The Youth Protection & Consent Mistakes That Get Teams in Trouble

Media teams handle photos of minors, which makes consent and youth protection a non-negotiable part of the job. These mistakes are common and serious.

Mistake 1: Posting a minor's name next to their photo without permission. It is FIRST policy not to print a minor's name with their picture without specific permission from the parent or guardian. Many teams violate this casually by tagging students by full name in match-day posts. Fix: default to first name only, or no name; only use a full name with a photo when you have explicit, documented parent permission. Build a simple roster spreadsheet with a 'photo/name OK?' column the team keeps current.

Mistake 2: No media release on file. Participants complete the FIRST Consent & Release as part of registration, and it covers photography and video; it is renewed each season. Posting a student whose family opted out is a real problem. (Note that participants and parents can also ask FIRST to remove specific images.) Fix: keep a master list of who has consented and who has opted out, and give your photographers a 'do-not-publish' list before each event.

Mistake 3: Publishing other teams' members or kids from outreach events. When you run a demo at an elementary school or photograph another team, you do not have their release. Fix: get blanket photo permission from the host organization for outreach events, and for other FRC teams, ask before posting identifiable close-ups — or stick to wide action shots.

Mistake 4: Reusing match footage as your Impact Award video without the right consent. If you submit a FIRST Impact Award video, you must agree to the FIRST Impact Award Video Consent & Release of Rights in the submission portal — you cannot submit without it — and everyone identifiable in the video should be covered by releases, including parental consent for a minor's name and likeness. Fix: confirm releases before you feature a student prominently in award media.

A practical publish-checklist. Before any post goes live:

1. Is everyone identifiable covered by a signed release / not on the opt-out list?
2. Are minors un-named (or named only with documented permission)?
3. For outreach kids, do we have the host's blanket permission?
4. Does the photo show anything we shouldn't share (a kid's school ID, an address on a form)?

Why this matters beyond rules. A single complaint from an upset parent can cost your team a school sponsor or facility access. Treating consent seriously is both compliance and good relationship management — and it's exactly the kind of professionalism Impact Award judges notice.