Safeguarding in Adult/Open-Age Football
To find out more about your safeguarding responsibilities as a league or club, please see the leaflet below:
Safeguarding Responsibilities as a League or Club
PLAYER WELFARE COURSE
The Player Welfare Course IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL TEAM OFFICIALS WITHIN ADULT/OPEN AGE FOOTBALL and the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) (Adult Teams) in order to affiliate for season 24/25. This is a free 45 minute course aimed to raise awareness of general welfare concerns you may come across and signpost you to direct those in need to support. This course is aimed to empower those working in Open-Age Football and enhance understanding as a whole, so that together we can continue to support those involved and create positive environments.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE PLAYER WELFARE COURSE
16 and 17 Year-Old Players
Anyone who is under the age of 18 is classed, by law, as a child and so extra safeguards need to be in place to allow them to thrive and limit risk. The safeguarding of under-18 players in football is essential - everyone must ensure they play their part in making the game safe for all.
An FA DBS is required as soon as a 16/17 year old player is signed, loaned or permitted to train in any team, as it is a legal requirement for anyone involved in regular contact with children to be deemed as suitable.
All coaches, managers, assistants, physios and first aiders will require an FA DBS as soon as an U18 player is registered in their squad will, as would the CWO (Adult Teams). As soon as a u18s player is registered All team officials will have 21 days to complete a DBS application – complete online application, have this verified and paid for and at least processing in the system.
Please contact your league, in particular your League Safeguarding Advocate (LSA) for a guide on how to do this or if you have an associated youth team they may be able to support you applying through WGS. For more information please follow the link below.
FA DBS Check information and FAQs
We ask clubs and leagues to work with everyone to be mindful of the children present where appropriate and consider communication and language, the physical environment such as showers and changing rooms, and making sure that these players feel safe, empowered and comfortable in reporting anything that might make them feel ill at ease.
ADULT DISABILITY FOOTBALL
The FA have developed several resources to support adult disability teams in making sure that their club is promoting the best safeguarding standards. Please view the guidance in the link below.