Who this is for: all members. Permission required: none. Chat must be turned on for your organization.
Chat lets members talk to each other directly inside Boathouse Connect, without swapping phone numbers or setting up a separate group-chat app. It is for quick conversations; use Sending email & text for announcements.
There are four kinds of chat:
| Type | How it starts | Who is in it |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | You start it with New Chat → Single-user. | You and one other person. |
| Multi-User | You start it with New Chat → Multi-user. | The people you pick, plus anyone added later. |
| Groups | Created automatically for a group. | Group members are added when they join the group. |
| Practices | Created automatically for a practice. | Members are added when they are marked Attending. |
Note: If your organization has not turned chat on, Communications → Chat shows a Coming Soon! page. Contact [email protected] to ask about it.
Open your chats
- Go to Communications → Chat.
- My Chats lists every chat you belong to. Use Filter By Type to show only Individual, Multi-User, Groups or Practices chats.
- Click a chat to open it. Until you pick one, the page says Open chat from the list.
- Type in the message box and press Enter to send.
Start a new chat
- On Communications → Chat, click New Chat.
- Choose Single-user for a one-to-one conversation or Multi-user for several people.
- Under Who would you like to start a chat with?, choose the member or members.
- Click Create Chat.
Manage a chat
With a chat open, you can use:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Update Title | Renames the chat. Enter the new name under What would you like to rename the chat to?. |
| Add User to Chat | Adds another member. Choose them under Who would you like to add to this chat? and click Add User. |
| Chat Users | Lists everyone in the chat. Click Leave Chat to leave it. |
Warning: Once you leave a chat, someone has to add you back before you can see the chat history or send messages again.
Practice chats
Each practice has its own chat for the people attending. You are added to it when you are marked Attending (see Attendance).
You can also open a practice's chat from the Chat tab in the lineup builder. If you see "Looks like you don't have access to this chat", make sure you are attending the practice or are assigned as the coach of a boat, then click Try Again.
Chat on mobile
Chat is shared with the mobile app, and the app can send notifications for unread chat messages. This guide covers the website; see the mobile app guide for how chat works there.
FAQ
Why can't I find chat? Your organization has not turned it on yet. Communications → Chat shows Coming Soon! until it does.
Why am I in a chat I didn't start? Group and practice chats are created automatically, and you are added when you join the group or are marked Attending for the practice.
Can I rejoin a chat after leaving it? Only if someone already in the chat adds you back with Add User to Chat.
Can parents or stakeholders use chat? No. Chat is for people who are members of your organization. Stakeholders only receive email; see Stakeholders.
Should I use chat for club-wide announcements? No. Use Communications → Send Message, which reaches members by email or text and is recorded in Email analytics.