> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I connect an athlete to another guardian?

> Staff can't attach an existing athlete to an existing guardian: add a new athlete from the guardian's profile, and have the family connect an athlete who already exists.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **No staff action attaches an existing athlete to an existing guardian.** The athlete's family makes that change.
  * **Brand-new athlete:** open the guardian's profile, go to the **Athletes** tab and use **Add athlete**. They join that guardian's family right away.
  * **Existing athlete:** a family owner or co-manager uses **Invite family member**, or an adult guardian uses **Add athlete from another family**, which the athlete's current family approves.
  * **Same person, two records?** Merge them in **Athletes > Merge Profiles**.
</Note>

**Why there's no link button.** Athletes and guardians connect through families. Staff can put a brand-new athlete straight into a guardian's family, but only the family itself can bring in an athlete who already exists. The athlete's edit panel has no Guardian field, only a **Family access** box with **Review family connections**, and **Add guardian** creates the guardian only; add athletes from their profile. **Athletes > Families**, and **Open family** on the athlete's profile, show who's connected but can't add anyone.

**If the athlete is brand new,** create them under the guardian. There's no separate linking step.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Add athlete">
    Go to **Athletes > Guardians**, open the guardian, and click **Add athlete** on the **Athletes** tab. For an **Invited** guardian, whose row can't be opened, use **Athletes > Directory > Add Athlete** instead (see **From the directory** below).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the athlete's details">
    **First name**, **Last name** and **Birth date** are required here. **Gender** and **Levels** are optional.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Place them in the family">
    Choose the **Family** if the guardian has more than one, set the relationship (it defaults to **Child**), and click **Add athlete**. The athlete joins that family right away, with no approval step.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**From the directory.** **Athletes > Directory > Add Athlete** also works: pick the guardian in **Guardian**, set the family and relationship, then click **Create**.

**If the athlete already exists,** staff can't attach them. Point the family to the **Family** page in the family portal:

| Who is asking | What they use | What happens |
| - | - | - |
| The owner or a co-manager of the athlete's family | **Invite family member**, with **Family role** set to **Guardian** (owners can also pick **Co-manager**) | The person accepts an invitation (valid for 7 days), then can access every athlete in the family. |
| An adult in another family who can already see the athlete, such as through shared access | **Add athlete from another family** | Unless they can already approve it, the athlete's family (or the athlete, if they have their own account) gets **Approval to join \[family name]**: **Approve sharing** or **Decline**. |
| Someone outside the household | **Share access** (owner or co-manager) | Chosen permissions for one athlete, for all clubs or selected ones, never signing waivers. |

**Same person twice?** That's a duplicate, not a missing link: go to **Athletes > Merge Profiles** and click **Start a merge**. The survivor keeps its details, and everything on the duplicate moves over.

**Related:** [What is a family, and how does it connect guardians and athletes?](/club/athletes-families/what-is-a-family) · [How do I add an athlete to my roster?](/club/athletes-families/how-do-i-add-an-athlete) · [How do I merge duplicate athlete or guardian profiles?](/club/athletes-families/how-do-i-merge-duplicate-profiles) · [How do I invite someone to my family?](/families/families-household/invite-someone-to-your-family)