WhatsApp alternative

A better home for team admin than a WhatsApp group

WhatsApp is free and everyone already has it, which is why so many grassroots teams run on it. But a group chat isn't built for running a team – and safeguarding guidance has a lot to say about how it's used around children.

Get started free How to switch

Safeguarding guidance

What the governing bodies and the NSPCC say

These apply to any messaging, not just WhatsApp – but they're hard to follow in an open group chat.

NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit

Its WhatsApp guide for sports (updated February 2025) says messages should never be sent privately by a staff member to a young person. (source: NSPCC Sport: WhatsApp go-to guide for sports (updated 14 Feb 2025))

Football Association of Wales

It is inappropriate for adult coaches to communicate one-to-one with under-18s. Send group messages instead, and get parental consent for under-16s. (source: FAW: safeguarding – communication)

The FA

Guidance Note 6.1 says under-16s should not be in chat groups used by officials, coaches and parents. Section 6 of its safeguarding guidance covers digital communication with under-18s. (source: The FA: Guidance Note 6.1, running websites and social media platforms (2025); The FA: Section 6, safeguarding in the digital world)

The GAA

Its code of behaviour for underage players does not approve of player messaging groups, and in 2020 it urged clubs to avoid WhatsApp over data protection concerns. (source: GAA Code of Behaviour (Underage); RTÉ: GAA urges clubs to avoid WhatsApp due to GDPR concerns (28 Jan 2020))

Check your club's policy date

WhatsApp's minimum age in the UK dropped from 16 to 13 in April 2024, so older club policies that say “over 16” may be out of date. (source: CNN: WhatsApp lowers minimum age in the UK and EU to 13 (12 Apr 2024))

Side by side

The same jobs, done differently

Team admin in a WhatsApp group compared with Squono
The job	In a group chat	In Squono
Who's coming on Saturday?	In a group chatScroll back and count the replies and thumbs-up, then message the people who didn't answer.	In SquonoYes, No or Maybe for each event, reminders only to people who haven't answered, and “3 haven't replied” at a glance.
Picking the squad	In a group chatPost the team in the group, where everyone sees who wasn't picked.	In SquonoSelected, Reserve or Not selected – each family sees only their own child's status, and is told once.
Match-day details	In a group chatMeet time, kit and postcode get lost under the chat about lost boots.	In SquonoOne match-day card with meet time, start time, kit, pitch, parking and directions, always in UK time.
Subs and match fees	In a group chat“Has everyone paid?” messages, and a spreadsheet on someone's laptop.	In SquonoPayment requests with bank details and a reference for each family. Bank transfer is free; mark cash as paid.
Phone numbers	In a group chatEveryone in the group can see everyone else's number.	In SquonoFamilies join with an email address – nobody has to share their phone number with the group.
Children in the chat	In a group chatEasy to add a teenage player to a group full of adults.	In SquonoChat is for adults only. There are no private messages between adults and children.
Quiet evenings	In a group chatFifty messages about a lost water bottle at 10pm.	In SquonoQuiet hours, a daily digest if you want one, and mute per team. Urgent news, like a cancellation, always gets through.

Keep what works

You don't have to ban WhatsApp overnight

Plenty of teams keep a social group for the parents. The point is to move the things that matter – availability, selection, match-day details, money and anything involving children – somewhere built for it.

Free for every team, with no adverts
Families can reply and pay from a link, without installing anything
Team chat with threads, search and mute – for the adults around the team
Announcements with read counts, so you know who's seen the cancellation

Read the two-week switching plan

About this page

We checked the guidance linked here on 29 September 2026. Guidance changes, so check your governing body's latest version and your club's own policy. WhatsApp is a trademark of its owner; Squono isn't affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsApp or Meta.

Sources

All seen on 29 September 2026.

Also see: Squono and Spond · Squono and TeamSnap · Squono and Heja · Squono and Tournify

Also useful

Move your team admin somewhere better – for free

Set up your season in minutes, bring your members across and send families one link. No adverts, no limits – and Squono Pro whenever you want every match on replay.

Create a team See the demo