Safeguarding Requirements In Grassroots Football

With the 2023/24 season in full swing and the new season approaching fast, there are a number of new Safeguarding requirements which will have an impact on Club Affiliation for the 2024/25 season. It is extremely important that Clubs begin to action these requirements now so that all elements are in place ready for the affiliation window opening. A summary of the upcoming changes can be found below:

Youth Football

Please be reminded of the required qualifications for Clubs with Youth teams, including the specific courses needed for Club and Team Officials.

Key Officials - (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Welfare Officer) are required to hold an in date Safeguarding for Committee Members Certificate

Youth Club Welfare Officer – In date accepted FA DBS Check, Welfare Officer Workshop, Safeguarding Children Course

Youth Team Officials – In date accepted FA DBS, Safeguarding Children Course

ALL Team Officials are required to complete their Safeguarding Children course.

Open-Aged Football

There are some important changes incoming with regards to safeguarding open-aged football, which will have implications for Club Affiliation.

Adult/Open Age Club Welfare Officer

All clubs with open-age adult teams are required to have a named Club Welfare Officer at the point of affiliation from 2023/24 season onwards. 

This requirement is applied to ALL Open Age/Adult teams regardless of whether there are any players aged 16 or 17 years old included within the squad. For the season 2024/25 affiliations, all Open Age/Adult Clubs will be required to still have a Club Welfare Officer but in addition that individual will be required to hold a valid in date FA DBS and completion of the Player Welfare training course.

Adult/Open Age Club Team Officials

All open-age team officials of teams with under-18 players (coaches, managers, medics (including assistants)) are required to have an in date and accepted DBS from the start of the 2024/25 season. 

All open-age team officials of teams with under-18 players are required to have in date Player Welfare Course qualification from the start of the 2024/25 season. 

Know Your Rights -16 & 17 Year Olds in Open Aged Football

Clubs should regularly remind themselves, and share with their U18 players in open-aged football, The FA guidance surrounding ‘Know Your Rights’.

 This document can be found here along with all other FA safeguarding documents and policies. 

 All Safeguarding Courses can be found here