Waterloo Minor Soccer acknowledges the value that team websites hold
with respect to sharing team information with players, family and
friends.
With many of the clubs teams (Rep, Select and House League) managing
their own websites, it is important that the following guidelines are
followed. These guidelines are set out to ensure that safety and
privacy concerns are addressed when teams choose to operate and
maintain their own website.
Why do we want to provide this guidance?
The prevalence of the Internet and other electronic communication
devices (including cell phones) has led to an ever increasing concern
with individual privacy, harassment and cyber-bullying particularly
related to the younger audience.
WMSC is concerned with the safety of all our members and these
guidelines have been established to provide a framework for acceptable
conduct on the Internet.
This policy is also guidance for the individual’s use of public
services such as YouTube, Facebook, etc., which may lead to harassment
or Cyber-bullying.
Use of any form of electronic communication in a negative manner by any
WMSC player, coach, volunteer or staff member will not be tolerated.
Evidence of such communications should be provided to the WMSC office
Executive Director attn: Human Rights Director.
The National Crime Prevention Council (USA) defines cyber-bullying as:
"when the Internet, cell phones, or other devices are used
to send or post text or messages intended to hurt or embarrass another
person"
Guidelines for Team Websites:
- No unlawful copies of copyrighted or proprietary material
(documents, music, photographs, graphics, etc.) are to be used on the
team’s website
- No offensive content is to be published on
the team’s website. Offensive content is defined as text or images
intended to hurt or embarrass another person, whether that person is
associated with WMSC or not. See Cyber-Bullying Defined (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-bullying#Cyber-bullying_defined).
- The
team’s website must not contain links to websites that promote products
and services that are incompatible with the image of our sport (e.g.
alcohol, gambling, tobacco).
- Any request to display
advertising on a team website for the purposes of fundraising must
first be approved by the club using the fundraising form available on
the club website.
- All guardians of players must sign a
consent form indicating that they give the team/club webmaster
permission to release the names, practice and game locations, photos
and any other information related to the team’s activities. The team
manager or head coach must keep the signed consent forms. Consent forms
are available on the club website.
- Public-facing web pages
(those visible to the anonymous visitor) may only contain a player’s
first name and initial of their last name (e.g. Steven G.) and must not
contain any contact information for the players or their families or
friends. Player contact information and full names may appear in a
“members only” section of the website that is secured from public
viewing by a login process (username and/or password).
- Group
pictures may be published in the public area of the team’s website if
the group consists of five or more people. Publication of individual
players pictures is not recommended.
- The team website
address must be registered with the club by sending the website address
(URL) in an email to registrar@waterloominorsoccer.com.
- The
following notice must appear on the home page of the team website:
“This website is not an official website of Waterloo Minor Soccer Club.
Waterloo Minor Soccer Club is not liable or responsible for the
information contained within.”
Click here to download a copy of this document.