Last Updated: October 30, 2024

 

OVERVIEW

AIM Sports Group is committed to safeguarding youth privacy and safety, both online and offline. With online, social media and other electronic communication tools becoming more prevalent in professional communication, fundamentally changing the way many people and organizations interact. In light of the evolution of these communications tools, the following policy has been adopted, placing safety and respect for members of the Pacific Classic (PC) community, particularly youth, as the central consideration.

 

This policy sets forth expectations with respect to the use of online and social media, as well as other forms of electronic communications, by all PC clubs, players, coaches, officials, parents, staff, volunteers, and administrators (each a “PC Participant”).

 

 

POLICY

The term "online and social media" as used in this policy, encompasses a wide array of digital communications, and their scope is constantly evolving. For purposes of this policy, the terms "online media" and "social media" refer to internal and external websites, blogs, online social networks (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (aka Twitter), Snapchat, Linkedln), wikis, video and photo sharing sites (e.g., YouTube and Flickr), as well as other forms of personal online publishing and discourse now in existence or which may be developed in the future. For clarity, instant messaging, email and individual telephone communications are also covered by this policy.

 

Social media forums are typically public. Even when using social media for purely personal purposes, a person's public expressions might affect their professional identity and the organizational interests of the PC and our members. Moreover, person-to-person instant messages, emails and other communications can be easily shared online to make them public or widely known within the PC community and beyond.  Accordingly, anyone participating in online or social media must ensure that their participation is consistent with this policy and other PC policies.

 

AIM Sports Group fully respects the interest our parents, players, and volunteers may have in participating in online and social media on a personal basis. What our coaches, players, officials, parents, staff, volunteers, and administrators do outside of PC activities on their own time is normally their own business. However, activities of PC Participants outside of PC activities that affect the organization's reputation, the safety of our players, or other members of the PC community are within the scope of this policy.

 

With these objectives in mind, all PC Participants must be familiar with and adhere to this policy, regardless of whether they personally use online or social media.

 

 

PRIVACY

While the PC is generally open to the public, for the safety and well-being of players and other PC Participants, no photography, videography or other video or audio recordings of any player or other minor child may be used or posted to online or social media without prior written permission from such player’s or other minor’s parent(s).  All clubs must obtain written permission from their players and players’ parents to post any content regarding the players on any online or social media.  Incidental footage of players from other teams may be posted so long as such footage is otherwise compliant with this policy and such other players are not the focus and not named in the footage or related posts, unless permission is obtained.

 

RESPECT

While we understand that the use of online and social media, including during matches, often occurs during competition, the inappropriate use of online and social media can damage the reputation of, its teams, and its players. In this spirit, PC s are prohibited from posting anything (including posting through statements, pictures, videos, memes or gifs) on online or social media that could be construed – direct, implied, or otherwise – as negative, critical, or derogatory toward any other PC Participant.  This includes any content that:

 

• Disparages, criticizes, ridicules, belittles, or embarrasses a PC Participant;

• Mimics or impersonates a PC Participant in a negative manner;

• Criticizes officiating or the PC officiating program; or

• Disparages, criticizes, ridicules, or belittles any other club.

 

PC Participants should never disparagingly or negatively refer to an opponent, official, PC staff or other PC Participant’s personal life, family, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

 

Positive comments are of course fine.  In addition, clubs may use online and social media for fun and lighthearted banter that does not reflect poorly on any team, player, PC personnel, or the PC as a whole. However, such activity should not be inappropriate or offensive.

 

 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MANIPULATION

The developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have created opportunities in the world of sport and competition.  They have also made it easier to change, alter, and manipulate images, video, audio, and other content in a manner that is false, misleading, disparaging and/or offensive.  These developments pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of players and other members of the PC community.

 

PC Participants are prohibited from manually or using artificial intelligence or any other technologies to change, alter, or manipulate in any manner any image, video, audio, or other content featuring any other PC Participant without express prior written permission from all involved.

 

DISAGREEMENTS AND COMPLAINTS

In competitive sports, it is natural for disagreements to arise regarding strategy, tactics, fair play and officiating.  Online and social media is not the place to resolve these disagreements.  In the event any PC Participant has a complaint regarding any tournament, match, or other PC Participant, such complaint should be directed to Administration@aimsportsgroup.com for review, evaluation, and resolution.  In no event should any such complaints be posted to online or other social media.

 

 

TRAINING AND MONITORING

Each PC club is responsible for any content posted by the club. In addition, each club is responsible for communicating this policy to all coaches, players, staff, parents, and family members as well as overseeing/monitoring posts by such individuals, including but not limited to  monitoring fans (followers) of pages, monitoring for inappropriate activity, ensuring that any photography with a minor child is not posted unless prior written permission is provided from the parent(s), and ensuring that any element of the applicable page or post (or the page or post itself) can be deleted quickly if directed to do so by PC. 

 

As such, we encourage clubs to properly and extensively train their players, coaches, staff members, and spectators to ensure that they know what postings are appropriate and what are not, in accordance with this policy.  Failure by a club to enforce this policy with its players, coaches, staff members, and/or spectators may be deemed a violation of this policy by the club.

 

 

REPORTING AND RESOLUTION

Any inappropriate online or social media content and all suspicious internet and electronic communications should be reported to the Managing Director at AIM Sports Group. Participants may also report inappropriate activity to law enforcement authorities directly, as appropriate.

 

Once reported, the complaint will be investigated by AIM Sports Group and/or other outside authority designated by them.  Each PC Participant agrees to fully cooperate with any such investigation.  Failure to cooperate will be taken into consideration in investigating the claim and reaching a determination regarding the matter. 

 

Upon conclusion of the investigation, PC shall make a determination regarding the claim, which determination may affect future participation by the individual(s) involved in the policy violation. PC Participants understand that such determinations may include suspension or termination of an individual or clubs right to participate in PC events or activities and/or other affirmative obligations and/or restrictions on such individual(s).  Factors in determining any penalties for any violation, include, but are not limited to, the severity of the violation and/or the number and severity of prior violations, if any.

Further, PC reserves the right to report any violations of this policy to AAU Volleyball, USA Volleyball, and/or law enforcement.

 

 

 

Pacific Classic Content Capture and Media Policy

 

 

OVERVIEW

Capturing memories of your children’s accomplishments is part of parenthood.  We understand that family members and friends will take photographs and record matches and tournaments.  For the safety of our players, coaches, officials and other personnel and the integrity of our competitions, the Pacific Classic (PC) has adopted this content capture and media policy for all PC events. 

 

DESIGNATED SPACE

In order to ensure the safety of participants and the integrity of competition, any filming, photography, recording or other content capture at any PC event or in any PC venue or other facility may only occur in the designated spectator areas.  These are typically located in the stands at each venue.  However, from time to time, PC may restrict filming, photography, recording and other content capture to specific areas within the spectator area.  Without limiting the foregoing, any filming, photography, recording or other content capture from team benches, locker rooms or other player areas without PC’s prior written approval is strictly prohibited. 

 

DEVICES

Filming, photography, recording and other content capture is intended for personal, non-commercial use only.  As such, professional equipment, including telephoto lenses, external microphones, lighting, and other professional equipment are not permitted at any PC event.

 

USE AND DISTRIBUTION

Use of any photography, video, recording, or other content captured at any PC event may not be sold, licensed, distributed, or transmitted in any manner without the prior written consent of PC.  Subject to compliance with this policy and all other PC policies, images and footage can be used for recruitment purposes and content not exceeding 60 seconds may be posted to the photographer’s personal social media handles.  Any other proposed uses must be submitted to media@aimsportsgroup.com for approval, which may be granted or withheld in PC’s sole discretion.

 

ADDITIONAL PERMISSIONS

In the event any team, group or individual wishes to film, photograph, record and/or capture any content at any PC event or in any PC venue or other facilities in any manner not specified in this policy or use any content in a manner not specified in this policy, a written request must be submitted to media@aimsportsgroup.com  for approval, which may be granted or withheld in PC’s sole discretion.

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