Here is the information/Opinion piece I sent to the VHSL and leaders in our school division. It's an updated and expanded version from a post to the DOE (also a page on this site).
All coaches should be inserviced on the school division AUP, AUP FAQ, Division social media policy and the Guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Abuse in Virginia Public Schools Approved by the Board of Education March 24, 2011.
Guidelines should be in school sports athletic department manuals for students and coaching staff. This handout should be provided at the athletic "meet the coaches night" each sports season.
These guidelines are a MUST for middle school athletic programs as well. It is a GREAT fear of mine that the safety and professional work we do to inservice high school programs is NOT getting down to the middle school athletic programs. I've witnessed this personally. The sexual battleground begins at the middle school. National federation guidelines do not apply to middle school athletics. This creates even more situations for sportsmanship, harassment and physical damage to athletes.
Parent guidelines for appropriate social media use are needed. Facebook and sites like Virginia Preps are battlegrounds with parents waging war against athletes and school personnel.
=======
The Athletic Director or building administrator should require the following issues be covered with all athletic staff PRIOR to the beginning of the season. The head coach is responsible for the conduct of his or her assistants, interns, and parent volunteers and must take the lead on the issues below.
1. Coaches are high visibility in the community they coach in. Parents, students and media look to coaches as "celebrities" and expect a high degree of professionalism. You are a coach because you love sports, athletes, and fair play. Assume the virtue of a leader and mentor for youth, their well being and their athletic success.
2. Coaches should avoid any situation that may result in questions or accusations concerning personal privacy, sexual or flirtatious issues, harassment, or abusive actions. This includes unsupervised private time with a student at their home, in a car, at your home or in a private public location. Try to work in groups when with students in public settings away from the athletic facility. Avoid private moments in private places with minors.
3. Coaches should keep digital communications with athletes and team staff (managers, score keepers, etc.) to school and team information only. No social, no cultural or personal conversations. AVOID anything sexual or flirtatious.
4. Coaches should include social media and cellphone policies in their team handbook(first day handout) to athletes and parents that digital communication is acceptable for team and school items only.
5. Coaches should know WHO is communicating with them by adding contact information to their contact list. There should be NO communication with "unknown" text posts or calls.
6. Text messages, emails, or other social media posts that go beyond these guidelines should be reported to the athletic director and/or building administrator. The parent of the athlete should be contacted with the understanding that they are not acceptable.
7. Teachers should make notes in coaching logs, journals, or records that team communications were sent via text/email. Teachers should use their division email service for ALL email communications to athletes or team members (as opposed to their personal email accounts).
8. Think about who you are communicating with and what you are saying.
9. Coaches should train their athletes and team support members to avoid confrontation via facebook and other social media involving students from other schools. Dissing, harassment, innuendo and other forms of cyberbullying have no place on facebook. Passionate athletes are prone to "talking trash". Social media simply makes it permanent and transferable. Sportsmanship is sadly missing on social media, blogs and bulletin boards.
10. Parents should be admonished not to make comments or the same actions mentioned above on social media. Parents need to understand they can create a situation that filters down to the athletes and does harm to their children's team and/or coaches. "Airing ones problems" concerning coaches or coaching strategies on social media is a recipe for disaster to your child and your personal reputation.
Submitted by Joe Showker
ITRT Rockingham County Schools
(former athletic director, coach, and parent of high school athletes)
No comments:
Post a Comment