Clubs negative to pictures of kids

GOLD Coast parents need permission to photograph their children who play in most major junior sports.

Netball, athletics, soccer and basketball teams all have formal and informal policies in place.

This follows revelations yesterday that junior rugby league has banned parents from photographing their own children during some matches.

Gold Coast little athletics centre manager Steve Langley said there was an unofficial policy under which parents knew not to photograph other children unless they had permission.

He said parents could also crop other children out of the photo but admitted that was hard to monitor.

Netball and soccer clubs require snappers ask for permission before games.

Gold Coast Basketball could have the most thorough policy, which ensures parents agree when signing up to have their child’s photograph used in any newsletter or promotion.

They also agree that video footage can be kept by other families or used for scouting purposes but require each parent to register before games in order to take photos or video footage.

GCB CEO Allan Hilzinger said it had also introduced a policy which banned any inappropriate Facebook or Twitter posts by management, coaches and their players.

‘ ‘ We saw k i d s becoming friends with their coaches,’’ he said. ‘‘There were a few borderline incidents and we saw it as a potential issue because these guys are obviously role models for these kids.

‘‘We haven’t had to remove anyone yet but if we found any coaches, staff administration, volunteers, anyone dealing with children posting inappropriate c o m m e n t s , t h e y w i l l b e removed.’’

Mr Hilzinger said junior players also faced being dropped if they posted negative comments about the sport.

‘‘There was a 17-year-old who recently made a comment on Facebook talking down one of the referees and we picked it up and told his coach,’’ he said.

‘‘The kid freaked out and sent an apology to us, so we didn’t take further action.’’

Griffith University sports management research fellow Anthony Beaton said there was a case of ‘‘policy overkill’’.

‘‘I think these policies are over the top and it’s a reflection of the litigious society we live in,’’ he said.