A PRIORITY
Children love playing football. And that's the same however well England are doing, however well our club sides are doing and however well the Sunday morning side on the local park pitch is doing.
The Football Association takes seriously its role as the guardian of the game at all levels in this country and is committed to using the power of football to build a better future. That's why The FA developed its Child Protection Policy and Helpline.
These initiatives weren't launched as a response to some massive problem in the game. They weren't developed to deter the hundreds of thousands of mums, dads and helpers who make football happen for young people. They are, however, there to make sure children can continue to enjoy their football in safety and provide some guidance for everyone involved in football.
The aims of The FA Child Protection Policy are:
To develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children and young people who play football, enabling them to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.
To deliver quality assured child protection training and build a network of tutors to facilitate this delivery, in conjunction with, and supported by, the NSPCC.
To demonstrate best practice in the area of child protection.
To promote ethics and high standards throughout football.
In addition, and in partnership with the NSPCC, The Football Association opened The FA/NSPCC Child Protection Helpline, 0808 800 5000. This is a 24 hour telephone line for children and adults to ask for advice or report child protection issues on a confidential and, if required, anonymous basis.
How can I find out about The FA's guidelines on Child Protection?
The FA's ' - policy and procedures' have been distributed widely to football clubs up and down the country. Copies are available, free of charge, from The FA.
How is The FA making sure the policy is implemented?
The policy is embedded in all activities run by The FA For example The FA's Charter for Quality includes the Charter Standard that recognises best practice in football clubs, schools and holiday schemes. To gain this recognition best practice has to be demonstrated and this includes following The FA's child protection procedures.
In addition, The FA's Child Protection Team deals with procedural and educational issues. To allow the reporting, referral and management of child protection and poor practice issues, The Football Association has established a network of Child Protection Officers in all County Football Associations and professional clubs. The role of the Child Protection Officer is purely procedural and contributes significantly to The FA's ability to deal with child protection matters. The department has also developed workshops and resources to support the messages of best practice in football where youngsters are involved.
How do I know that the club my child plays for at the weekend is suitable for youngsters?
The FA's network of FA Charter Standard Clubs is supported by the appointment of Designated Persons in leagues and clubs where those under the age of eighteen are involved. In addition those adults who help run the club know that common sense is the right way to work with youngsters. As mentioned above there are a variety of courses and resources in place to make sure common sense is good practice. Currently there is one main course and a guide to child protection.
The Child Protection & Best Practice workshop is a three hour workshop delivered by FA Accredited Child Protection tutors, administered and certificated by The Football Association. The FA has made it a mandatory element in coaching courses, medical education courses and referee training. If you already have an F.A. qualification you can attend a stand alone workshop.
A guide is aimed at raising the awareness of those adults who are involved in the game of football. It is available for people to work through at home, in a range of media: hard copy, CD-Rom and video. Those who complete the pack will receive a certificate to acknowledge their work and be encouraged to continue working with The FA to enhance their individual skills in a vital area of the game. The guide is also designed for young officials, coaches and medics under the age of 18.
Is it worth all the hassle, just to get a certificate?
Yes, and, by the way, you don't just get a certificate. All children deserve the chance to play football in a safe and supportive environment that is free of abuse. Every parent or carer wants their child to play at a club that does things properly and by having someone who has completed The FA's workshop, a club can reflect best practice.
By completing the workshop or the guide everyone becomes part of The FA's campaign to raise standards in football.
Will it take long for me to complete the guide?
No. You can work through the guide at your own pace, on CD-Rom or video. You simply fill in four multi-choice response cards. It will will take between two and four hours to complete, depending on how fast you work. But you don't have to do it all at one time.
Will it make me a better coach?
It will make you better able to work with children, understand their needs and the right way to respond to them. They say the best coaches are great managers of people and motivators. That means they do know how to get the best out of the players they work with by encouraging and supporting rather than shouting at them.
But I'm just a parent on the sideline - what's in it for me?
Both the three hour workshop and the guide are designed for all adults involved in children's football with the aim of reinforcing best practice, so there is lots of advice and guidance, even for parents on the side line. This would include supporting and encouraging your child instead of shouting negative comments. Why not enrol on the FA SOCCER PARENT workshop by clicking on the link to the right?
How do I get on a 3 hour workshop?
Workshops are organised by the Herefordshire FA on a regular basis as part of the FA Level 1 course or freestanding. Please visit the course pages on this website for workshop details or please contact us for details.
What will a workshop cost me?
The maximum that a workshop would cost is £15 and some County Football Associations are subsidising the costs.
Where can I get a copy of ' – a guide'?
Contact The FA and you will be sent details.
How much does the guide cost?
Not a lot. £11.75 is all. This gets you registration with The FA and the guide itself.
The FA/NSPCC Helpline:
Telephone: 0808 800 5000 Deaf Users Textphone: 0800 056 0566 Websites: www.thefa.com www.nspcc.org.uk