Frankston Referees Taking the Lead on Child Safety
The Frankston Basketball Referees program has recently rolled out a new communication platform aimed at providing a space where coaching and development information can be shared, while also maintaining member safety.
This work has been led by key leaders within the referee program, including Chris Morrey as Referee Advisor and Steven Lincoln as Referee Administrator, alongside a dedicated group of referee supervisors and referee coaches who contribute greatly to the ongoing development and support of the referee group.
Historically, the referee program has operated using social media platforms, email and even WhatsApp, which have often been clunky and unable to gain the reach required for a program of this size. These have also not been the preferred methods of communication for many members. As a large portion of the referee cohort is under 18, finding a safer and more effective way to communicate has been an important focus for the referee administrators.
Over the past six months, the referee group has rolled out a new program called SPOND. SPOND has allowed the program to introduce a communication portal that meets child safety protocols, while still allowing important information to be communicated with members.
The advantage of using SPOND is that all members under 18 years old have a guardian linked to their personal account. This allows their guardian to have full oversight of communications between Frankston Basketball staff and the referee. It also allows guardians to monitor chats and posts, ensuring that young members are engaged in a safe environment.
SPOND’s platform is easy to learn and navigate. Set up in a similar way to Facebook, it allows referee information, development updates and association news to be published and made visible to all members.
There is also the ability to set up specialised groups targeted at select members, such as those who are participating in a referee course, allowing them to receive information specific to their development.
Video breakdowns have been shared to assist with referee development and their understanding of how to call the game. Files can also be uploaded by administrators and easily accessed by referees, including training resources, competition by-laws, and policy/procedure documents.
On top of all of this, the chat function has been used to communicate directly with referees one-on-one where required, allowing the program to completely move away from the use of other platforms such as email, text message or social media private messaging.
This is not a paid endorsement. It is simply a platform the referee group wanted to share, as it has helped support a safer environment for young people within their program. It is also something they would highly recommend to other sporting bodies and clubs looking to improve communication and strengthen safeguards for young members.