What are the rules on coaches messaging players and using team group chats?

The FA's guidance (Guidance Notes 1.7, 6.1 and 6.2) sets these boundaries for anyone in a position of trust, such as coaches, managers and welfare officers:

One-to-one messaging

• Only text or engage online with a young person as part of a recognised group, for specific, legitimate football purposes.
• Only use platforms that keep a permanent, recoverable record of the conversation, not ones where messages or images disappear.
• If a young player sends a friend request on social media, politely decline, explain why it wouldn't be appropriate, and make a written report to the Club Welfare Officer.
• Never engage in sexualised communication or image sharing with any young person, including 16 and 17-year-olds.

Team group chats

• Under-16s should not be in chat groups used mainly by club officials, coaches, managers and parents to arrange fixtures and availability.
• If 16 or 17-year-old players, coaches or officials are invited into an official club or team chat, get written parent or carer permission. Ideally parents are added to the chat and can see the conversation.

16 and 17-year-olds with a role (for example young coaches or referees)

• Communicate only for that role, and copy in the parent or carer, the Welfare Officer, or both. Leagues appointing young referees must copy in another league official or a parent.

Video calls with under-18s

• Work with groups, involve a second official where possible, make sessions observable and interruptible, get parents to accept or decline participation, and never host from a bedroom.

Any inappropriate communication between an adult and an under-18 must be reported straight away to the Welfare Officer, who will seek advice from the County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer or statutory agencies.