> ## 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 chat one-on-one with a family?

> Start a private conversation with a guardian from the Chat area.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * The recipient picker only lists reachable guardians — a parent account or someone linked to an athlete. Contacts who aren't linked won't appear.
  * **Web & SMS** needs a phone number that's been **verified** — a number on file that isn't verified still won't be selectable — and **Web & Email** needs an email address, before you can use that channel with a family. Web & SMS only appears when your plan includes SMS.
  * When a family opens the portal, their reply lands back in the same thread; opening a thread marks it as read on your side.
</Note>

Chat is a private, one-to-one thread between your club and a guardian. Open **Communication → Chat** in the dashboard.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a conversation">
    Click **New Conversation**. Choose a **channel** — Web Only, Web & SMS (when your plan includes SMS), or Web & Email — then search for the guardian by name and select them. Rows that can't be selected show the reason (for example, a missing or unverified phone number for a text channel).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your message">
    Type in the message box and send. On **Web & SMS** the family gets a text and on **Web & Email** they get an email; a **Web Only** message sends no outside notification, so the family sees it the next time they open their portal. Either way, every message is saved to the thread.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep the thread going">
    When the family replies from their portal, their reply lands back in the same thread and bumps its unread count. (On a Web & SMS or Web & Email thread they can also reply straight from their phone or email app — that reply is captured on the same channel.) Opening the thread marks it read for you.
  </Step>
</Steps>

When a family replies, their message appears live — the open thread and its unread badge update the moment they respond, so you don't need to reload. If a guardian already has a thread on a different channel, Uplifter asks whether you want to switch that thread's channel before continuing.

**Related:** [What are the chat channels, and what are their limits?](/club/communications/what-are-the-chat-channels-and-their-limits) · [How do I post an announcement?](/club/communications/how-do-i-post-an-announcement) · [Start a conversation with a family (coach)](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-start-conversation)