“Safeguarding is all about making football safe, not sorry”
It is EVERYONE’S responsibility to help BTFC create a safe & fun environment to play football – ie one where adults can encourage & enable young people to grow in confidence, make friends, develop their football, team-working & life skills, & fulfil their potential as a valued & gifted person. Click on this text for more about Safeguarding & Welfare.
BTFC are a FA Charter Standard Club at both adult & youth level, with a youth team plus 15 year olds training with the adults, & 16 & 17 year olds playing in the 3 adult teams. We must therefore adhere to the FA’s Safeguarding policies & practices. This includes the latest FA guidance on Heading for all age groups (2021/22) Click on the Learn More button below to access these vital documents.
The FA requires that everyone coaching under 18s must have an up to date FA DBS, a FA Emergency Aid qualification, & a FA certificate to say they have successfully completed a FA Safeguarding workshop (classroom course, then by on-line renewal).
These requirements are all included in the FA Level One Coaching module, & they need to renewed every three years. BTFC Committee members have to complete an online course “Safeguarding for Committee members”.
The Club also has the necessary Club Welfare Officer in place (currently Sam Loughman), who with support from the Club Committee and coaches, must carry out the roles & responsibilities set out in the FA’s Club Welfare Officer Checklist. Click on the Learn More button below to view this Checklist.
If you have any concerns about Safeguarding
Please speak to our Club Welfare Officer, Sophie Holdt (awaiting photo) at sophieholdt@hotmail.co.uk. Battle Town Football Club’s Safeguarding Children Policy can be found below.
You can also contact Childline on 0800 1111 (for the Childline website, click on the button below). Or you can make a report to CEOP, the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Agency, via the other button below.
New FA Youth Football guide
To further help us to maintain our high level of pitch-side behaviour…. The FA has produced an easy-to-follow guide (use link below) to help improve the match-day experience for younger players.
Youth in Adult Teams
The FA require Adult Teams that include 16 & 17 year olds to adhere to their “Open Age Adult Football Safeguarding Requirements”, which refers to the FA’s “Affiliated football Safeguarding children’s policy”.
For example, Coaches for the Adult Teams with 16 & 17 year olds in their teams must be registered on the FA Whole Game System & meet all FA Safeguarding requirements (DBS, Training & First Aid). Any new coaches must be recruited under the FA’s Safer Recruitment Guide.
The Club should also provide their 16 & 17 year olds (& their parents) with Safeguarding information to say how their youngsters will be looked after safely in the adult set up.
The Safeguarding information available to parents of 16 & 17 year olds includes four FA policies, which the Club models:
- Club Communications
- Relationships of Trust
- Running Events
- Club Agreement with Parent/Carer