PORTAGE SOCCER CLUB Social Media POLICy

 

Portage Soccer Club (“PSC”) recognizes the importance of the Internet in shaping the public’s perception of our organization. PSC also recognizes the importance of our Board members, its committee members, coaches, volunteers, parents, and players (“members”) in leading and setting the tone of social media interactions in a manner that advances PSC’s mission and goals. 

 

Mission Statement 

PSC sponsors youth soccer activity with the goal of providing our children an opportunity to develop into well-rounded athletes and productive, respected members of society through team play, sportsmanship, top competition, and hard work. Our mission is to provide them the opportunity to play soccer at the highest level commensurate with their individual ability, potential, and interest. An emphasis on fair play and respect for all participants is a primary element of our club’s mission.

Applicability 

This Social Media Policy applies to all Board members, its committee members, coaches, volunteers, parents, and players. This Social Media Policy applies to all social media content posted by PSC affiliated members in their professional and personal capacity to the extent such content is related to PSC. 

Aspirations 

PSC strives to create a positive and inclusive organization that is dedicated to helping young athletes reach their potential. In furtherance of this goal, PSC aspires to engage members of the soccer community in positive, honest, transparent, and knowledgeable dialogue about PSC through social media. PSC views social media as an important tool for communicating its successes and opportunities for athletic and individual development. PSC also views social media as a platform for receiving constructive feedback from the community and for discussing PSC’s challenges and opportunities for improvement in a positive and constructive way. 

 

Guidelines 

All PSC Members shall abide by the following guidelines when using social media: 

  1. Be positive and respectful, and always take the high road. When disagreeing with others’ opinions, remain appropriate and polite. If you find yourself in a situation online that is becoming antagonistic, ask the PSC Board of Directors for advice on how to disengage from the dialogue in a polite and respectful manner that reflects well on PSC. 

  2. Do not post content that would harm PSC or damage PSC’s reputation. Remember that even while you are on your own personal time, you are a representative of PSC, and people may interpret your online postings or social interactions as though they were official PSC statements. 

  3. Use good judgment when posting comments on any official PSC sites. Bear in mind that your comments can create liability for PSC. If you are unsure whether a comment is appropriate to post, either do not post it or obtain prior approval from the Board of Directors. 

  4. Be smart about what you publish. Once something is posted, it exists online forever. Ask yourself, “would I want to see this published in the newspaper or posted on a billboard tomorrow or ten years from now?” If the answer is “no,” do not post. 

  5. Encourage others to engage in positive interactions on social media. If you are concerned about any PSC Member’s use of social media, please bring your concerns to the attention of the PSC Board of Directors. 

  6. Personally identifiable information (information, such as a name and date of birth and/or a street address which, when taken together, can identify a particular individual) should not be disclosed in any manner on official PSC social networking sites without the approval of the PSC Board of Directors. 

 

Violations of the Social Media Policy 

The PSC Board of Directors shall have the authority to monitor and enforce this Social Media Policy. The PSC Board of Directors, and any individual appointed by the Board of Directors, shall have the authority to remove any inappropriate or offensive comments from official PSC sites and to block any individual or organization from posting on any official PSC social media platform if they determine, in their sole discretion, that such removal or block is in the best interests of PSC. 

The failure of any PSC Member to adhere to this Social Media Policy shall be considered a violation of the PSC Code of Conduct, and any PSC Member who fails to adhere to this Social Media Policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of such individual’s involvement in PSC, in accordance with the PSC Code of Conduct.

 

Preferred guidelines when sharing social content regarding PSC related activities: 

Tag or add official online profiles of Portage Soccer Club to your posts

·      Twitter: @PortageSoccer

·      Facebook: @portagesoccer

·      Instagram: @portagesoccerclub

 

Suggested Hashtags

·      #portagesoccerclub

·      #portagelightning

·      #PSCLightning

·      #portagesoccerclassic

·      #portagecelerycup

·      #psc

·      #WMYSA

·      #youthsoccer

The preceding policy was modified and approved at the
February 10, 2019 PSC Board of Directors meeting.