Parent and Carer Guidance

​Parent and Carer Guidance

Let's make football safe & enjoyable for everyone

Making Sure Children And Young People Have A Safe And Enjoyable Football Experience.

Everyone involved in football should promote the highest-possible standards of behaviour, so we can pass our great game on in good shape to future generations.

This applies as much to parents/carers as anyone else. No doubt we’ve all heard – and perhaps seen – over-zealous parents behaving badly at children’s matches. Sometimes unwittingly, they can create a climate of intimidation that stops children wanting to play.

Jan Scott

Designated Safeguarding Officer
Support@StaffordshireFA.com
01785 256994

Laura Thompson

Safeguarding & Respect Officer
Support@StaffordshireFA.com
01785 256994

LOCAL CONTACTS 

LADO Stafford first response: 0800 13 13 126. Out of hours: 0345 604 2886
Stoke on Trent Safeguarding Referral Team: 01782 235100. Out of hours: 01782 234234
Walsall MASH: 0300 555 2922. Out of hours: 0300 555 2866
Wolverhampton Safeguarding Services: 01902 555392. Out of hours: 01902 552999
NSPCC Hotline: 0808 800 5000
Childline: 0800 11 11

Ensuring parents/carers behave appropriately at youth team matches is codified into ‘Respect’, an ongoing FA drive to improve everyone’s standards of behaviour. In fact, there’s a code of conduct for parents/carers which you will be asked to sign up to if you have a child playing for a youth team.

Here’s a link to information from The FA RESPECT campaign so that you are aware of what it covers - and the actions which can be taken against transgressors.

Equally, apart from parents/carers behaving responsibly themselves, you may also witness inappropriate or threatening behaviour from a fellow adult towards a child or young person. It can be difficult to confront this, so football has set up various confidential ways you can report your concerns.

Watch the video below and click here to find out more about how to report your concerns. Of course, everything is completely confidential.

 

In addition, as well all know, today’s younger generation are actively engaged in the digital world. This could be by visiting websites, engaging in social media, or receiving texts and/or emails. As a parent/guardian you should be aware of how your child(ren) are being contacted by their club via digital media – and the general guidance that surrounds young people’s use of social networking sites.

Click the link below to read The FA’s guidance notes for parents/carers on the responsible use of all digital media – which also contains links to external sites such as CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).

Ultimately, we want to make the game as safe and enjoyable as possible for everyone – and that’s where we can all play a part.

Download The FA Parents/Carers Guide