Direct messaging rules depend on your role and your age. They exist so that no adult is ever in an unmonitored one-to-one conversation with a minor.
Athletes aged 18 and over
You can message a Coach directly, or start a new group chat.
You can't message another athlete directly. Athlete-to-athlete direct messages aren't available at any age.
Athletes under 18
Before a minor athlete can message a Coach directly, one of two things has to be true:
A parent or guardian is linked to the athlete's profile, or
A second Coach is added to the conversation
Once a parent is linked to a minor athlete, they're added automatically as a view-only participant in the athlete's direct messages with a coach. The parent doesn't have to do anything to turn this on, and it can't be switched off. That's what makes messaging a minor athlete as straightforward as messaging an adult while staying SafeSport-compliant.
The Other role
A Coach has to start the conversation. Someone with the Other role can't begin a direct message with a Coach themselves.
Coaches can see chat activity
Because every channel includes a Coach, chat activity is reviewable by coaching staff.