Communications Policy
Our commitment
Electronic communication is essential for sharing club news and information with our members. Our communication will be timely, appropriate and related to club business.
What we will do
We use a range of electronic tools to communicate with our members.
Our communication will protect members’ privacy, maintain clear boundaries and ensure that bullying and harassment does not occur.
A webmaster will be appointed to provide accountability and control over material published on our club’s website and any related discussion groups or social media websites, such as Facebook, YouTube or Twitter.
Website
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Our website will include current information on competitions, social events, committees, policies, constitution, rules and by-laws.
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No offensive content or photos will be published.
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If we intend to publish a photo of a child, we will first seek permission from his or her parents and take care not to provide identifying information.
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We will seek feedback from members to improve the information available on the site.
SMS and email
Committee members, coaches and team managers may use SMS and email to provide information about competition, training, club-sanctioned social events and other club business, however:
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SMS messages should be short and about club/team matters
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email communication will be used when more information is required
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communication involving children will be directed through their parents.
Social media websites
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We treat all social media postings, blogs, status updates and tweets as public ‘comment’.
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Postings (written, photos or videos) will be family-friendly and feature positive club news and events.
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No personal information about our members will be disclosed.
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No statements will be made that are misleading, false or likely to injure a person’s reputation.
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No statements will be made that might bring our club into disrepute.
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Abusive, discriminatory, intimidating or offensive statements will not be tolerated. Offending posts will be removed and those responsible will be blocked from the site.
What we ask you to do
We expect our members to conduct themselves appropriately when using electronic communication to share information with other members or posting material on public websites connected to the club.
Electronic communication:
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should be restricted to club matters
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must not offend, intimidate, humiliate or bully another person
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must not be misleading, false or injure the reputation of another person
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should respect and maintain the privacy of members
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must not bring the club into disrepute.
Coaches and others who work with children and young people must direct electronic communication through the child’s parents.
What Are Social Media Sites?
Social Media Platforms Include;
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Social networking sites, including Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn
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Video and photo sharing websites including Flickr and YouTube
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Micro-blogging sites such as Twitter
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Weblogs including personal blogs or blogs hosted by traditional media publications
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Forums and discussion boards including those operated by Fox Sports, FourFourTwo, The World Game or locally with The Bayswater Forum and Glory Boys
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Online encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia and
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Any other web site that allow individual users or companies to use simple publishing tools
Non-compliance
Members may face disciplinary action for sending inappropriate electronic communication or posting online content or comments that harass, offend, intimidate or humiliate another member(s), as outlined in the club’s member protection policy or code of conduct.
Under certain circumstances, cyber bullying (e.g. bullying that is carried out through an internet service such as email, a chat room, discussion group, instant messaging, website or any form of social media platform mentioned above) is a criminal offence that can be reported to the police.
In addition, members who publish false or misleading comments about another person, club, sponsor or organization in the public domain (e.g., Facebook, YouTube or Twitter) may be liable for defamation.
Furthermore, the club basis it’s social media policy up on Football West’s recommendations and those who do not comply with their social media policy may face a number of punishments and penalties from Football West that include;
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A reprimand
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A fine
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Place the club or an individual on a bond
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A loss of competition points
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Ban on the registration or transfer of any Players for a specified period of time
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Annulment of registration of a Player
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Termination of a player’s contract
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Suspension from participation in a Match or Matches or any part of a stadium or venue
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Exclusion, suspension or expulsion from a Competition
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Playing a match without spectators or on neutral territory
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A ban on playing in a particular stadium
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Annulment of the result of the match
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Relegation to a lower division
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Such other disciplinary sanctions or measures as is appropriate in all the circumstances or
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A combination of two or more of the above listed sanctions.