Online Safety & Digital Communications Policy

Statement of Intent

ADL is committed to creating a safe online environment for all young athletes, staff, chaperones, and partner organisations. As an agency operating international trials, showcases, and placements, digital platforms and communication tools are vital for coordinating logistics and showcasing talent. This policy establishes mandatory guidelines to protect young participants from online harm, cyberbullying, grooming, and privacy breaches while safeguarding staff against boundary allegations.

Key Principles

• —Transparent communication - all communications involving under-18 participants must be transparent, professional, and accessible to parents/carers.
• —No direct private messaging - staff, coaches, and volunteers are strictly forbidden from maintaining private, one-on-one digital contact with minor participants.
• —Data & privacy protection - personal data must never be shared online without explicit authorisation.

Staff & Volunteer Digital Protocols

• —Approved channels only - staff communicate with athletes exclusively via official business emails, corporate messaging tools, or pre-approved group platforms (e.g. an official team WhatsApp group that includes parents/carers).
• —Connecting with under-18s on personal social media is strictly prohibited.
• —Direct messages to young participants are strictly prohibited; any incoming DMs must be logged and escalated to the DSL.
• —Staff must not tag athletes in personal posts or broadcast real-time locations of hotel accommodation or private residential quarters.
• —Photography and video must only occur on official ADL devices, uploaded to secure encrypted servers and deleted from local devices.

Guidelines for Young Participants

• —Keep posts positive - no cyberbullying or harassment.
• —Never share hotel room numbers or live locations online.
• —Report uncomfortable DMs or messages to ADL staff immediately.
• —Mobile device usage may be restricted during key team hours to ensure adequate rest and team cohesion.

Reporting an Online Incident

If an online safety breach, cyberbullying incident, or inappropriate digital contact occurs, evidence should be preserved (screenshots taken, messages not deleted) and reported instantly to the DSL. A minor breach results in an internal disciplinary warning and parent notification; a serious or criminal incident results in immediate removal from duty, contract termination, and referral to statutory authorities including the police or CEOP.