Social Media Policy

Purpose

St Georges Cricket Club recognises that social media is an important tool for promoting cricket, celebrating achievements, communicating with members, engaging with supporters, and showcasing the positive culture of our club.

This policy applies to all players, members, volunteers, coaches, officials, parents, spectators, contractors and visitors associated with St Georges Cricket Club.

The policy covers all forms of online communication, including but not limited to:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• TikTok
• YouTube
• WhatsApp
• Snapchat
• LinkedIn
• Online forums and chat groups
• Blogs and podcasts
• Live-streaming platforms
• Video sharing platforms
• Any future social media or digital communication platforms

This policy should be read alongside ECB guidance, safeguarding policies, club codes of conduct and league regulations.

General Principles

Members are encouraged to use social media positively to:

• Promote cricket and the activities of St Georges CC.
• Celebrate individual and team achievements.
• Support sponsors, partners and community initiatives.
• Share cricket-related content.
• Encourage participation in cricket.

However, social media activity can have significant consequences. Content posted online can be permanent, widely distributed, and may affect individuals, teams, clubs, leagues and the wider game.

All members are expected to act online in a manner consistent with the values of:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Sportsmanship
• Inclusivity
• Accountability

Scope

This policy applies regardless of whether:

• Content is posted from a personal or club account.
• An individual is named, tagged or identified.
• The content consists of text, photographs, videos, audio recordings, screenshots, memes, emojis or reactions.
• The content is shared, reposted, forwarded, retweeted, quoted or created by someone else.
• The account is anonymous or private.
• The content relates directly or indirectly to cricket.

Members may be held responsible for content that can reasonably be linked to them.

Acceptable Use

Members are encouraged to:

• Celebrate cricketing achievements.
• Share positive club news.
• Promote fixtures, events and fundraising activities.
• Support teammates and opponents in a respectful manner.
• Share appropriate cricket-related content.
• Promote inclusivity and participation in cricket.

Unacceptable Use

The following conduct is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action by the Club.

Members must not:

Abuse or Harassment

• Bully, intimidate, harass or threaten any person.
• Engage in trolling, online abuse or coordinated attacks.
• Make malicious, insulting, offensive or obscene comments.

Discrimination

Post or share content that is:

• Racist
• Sexist
• Homophobic
• Transphobic
• Ableist
• Religious or political hate speech
• Discriminatory towards any protected characteristic

Defamation and Reputation

• Make false allegations about individuals, clubs, leagues, officials or governing bodies.
• Publish material that may damage the reputation of another individual without evidence.
• Bring St Georges Cricket Club, the league, the ECB or the game of cricket into disrepute.

Match Officials and Opponents

Members must not:

• Publicly criticise umpires, scorers or league officials.
• Mock or ridicule opponents.
• Publish inflammatory comments regarding match incidents.
• Use social media to continue disputes arising from matches.

Any concerns regarding conduct should be raised through the appropriate club or league procedures.

Confidential Information

Members must not publish:

• Committee discussions.
• Internal club communications.
• Personal information about another member without consent.
• Financial information.
• Disciplinary matters.
• Safeguarding concerns.

Illegal or Harmful Content

Members must not post content that:

• Encourages criminal activity.
• Promotes illegal drugs.
• Encourages violence.
• Supports extremism or terrorism.
• Breaches copyright, trademark or intellectual property laws.

Filming, Photography and Video Content

St Georges Cricket Club recognises that filming and photography are now a normal part of cricket.

Members may record photographs and videos for legitimate purposes including:

• Match highlights.
• Coaching analysis.
• Club promotion.
• Social media content.
• Live scoring and streaming where authorised.

However:

• All filming must comply with ECB safeguarding guidance.
• Members must respect venue-specific filming rules imposed by host clubs.
• Footage must not be used to ridicule, embarrass, harass or target individuals.
• Content must not be selectively edited to misrepresent events.
• Filming must not interfere with play, officials, spectators or opposition teams.
• Any concerns regarding filming should be raised politely and through appropriate channels.

Where a dispute exists regarding filming, members are expected to remain respectful and avoid confrontation.

Personal Accounts

Members have the right to hold personal views and operate personal social media accounts.

However, where a member can reasonably be identified as being associated with St Georges Cricket Club, they must not:

• Present personal opinions as official club views.
• Comment publicly on internal club matters.
• Criticise teammates, captains, coaches, committee members, volunteers, sponsors or opponents.
• Engage in online arguments that could reflect negatively on the club.

Members are encouraged to include wording such as:

"Views expressed are my own and not those of St Georges Cricket Club."

However, such disclaimers do not remove responsibility for the content posted.

Club Social Media Accounts

Official St Georges Cricket Club accounts shall be managed by persons authorised by the Committee.

Authorised administrators must:

• Act professionally at all times.
• Ensure information shared is accurate.
• Maintain secure passwords.
• Protect personal data.
• Follow safeguarding guidance.
• Promote the club positively.

Official accounts must not be used to:

• Pursue personal disputes.
• Express political opinions.
• Endorse controversial causes.
• Criticise individuals or organisations.

WhatsApp and Digital Messaging Groups

This policy applies equally to:

• WhatsApp groups
• Messenger groups
• Team chats
• Direct messages
• Private online communities

Members should remember that:

• Screenshots can be shared.
• Messages may become public.
• Private groups are not exempt from standards of conduct.

Abusive, discriminatory or offensive messages within private groups may still result in disciplinary action.

Junior Members and Safeguarding

The welfare of children is paramount.

The Club will ensure:

• Appropriate consent is obtained before publishing images of juniors.
• Club communications with juniors are conducted in accordance with ECB safeguarding guidance.
• Coaches and volunteers do not communicate with junior members through personal social media accounts.
• Any communication with junior members is transparent and, where appropriate, includes parents or guardians.

Parents should immediately report any safeguarding concerns to the Club Safeguarding Officer.

Think Before You Post

Before posting, ask yourself:

• Is it respectful?
• Is it true?
• Is it necessary?
• Would I say this face-to-face after a match?
• Would I be comfortable if this appeared in a newspaper?
• Would I be happy for my teammates, family, employer or the Club Committee to see it?
• Could this damage someone's reputation or wellbeing?

If in doubt, do not post.

Breaches of This Policy

Breaches of this policy may result in:

• Informal advice or guidance.
• Removal of content.
• Formal warnings.
• Suspension from club activities.
• Referral to league disciplinary procedures.
• Referral to ECB disciplinary procedures.
• Termination of membership in serious cases.

The Club Committee reserves the right to investigate any online activity that may adversely affect the welfare, reputation or operation of St Georges Cricket Club.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the St Georges Cricket Club Committee and updated to reflect changes in ECB guidance, safeguarding requirements and developments in social media platforms.

Approved by: St Georges Cricket Club Committee

Review Date: 23/06/2026

Version: 2026