CITY OF EDINBURGH BASKETBALL
CITY OF EDINBURGH BASKETBALL

Social Media Policy

This policy has been created to provide clear guidelines on how social media should be used by City of Edinburgh Basketball Club (CoEBC), coaches, players, parents and other club members. The above are all actively encouraged to interact with all forms of social media employed by the club but are respectfully asked to adhere to these guidelines.

Use of Social Media

  • An increasing number of people are expressing themselves on social-media paltforms, both privately and commercially. In the UK alone, over 90% of the online population access some form of social media on a monthly basis. Corporately, the use of social media is also on the rise with many clubs and associations now represented by a presence on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Wikipedia.

    The development of these communication channels brings many positive opportunities to CoEBC. These include the ability to interact further with players, committee, fans, friends and families building the reputation of CoEBC to a wider audience. However there are also potential risks.

  • Fundamentally, these are public communication channels and, as such, due care and attention must be shown when communicating in this area. Posting of online content in blogs, forums and social networking sites has the potential to cause long-term reputational harm to CoEBC and to individual volunteers.
  • Definition Of Social Media
  • The principles of this policy apply to all forms of social media including blogs, micro-blogs (e.g. Twitter), social networks (e.g. Facebook), video and photo sharing (e.g. YouTube, Instagram), discussion forums, message boards, messaging apps (Whatsapp) and collaborative environments (e.g.Wikipedia).
  • Official Use Of Social media
  • The club has a dedicated committee member whose partial role is to protect and promote CoEBC through social media. Functions include:
  • Regular monitoring of social media including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Wikipedia.
  • Ensuring appropriate action is taken when comments on social media could be damaging to CoEBC.
  • Providing helpful, proactive information to “fans/friends” via messages, pictures and tweets.
  • Providing feedback to the committee on comments and trends detected via social media.
    Coaches/Team Managers Use of Social Media
  • If coaches want to set up closed/private groups to communicate with their teams, there should be at least one club committee member as part of any such group in addition to the team coach/manager. The club’s lead Child Protection Officer should be made aware of any such groups.
  • Coaches and/or team managers should not communicate (ie through messaging) directly with any junior club member.
  • Coaches and/or team managers should not communicate directly with any junior club member using video conferencing (ie Skype, Facetime etc etc).
  • In line with schools and youth organisations, club coaching staff and/or team managers must not be ‘friends’ with any active junior club member unless you have a clear and transparent reason, for example; they are a relative, family friend etc.
  • In the same way as we would not pass on our personal address or contact details to junior members, coaching staff and/or team managers must not become ‘friends’ with junior club members on their own personal social media accounts.
  • This is commonly recognised as best practice in order to promote a safe and transparent online environment that protects the organisation, club members and also your interests and reputation.

Private Use Of Social Media

  • This policy does not apply to your personal use of social media platforms where you make no reference to CoEBC.
    As a club we respect personal accounts and data protection and as above encourage personal interaction on any CoEBC media platforms. The club request that all coaches and members, when communicating on any public forum, accept it is their duty not to bring the club into disrepute.
    If you are using social media and through your profile or posted content your affiliation to CoEBC is known or can be identified the following rules should be adhered to:
  • If you come across an issue where there is a reputational risk to CoEBC , please raise this with the committee or moderator .
  • If you are commenting on a basketball issue, you must make clear that your opinions are your own, are not endorsed by CoEBC and do not constitute an official communication from CoEBC.
  • You should not disclose any non-public information.
  • Do not post any content that would reflect negatively on CoEBC.
  • You must avoid commenting on any topics that conflict with your role within CoEBC.
    The success of any CoEBC online profile is only as good as the people that use it and as the club strives to be as professional as possible we would welcome your cooperation and collaboration in driving forward our media presence in a positive and inspiring
  • Further information
  • For further information on the use of Social Media in Sport please visit: check link