> ## 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 message a guardian from an athlete's profile?

> Use the Message guardian shortcut on an athlete's profile to jump straight into a chat with their parent.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * The shortcut opens — or starts — a chat with that athlete's guardian, then drops you into the chat inbox.
  * New chats started this way begin on the **Web Only** channel; switch the channel from the thread if you need to text or email.
</Note>

When you're already looking at an athlete and want to reach their parent, you don't have to go to the inbox and search. Open the athlete's profile in the coach portal and click **Message guardian** near the top.

Uplifter takes you straight to the Chat inbox with that athlete's guardian's conversation open and ready to type. If you've messaged this parent before, it opens the existing thread with its full history. If not, it starts a fresh one for you.

A couple of things to know:

* **It reaches the athlete's guardian.** The **Message guardian** button targets the athlete's main linked parent account. To reach a specific parent when there are several, scroll to the **Guardians** section on the profile and click **Message** beside that person. If the athlete has no linked guardian account, no message button appears.
* **New chats start as Web Only.** A brand-new conversation opened this way uses the Web Only channel, so the first message posts in the parent's portal without a text or email. If you need them alerted, switch the channel to **Web & SMS** or **Web & Email** from the pill at the top of the thread before or after sending.

From there it's a normal conversation — everything you can do in the inbox works exactly the same.

**Related:** [How do I start a chat with a family?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-start-conversation), [How do I switch a chat to a different channel?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-switch-channel), [Which families can I message from the coach portal?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-who-can-i-message)