GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL ONLINE SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY
“Grassroots Football is committed to its responsibilities to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people involved in football. Grassroots Football extends this responsibility to every adult involved in youth football whether as managers, coaches, referees, parents or spectators.
We maintain the conviction that all children and young people have the right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, language, culture, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or social/economic background. All staff are full CRB checked at enhanced level.
It’s important to remember the majority of images taken are appropriate and taken in good faith. If we take the following simple measures we can help to ensure the safety of children in football.
Potential risks
- The inappropriate use, adaptation or copying of images for use on child abuse websites on the internet (often incorrectly referred to as pornography sites)
- The identification of children when a photograph is accompanied by significant personal information that will assist a third party in identifying the child. This can lead, and has led, to children being ‘groomed’
- The identification and locating of children in inappropriate circumstances which include: (i) where a child has been removed from his/her family for their own safety; (ii) where restrictions on contact with one parent following a parental separation exist e.g. in domestic violence cases; (iii) in situations where
a child may be a witness in criminal proceedings;
or (iv) other safeguarding children concerns.
FA Guidance
Common sense considerations to ensure everyone’s safety
Do:
1. share The FA’s guidance on taking images with all parents, carers and members when they join the club 2. ensure the club has parental consent to use a player’s
image if it is to be used in the public domain e.g. club website or newspaper article. This is essential in relation to point 3 below
3. ensure that any child in your club who is under care proceedings, is protected by ensuring that their image is not placed in the public domain. This can be done by using a Consent Form, so that parents/carers can identify whether this applies to children in their care
4. focus on the activity rather than the individual
5. ensure all those featured are appropriately dressed(a minimum of vest or shirt and shorts)
6. aim to take pictures which represent the broad range of youngsters participating safely in football e.g. boys and girls, disabled people, ethnic minority communities.
Don’t:
1. publish photographs with the full name(s) of the individual(s) featured unless you have written consent to do so and you have informed the parents as to how the image will be used
2. use player profiles with pictures and detailed personal information on websites
3. use an image for something other than that which it was initially agreed, e.g. published in local press when initially produced for a clubhouse commemorative picture
4. allow images to be recorded in changing rooms, showers or toilets – this includes the use of mobile phones that record images.
If you are concerned about the inappropriate use of images please report this to your CFA Welfare Officer or toThe FA Case Manager (contact details provided below).
Remember
It’s not an offence to take appropriate photographs in a public place even if asked not to do so
No one has the right to decide who can and cannot take images on public land
If you have serious concerns about a possible child protection issue relating to the recording of images then call the Police. This action should only be taken where you believe that someone may be acting unlawfully or putting a child at risk
The land or facility owner can decide whether or not photography and or videoing at football activities
will be permitted when carried out on private land. However you need to make this known before allowing individuals access to the private property. If they do not comply then you may request that they leave
Try not to use images that include individuals wearing jewellery (as wearing jewellery whilst playing is contrary to the Laws of the Game as well as being a health and safety issue).
Approach from Professional photographers and the local media.
If you are approached by a professional photographer or the press to cover a football activity, ensure you refer them to the Sir Tom Finney FC media team.
Email address is media@sirtomfinneyfc.co.uk
