Social Media and Electronic Communication Policy

Introduction

The Wonderland Wizards Youth Hockey Association (WWYHA), in conjunction with the Connecticut Hockey Conference (CHC) and USA Hockey, mandates that all registered participants and volunteers adhere to the USA Hockey Safe Sport Program Handbook. This Handbook includes a Social Media & Electronic Communications Policy, which WWYHA augments with its own specific guidelines.

Objective

WWYHA acknowledges the influence of social media and electronic communications on the public image of our organization. We expect all Board members, coaches, volunteers, parents, and players to exemplify our core values through their online interactions. This document outlines the WWYHA Social Media and Electronic Communications Policy (“WWYHA Policy” or “this Policy”), which is designed to complement and expand upon the USA Hockey guidelines.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Policy, “social media” and “electronic communications” cover a broad range of online platforms and methods, including but not limited to websites, blogs, social networks (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), wikis, and photo/video sharing sites (e.g., YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok). This also encompasses text messaging, emails, and phone calls. Social media interactions are generally public.

Applicability

This Policy is applicable to all members of WWYHA, including Board members, coaches, volunteers, parents, and players. It governs all social media content related to WWYHA, regardless of whether it is posted in a professional or personal context. This includes posts about WWYHA members, games, officials, practices, events, and tryouts.

Guidelines

1. Promote Positivity and Respect: Engage in online interactions with courtesy and respect. If disagreements arise, consult with the WWYHA Board for guidance on how to exit the discussion gracefully.
2. Safeguard WWYHA’s Image: Avoid posting material that could potentially harm WWYHA’s reputation. Even when you are off-duty, your online presence can reflect on the organization.
3. Honor Privacy: Refrain from posting content about individual WWYHA players without explicit consent from the players or their parents. Do not highlight players’ mistakes or failures in games or practices.
4. Adhere to Locker Room Policies: Do not share any footage from locker rooms or restricted areas that violates WWYHA’s or USA Hockey/CHC policies.
5. Exercise Discretion with Official Comments: Be cautious when commenting on official WWYHA sites. If unsure whether a comment is appropriate, seek approval from the Board before posting.
6. Consider Long-Term Impact: Remember that online posts can have lasting consequences. Before posting, ask yourself if you would be comfortable with the content being made public in the future. If not, refrain from posting.
7. Protect Personal Information: Avoid sharing personally identifiable information on WWYHA’s social media channels.

Communication with Minor Participants

1. Maintain Transparency: All electronic communications from WWYHA coaches or adult members to minor participants must be open, transparent, and professional. Exceptions must comply with the USA Hockey Safe Sport Handbook. If a minor communicates directly with a coach or unrelated adult, the response should include the minor’s guardian, a family member, or another WWYHA adult member.
2. Social Media Connections: Coaches should not connect with minor participants through personal social media accounts, unless permitted by the USA Hockey guidelines.
3. Utilize Official Pages: To streamline communication, use WWYHA or team-specific pages. Coaches should use these official channels for communication.

Enforcement

The WWYHA Board is responsible for overseeing and enforcing this Policy. The Board or its designated representatives have the authority to remove inappropriate content and block individuals from WWYHA’s social media platforms as needed.

Consequences for Non-Compliance

Failure to adhere to this Policy is considered a violation of the WWYHA Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action according to WWYHA, CHC, and USA Hockey Bylaws. This could include termination of WWYHA membership.