos, just a couple so that I could choose the best one.

So ask him?

Trust your instincts. Are you present at training and at galas? Are you allowed to be poolside at training?

A massive can of worms has been opening over recent years about sports coaches but there is still a lot of characters who shouldn't be near children allowed to coach.

Ask all the questions, speak to people from other clubs too if the coach has been around a while- see what others feel about them.

Withdraw consent, I never give consent to these things because my worry would be exactly how you are feeling now.

where are the photos been stored?
who has access to them?

Always a no from me, I don’t even put pics of my children on my own social media.

Just popping over to say that accredited swim clubs need to have a safeguarding officer. Kids need t shirts on and legsuits (or shorts) for all photos.

Do you have parent reps if you can't figure out who the safeguarding officer is (I would expect it to be on your website or joining paperwork?

There are a few swim parents over on the
-Education- extracurricular swim thread.

If something feels odd, it often is.

Yes this. And it would make me feel really uncomfortable

Valid concerns you have. Withdrawing consent a first step. The suggestion of Swim England because you feel that the safeguarding officer and coach are probably friends is reasonable.

If you're creeped out by your child's swim instructor I would either be poolside at all sessions or pull him out.

I'm not up to speed with swimming but have followed the abuse cases in athletics and gymnastics and an ongoing theme for teens is that they don't report what's going on because they think it's normal part of coaching.

Have a look at the Wavepower guidance - I am a team manager too and am sure we did stuff on this (I have forgotten, it was a few years ago) and it should be on there.
also you should mention it to the welfare person - I know it’s hard when they’re friendly with the coaches but that’s exactly what they are there for.
We had to complain about our coach using inappropriate language/chat with our kids & it was SO awkward but you’ll feel better for doing it…honestly. I wouldn’t be happy with all the photos either.

Where did you get with this?