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Using Huddles (Team Chat)

Huddles are Rostered's in-app messaging system that lets you communicate with coaches and other families on your athlete's teams. Think of huddles as team-specific chat rooms where you can stay connected and coordinate with your sports community.

What are Huddles?​

Huddles are organized communication channels that keep conversations focused and relevant:

  • Team channels - Chat with coaches and other families on your athlete's specific team
  • Division channels - Broader discussions with all teams in the same division/age group
  • Automatic organization - You're automatically added to channels for teams your athlete joins

Finding and Accessing Huddles​

Opening the Huddles Tab​

  1. Open the Rostered app and tap the Huddles tab at the bottom of the screen
  2. You'll see a list of all channels you have access to
  3. Each channel shows:
    • Channel name (team or division name)
    • Most recent message preview
    • Unread message count (if any)

Understanding Channel Types​

Team Channels:

  • Named after the specific team (e.g., "U12 Eagles", "Varsity Soccer")
  • Include coaches and guardians from that team only
  • Best for team-specific discussions

Division Channels:

  • Named after the division/age group (e.g., "U12 Division", "High School Varsity")
  • Include multiple teams within the same competitive level
  • Good for broader announcements and cross-team coordination

Viewing Messages​

  1. Tap any channel to open the conversation
  2. Messages are displayed chronologically with newest at the bottom
  3. Each message shows:
    • Sender's name and role (Coach, Guardian)
    • Timestamp
    • Message content
    • Any reactions (👍, ❤️, etc.)

Scrolling Through History​

  • Scroll up to see older messages
  • Messages load automatically as you scroll
  • Use the search function to find specific conversations or information

Sending Messages​

Basic Messaging​

  1. Tap in the message field at the bottom of the screen
  2. Type your message
  3. Tap the Send button or press return

Message Formatting Tips​

  • Keep messages clear and concise
  • Use line breaks for better readability
  • Include specific details (dates, times, locations) when relevant

Using @Mentions​

Tag specific people to ensure they see your message:

  1. Type @ followed by the person's name
  2. Select from the dropdown list of channel members
  3. Tagged users receive a special notification about the mention

Examples:

  • @Coach Smith what time is Saturday's practice?
  • @Sarah Miller can you confirm carpool arrangements?

Message Reactions and Engagement​

Adding Reactions​

  1. Long-press any message to open the reaction menu
  2. Choose from available emoji reactions:
    • 👍 (thumbs up) - agreement or acknowledgment
    • ❤️ (heart) - appreciation or thanks
    • 😂 (laughing) - humor
    • 😮 (surprise) - unexpected news
    • 😢 (sad) - sympathy or disappointment
  3. Tap the emoji to add your reaction

Viewing Who Reacted​

  • Tap any emoji reaction to see who added that reaction
  • Multiple people can use the same reaction
  • You can remove your reaction by tapping it again

Replying to Messages​

Thread Replies​

  1. Long-press the message you want to reply to
  2. Select Reply from the menu
  3. Type your response in the reply field
  4. Your reply will be linked to the original message

Mentioning in Replies​

  • Replies automatically notify the original message sender
  • You can still use @mentions to include others in the conversation
  • Threaded replies help keep conversations organized

The Compose Menu​

Accessing Advanced Features​

Tap the + button next to the message field to access additional options:

  • Camera - Take and share a photo instantly
  • Photo Library - Share existing photos from your device
  • Poll - Create a quick poll for the channel (see Polls section)
  • Location - Share your current location or a specific address

Sharing Photos​

  1. Tap Camera to take a new photo or Photo Library to choose existing
  2. Select the photo you want to share
  3. Optionally add a caption
  4. Tap Send to share with the channel

Understanding Polls in Huddles​

When coaches or admins create polls, they may be automatically posted to huddle channels for easy access and discussion.

Responding to Channel Polls​

  1. Polls appear as special message types with voting buttons
  2. Tap your preferred answer(s) to vote
  3. View live results if the poll creator enabled immediate visibility
  4. Discuss poll results in the channel conversation

Anonymous Poll Behavior​

  • When a poll is marked as anonymous, your vote remains private
  • Even coaches and admins cannot see how you voted individually
  • Only aggregate results are visible to maintain complete anonymity

Channel Settings and Notifications​

Managing Notifications​

  1. Open any channel and tap the channel name at the top
  2. Choose your notification preference:
    • All messages - Get notified for every new message
    • Mentions only - Only get notified when you're @mentioned
    • Mute - Turn off all notifications for this channel

Channel Information​

The channel info screen shows:

  • List of all channel members
  • Channel description (if set by coaches/admins)
  • Channel creation date
  • Links to related team or division information

Who Can See What​

Access Permissions​

Guardians can see:

  • Huddle channels for teams their athlete is on
  • Division channels their athlete's team belongs to
  • Messages from coaches and other guardians in those channels

Coaches can see:

  • Channels for all teams they coach
  • Messages from guardians and other coaches in their teams
  • Division channels for age groups they coach

Administrators can see:

  • All channels within their club
  • Messages across all teams and divisions
  • Full conversation history and analytics

Privacy Considerations​

  • Messages are visible to all channel members
  • Deleted messages may still be visible to administrators
  • Keep conversations appropriate and team-focused
  • Use direct messages for sensitive or private discussions

Best Practices for Team Communication​

Effective Messaging​

  • Be respectful - Remember coaches and other families are reading
  • Stay on topic - Keep discussions relevant to the team and sport
  • Be timely - Check huddles regularly for important updates
  • Use appropriate timing - Avoid late-night messages unless urgent

When to Use Huddles vs. Other Communication​

Use Huddles for:

  • Team-wide announcements and discussions
  • Coordinating group activities (carpools, team events)
  • Asking questions that others might benefit from seeing
  • Sharing team-related photos and updates

Use other methods for:

  • Private concerns about your athlete (contact coaches directly)
  • Urgent matters (phone calls or direct messages)
  • Club administration issues (contact club administrators)
  • Technical problems with the app (use support channels)

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Missing Channels​

If you don't see expected huddle channels:

  • Ensure your athlete is properly rostered on the team
  • Check with coaches about team setup
  • Contact club administrators if channels are missing

Notification Problems​

If you're not receiving huddle notifications:

  • Check your device notification settings for Rostered
  • Verify your in-app notification preferences
  • Ensure you haven't muted the specific channels

Unable to Send Messages​

If you can't send messages:

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify you're still a member of the team
  • Try closing and reopening the app
  • Contact support if problems persist

Message Delivery Issues​

  • Messages require internet connection to send and receive
  • Messages sync across devices when you log in
  • Check for app updates if experiencing sync issues

Remember, huddles are designed to strengthen your team community and keep everyone connected. Use them to build relationships, stay informed, and support your athlete's sporting experience!