Safeguarding Thresholds Safer Recruitment and DBS Checks Information for Welfare Officers Clubs, Officials and Volunteers Parents/Carers and Players Safeguarding in Adult/Open-Age Football

SAFEGUARDING - AN EXPLANATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Nottinghamshire FA take looking after children and young people seriously.

Football should be fun, safe, and include everyone.

You have the right to feel safe and happy in football, and the right to feel valued and respected.

 

WHAT IS A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON?

Anyone who is Under 18.

 

WHAT IS SAFEGUARDING?

Safeguarding is what we do to promote the welfare of children and young people to help protect children and young people from harm and from abuse.

 

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY FOOTBALL CLUB?

Your coaches should all be appropriately skilled and trained, and have had DBS checks to help you play the best football you can.

Also, the club ensures that volunteers working have been trained and DBS checked. Your club should have a Welfare Officer and policies in place to make sure you are safe.

Listening – the best clubs engage with you as much as possible and want to hear about what you like/don’t like about the club and what you think needs changing. Everyone’s views should be respected. Clubs should encourage people from all backgrounds to take part. If you are unhappy, worried, or have a complaint and need to speak to someone, they should take you seriously.

 

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CLUB IS SAFE?

Training sessions – does your coach ask if you have any injuries before you start? Is everyone included? Does it feel like a supportive team? Are you encouraged to improve without being punished or ridiculed? Are successes celebrated? Does everyone have a chance?

Environment – are you encouraged to speak out if someone does something bad (even if it is the coach)? Does it feel ok to tell someone if you are not happy or worried about something?

When it could be safer – people don’t challenge banter that makes someone feel uncomfortable. If you make a mistake, the other players or (worse) the coach is angry or shouts at you. The club or coach put too much pressure on you to be perfect – always pushing you about your exercise, diet or weight? The coach is like a ‘god’ – people are afraid to challenge how they do things in case they don’t get on the team or other players pick on you.

 

WHAT DO MY CLUB EXPECT OF ME?

Behaviour – they should give clear messages on how they expect everyone to behave, this may in a Code of Conduct.

Respect for the rules – football has rules and so do clubs. These are in place to keep you safe.

Respect for each other – you should treat referees, coaches, other officials and other players with respect.

 

WHAT TO DO IF I’M WORRIED?

1) Don’t keep it to yourself

There are a number of people you can speak to if you are worried about bullying, abuse or your mental health – whether it is happening at home, in netball or anywhere else. You should tell your parent/carer or other trusted adult if you feel badly treated during netball, whoever is responsible.

Your CLUB WELFARE OFFICER (or someone else you feel comfortable with) will believe you and know what to do and how to help. Sometimes they may have to share the information you tell them with a professional in order to keep you safe, but they will keep it CONFIDENTIAL.

You can also talk to someone at Nottinghamshire FA, by calling 0115 9837400 or emailing: safeguarding@nottinghamshirefa.com

Or call Childline on 0800 1111, Police or Children’s Services.

 

2) Seek advice.

If you want to read more – please visit Safeguarding & Welfare - Nottinghamshire FA

Or for advice on bullying, online safety or mental health visit these useful websites:

 

WHAT IS ABUSE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Physical Abuse

When you have been hurt by things like, hitting, smacking, kicking, biting, punching, pinching, slapping etc. It also includes when objects have been used like slippers, sticks, belts etc.

 

Sexual Abuse

When someone touches you somewhere private on your body, when someone makes you touch them/yourself or someone else somewhere private on their body or if someone makes you watch inappropriate things that make you uncomfortable.

 

Emotional Abuse

When someone makes you feel sad or bad about yourself. If someone is aggressive or mean towards you or to someone else in front of you. You may hear arguments but not see them and they make you feel uncomfortable. Someone may constantly call you names or consistently ignore you. This can be done in person or on-line.

 

Bullying

When someone calls you names, threatens you or may leave you out of things. This can be done by one person or a group of people or a gang. This can be in person or on line.

 

Neglect

When someone is supposed to be looking after you and they do not do it properly. This can be things like, not having enough food, not having clean clothing, not having the right clothing for the weather conditions, being left outside in the cold, not getting medical care or not being sent to school. You may not be being protected from other people who may cause you harm or put you in danger. This can happen at home or somewhere where adults are caring for you or supervising you.

 

Child on Child/Peer on Peer abuse

This is when another child or young person hurts or abuses another child or young person. This can be things like, bullying (including on line bullying) and bullying because of someone’s race, religion, sexuality, disability or trans status.

 

WHAT IF I HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR NEED TO TALK?

• Find the right person to talk to – this could be someone at your Club, someone in the Notts FA safeguarding team, a teacher, a coach, an adult you trust or a trusted friend.

• Talking about it may be difficult and you may not find the right words. You may not remember everything. That is fine – take your time, you will be given the time and the space to talk at your pace. Talk in your own words and there is no rush – getting started is the first step and a brave one to  take.

• You can talk about anything that is: worrying you, making you feel ill, making you feel uncomfortable. This might be about something that is happening to you or to someone else.

• The person you speak with may need to share this information with people that can help. If this is the case, then they will let you know and explain why this needs to be shared (for example someone may be at risk or someone may have done something which is unlawful).

 

Other Contacts: NSPCC Football Helpline | 0800 023 2642 Childline Childline.org.uk | 0800 1111 Samaritans 116 123 Premier League Safeguarding@premierleague.com EFL Safeguarding@efl.com The FA Safeguarding@thefa.com