Parents, children and football clubs generally look forward to celebrating and/or publicising footballing successes by photographing children at matches and events. 

Documenting a child’s involvement and progress through the season both by film and photos is widely accepted as contributing to the enjoyment of the game.

It’s also recognised some coaches find it helpful to use photographs or film as a coaching tool to support a player’s development.

The FA recognises the use of photos and film on websites, social media, posters, within the press or other publications, can pose direct and indirect risks to children if they are not managed appropriately.

However, the taking of appropriate photographs and or filming of children is supported by The FA.

Everyone wishing to film or take photos in football has a responsibility to familiarise themselves with and adhere to the following guidance below; Please click here to download the guidance and rules in full Source, The FA.

PHOTOGRAPHING AND FILMING CHILDREN

Parents, children and football clubs generally look forward to celebrating and or publicising footballing successes by photographing children at matches and events. Documenting a child’s involvement and progress through the season both by film and photos is widely accepted as contributing to the enjoyment of the game. It’s also recognised some coaches find it helpful to use photographs or film as a coaching tool to support a player’s development. The FA recognises the use of photos and film on websites, social media, posters, within the press or other publications, can pose direct and indirect risks to children if they are not managed appropriately. However, the taking of appropriate photographs and or filming of children is supported by The FA. Everyone wishing to film or take photos in football has a responsibility to familiarise themselves with and adhere to the following guidance.

POTENTIAL RISKS

INAPPROPRIATE TAKING AND OR USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS OR FILMING OF CHILDREN

Someone may set out to take inappropriate photos or film content in ways that are potentially illegal and harmful, such as:

• Children changing;
• Photos taken in the toilets;
• Using a camera at ground level to photograph up girls’ skirts;
• Photos and film footage that appear ambiguous can be used inappropriately and out of context by others;
• Photos and film footage that can easily be copied and edited, perhaps to create child-abuse images or film footage;
• Photos and film footage shared privately online that can be re-shared, possibly entering the public domain on websites or social media (further information on this is available in ‘Section 6: Safeguarding in the Digital World’ of the safeguarding section on TheFA.com).

THE IDENTIFICATION OF, CONTACT WITH, OR GROOMING OF A CHILD

When a child’s photo or film of that child is accompanied by significant personal information e.g. full name, address – it makes them more easily identifiable to third parties. This can lead, and has led, to children being located, contacted and/or ‘groomed’. Even if personal details are kept confidential, details identifying the school or club, or their favourite sportsperson or team, can potentially be used to groom the child. There’s an increased risk of identification of, and contact with a child:

• By someone in circumstances where there are legal restrictions – such as if the child is in local-authority care or placed with an adoptive family;
• Where restrictions on contact with one parent following a parental separation exist e.g. in domestic violence cases;
• In situations where a child may be a witness in criminal proceedings.

COMMISSIONING OFFICIAL OR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS* AND THE LOCAL MEDIA

If you are commissioning professional photographers* or inviting the media to cover a football activity, ensure you and they are clear about each other’s expectations. The key is to plan ahead and communicate early on. Please follow the steps below.

• Provide a clear brief about what is considered appropriate in terms of content and behaviour;
• Inform them of your club’s commitment to safeguarding children;
• Establish who will hold the film and or photographs and for how long they’ll be retained and/or used and what they intend to do with them, e.g. place on a website for sale, distribute thumb nails to the club to co-ordinate sales;
• Issue the professional photographer* with identification, which must be worn at all times;
• Clarify areas where all photography* is prohibited e.g. toilets, changing areas, first-aid areas etc;
• Inform the photographer* about how to identify – and avoid the taking of photographs and or filming – children without the required parental consent;
• Don’t allow unsupervised access to children or one-to-one photo or filming sessions at events;
• Don’t allow photo or filming sessions away from the event – for instance, at a young person’s home;
• Inform participants and parents or carers prior to the event that a professional photographer* will be in attendance.

WHAT TO DO WHEN PARENTAL CONSENT IS NOT GIVEN

Clubs and event organisers have a responsibility to put in place arrangements to ensure that any official or professional photographers* can identify (or be informed about) which children should not be subject to close-up photography or filming. This could involve providing some type of recognisable badge, sticker or wristband, and/or a system for photographers* to check with the activity organiser and/or team manager to ensure it’s clear which groups or individuals should not feature in photographs or on film.

COMMON SENSE CONSIDERATIONS TO ENSURE EVERYONE’S SAFETY

It’s important to remember the majority of photographs and film taken are appropriate and taken in good faith. If we take the following measures we can help to ensure the safety of children in football.

DO:

1. Share The FA’s guidance on taking photos and filming with everyone who becomes a club member (officials, parents/carers);
2. Ensure the club has written parental consent to use a player’s photo and/or film footage in the public domain e.g. on the club website, Facebook page or in a newspaper article. This is essential in relation to point 3 below;
3. Ensure that any child in your club who is under care proceedings where there are legal restrictions, is protected by ensuring their image is not placed in the public domain. This can be done by using The FA’s Club Annual Membership Information and Consent Form. See Guidance Notes 8.2 for this form;
4. Ensure all those featured are appropriately dressed (a minimum of vest or shirt and shorts);
5. 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;
6. Advise parents/carers and spectators that there can be negative consequences to sharing photos or film footage linked to information about their own or other people’s children on social media (Facebook, Twitter) – and that care should be taken about ‘tagging’;
7. Establish procedures to respond to and manage any concerns, including clear reporting structures and a system to contact the Police when necessary.

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/ carers as to how the photo will be used;
2. Use player profiles with pictures and detailed personal information online;
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 photos or film footage to be recorded in changing rooms, showers or toilets – this includes the use of mobile phones that record images;
5. Include any advertising relating to alcohol or gambling in photographs or film footage of children.

REMEMBER •

It’s not an offence to take appropriate photographs or film footage in a public place even if asked not to do so;

• No-one has the right to decide who can and cannot take photos or film on public land;
• If you have serious concerns about a possible child protection issue relating to the taking of photos or film footage 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 filming 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 they leave;
• Try not to use photos or film footage 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);
• That swimming as a social activity for football clubs presents a higher risk for potential misuse than football, so photos or film footage should: – Focus on the activity rather than a particular child; – Avoid showing the full face and body of a child – instead show children in the water, or from the waist or shoulders up; – Avoid photos and camera angles that may be more prone to misinterpretation or misuse than others. If you are concerned about the inappropriate use of photos of film footage please report this to your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer or to The FA Safeguarding Team via Safeguarding@ TheFA.com. Click here for a full list of key contacts at County FAs.

FILMING AS A COACHING AID

The FA advises that coaches using filming as a legitimate coaching aid should make parents/carers and players aware that this will be part of the coaching programme. Care should be taken when storing the film clips – see further guidance below. Parental consent must of course have been given. This can be requested at the start of the season via The FA’s Club Annual Membership Information and Consent Form – see Guidance Notes 8.2.

SECURE STORAGE

Photographs or film recordings of children must be kept securely:

• Hard copies of photographs should be kept in a locked drawer;
• Digital photos should be in a protected folder with restricted access;
• Digital photos and film footage should not be stored on unencrypted portable equipment such as laptops, memory sticks or mobile phones. Club and Leagues:
• If you’re storing and using photographs to identify children and adults for official purposes – such as identity cards – ensure you comply with the legal requirements for handling personal information;
• For guidance on data protection and other privacy regulations, visit the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website: ico.org.uk .

MISUSE AND MANIPULATION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND OR FILM

An individual with bad intent may deliberately target a vulnerable child to take photos or film footage which may be uploaded to social media or shared with other like-minded individuals or groups motivated by sexual interest. Occasionally, these photos or film footage are also used to threaten and force the child into unwanted, illegal sexual activity. Taking and sharing photos or film footage like this may form part of wider bullying of the targeted young person by other young people, motivated more by a wish to cause humiliation and embarrassment. Even in the context of a shared joke among friends, without abusive intent, a young person taking and sharing inappropriate photos or film footage may be committing a serious offence and risk criminal prosecution.

RESPONDING TO CONCERNS

Whether it’s general club activities or when attending an event all club officials, volunteers, children and parents/carers should be informed that if they have any concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography or filming (in terms of the way, by whom, or where photography or filming is being undertaken), these should be reported. Reports can be made to the:

• Event organiser or another official;
• Event Designated Safeguarding Officer;
• Club Welfare Officer;
• County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer;
• The FA Safeguarding Team via safeguarding@TheFA.com There must be a safeguarding procedure in place to ensure that reported concerns are dealt with in the same way as any other child-protection issue. Concerns about professional photographers* should also be reported to their employers.

To report potentially unlawful materials on the internet please contact: The Internet Watch Foundation E: report@iwf.org.uk T: 01223 237700 Fax: 01223 235921 W: iwf.org.uk In writing this photography and filming guidance, The FA has drawn from advice provided by the NSPCC CPSU. You can find this advice at: thecpsu.org.uk/help-advice/topics/photography

Please click here to download the guidance and rules in full

I’m absolutely appalled by the response from some of the parents who openly said in front of other parents and players, “Your out of order, to keep things fair you should have chosen anyone but your son”

What!!!!

To keep things fair I should not even have considered one of the players!!! My own son, I wonder how anyone else would feel if I had said the same about their child.

If I had given this award to any other player, not an eyebrow would have been raised, I can’t believe how much animosity it has caused to award my son with something.

It was a difficult decision, I considered many factors:

• Attitude
• Going above and beyond
• Sacrificing for the team
• Willing to play in goal and Defence
• Virtually every game starting on the bench
• Helping me set up and put away whatever the weather
• Attending club and league meetings
• Patting me on the back when I was down

My son deserved the award, It wasn’t “Because it was my son” thats why it took me so long to make the decision.

I can stand with my head held high and say I made the right decision for the right reasons, Why does my son, also a team member not deserve to be eligible for managers player. I would love to know the general opinion on this if possible.

The FA have released the following guidance to outline the steps required to protect the safety of participants in grassroots football in the event of a thunderstorm.

What is ADHD? 

Adapt sessions with the STEP framework (Youth Sports Trust, 2002). Space: keep the playing area familiar by using existing pitch markings – don’t use too many cones. Task: change up games and activities to reduce boredom. Equipment: use a whiteboard to show the activity and consider providing sensory toys such as fidget spinners in a safe space to help players regulate their emotions. Players: use small-sided games to keep players moving and engaged.

Here are five top tips to help you support players who have ADHD:

• Have a set space for arrival activities to get players active as soon as they arrive at the session.
• Give them individualised attention where possible. Most players with ADHD respond well to individual encouragement.
• Mix up the tasks to avoid boredom and keep the players active.
• Check with parents, carers and the player about what works best for them and what they enjoy.
• Manage excitement and anxiety. Allow for a time out to let the player refocus their attention.

More resources 

If you haven’t already, download this PDF for more information on how to support players with ADHD. It’s a handy resource to take with you to training.

And if you want to find out more about ADHD or disability football, check out these useful links:

• ADHD Foundation website
• Coaching People with ADHD Guidance (UK Coaching)
• A coach’s guide to ADHD
• England Football: Disability Section
• Disability Football Introduction Course.

“This guidance is not new. As a result of significant consultation and research undertaken across the game with children [players],  parents, coaches, clubs and league volunteers, The FA decided in 2012 to extend its implementation from U7s through to U11s.

“The feedback we got was simple – children are competitive by nature, they want to win and don’t need a league table or results section on a website to confirm this.

The decision formed part of the implementation of The FA Youth Development Review, a document spanning 25 recommendations based on research and feedback from across the country over two years and published in 2012.

The recommendations included reduction of pitch sizes, number of players and coach development.

Working together with a proactive attitude, adults can help develop a better learning environment for young people that puts their needs at the centre of the process.

Since its implementation there has been a 17.5 per cent rise in the number of teams involved in mini soccer.

“During seasons teams are allowed to play festivals where there are, of course, winners and losers,” added Ackerley.

“Teams can play for trophies in a true competitive style. What differs is that at this age, competition takes place in trophy events rather than across a season-long period.

“These positive changes have been put in place to improve enjoyment, fun and development of young players allowing more touches, on a better proportioned pitch with an increase of involvement in the game as a whole.”

What this means for young players

U7/U8:

Even the youngest children will benefit from having the opportunity to play for a cup, two or three times a season. This competition can take place over a two-week period and, for example, can include a knock-out cup event. This means that over a typical 26-week season, six weeks of this will be focused competition.

U9/U10:

As children grow developmentally and cognitively, the periods of competition can increase further as their views of the world start to widen. Therefore competition can now take place over a four-week period and, for example, can include group stages and a cup final. This means that over a typical 26-week season, 12 weeks of this will be focused competition.

U11:

Children can now start to understand whether a team beats them because they tried harder or they were better players, something they cannot often do before this age. This competition can take place over a six-week period and, for example, can include a Champions League style event. This means that over a typical 26-week season, 18 weeks of this will be focused competition.

3 Pairs Nike Socks £9.99

It’s the same with our kids, too. Whilst their imaginations probably stretch a little further than ours, and they can hear the roar of thousands when the ball hits the back of the net, playing the game is a chance to have some fun and make new friends.

Yet a select few will be given the chance to live out our dreams and bring those crowds to life by becoming a professional footballer.

Whilst there are the likes of Jamie Vardy – fairytale stories of players rising up the football pyramid to become Premier League stars against all odds – the majority of footballers these days have come through a club’s academy system, which means being spotted at an early age and graduating through the various youth ranks.

Of course, such are the vast youth intakes at clubs, that being scouted by a professional outfit is not a rare occurrence for kids in grassroots football and, when that happens, it’s hard not to have your mind filled with the possibilities that lie ahead should your kid make it to the top.

Yet a word of warning has come from Nick Marshall, the assistant academy director at Liverpool.

Nick spent 12 years at Nottingham Forest as academy director before moving to Liverpool in 2014, helping to oversee the development of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott.

Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live’s Nottingham Forest podcast, Garibaldi Red, Nick revealed that clubs are signing players at a younger age than when he first started in the game.

Whilst that may see more kids given a taste of what life at a Premier League club is like, Nick believes the focus should still be on fun – and that means continuing to play grassroots football.

He explained: “Because of that move from signing boys at 14 to signing them at eight when they’re in the system from five, is that some of them barely play any grassroots football.

“We’re strong believers at our place that we’d love it if our under-9s, under-10s could still play grassroots football, play with their friends and still keep that social background.

“If clubs aren’t careful, the kids’ lives can revolve around the football, and if you have parents who are living the dream through their kids and putting the pressure on them, then that’s a recipe for mental health issues.

“We work really, really hard to make sure it’s not too professional too soon, I think it’s a worrying trend over the last 10 or 15 years.

“When I first started at Forest, we’d be signing boys and putting our under-9s and under-10s team together from grassroots locally and getting to know them as they played for us, whereas now those kids have already been with us for three or four years and have probably also been to Everton, Man City and Man United for three or four years.

“So, if people aren’t careful, those kids can just be living the football dream when the reality is that so few of them are actually going to make it.

“So the overall diet those kids are getting at that age is, I think, a real problem. It could lead to some mental health issues down the line. I think we do a pretty good job of trying to allay fears any parents have around that by the way we interact with kids and by the way our programme is set up.”

The stereotype of a pushy parent is well known and sadly all too common in grassroots football, whereas the sport should purely be about making sure kids have fun.

Nick believes there is a place for a small amount of driven parenting in the world of academy football – but only if it is clear that the child is in a place where they can thrive with that sort of motivation.

Yet he insists the key focus for parents should be on making sure their child is still enjoying playing, even in an environment that is fiercely competitive.

He said: “I’ve got an eight-year-old who is a little bit like me in terms of he’s quite good at everything, but he’s actually very good at cricket.

“I’m so careful with him. He plays football as well and I hardly say anything to him apart from the odd thing every now and then.

“As a parent now, and I think it’s really important in terms of this job as well, something I’ve learned is that, since becoming a parent myself, I’ve had a lot more empathy with other parents.

“I’ve had run-ins with parents that now I get on very well with and I can empathise more with what they said and how concerned they were.”

He continued: “I think a parents’ job is to support their kid and make sure they’re happy. There’s got to be a realism about how tough and difficult this industry is but supporting a dream is good.

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t seen some parents who had been quite demanding with their kids, who have gone on to be successful, so I do think it’s individual to the kid.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to being a parent to your kid, but if they don’t enjoy it or they’re beginning to find it tough because of you as a parent, then I think you’ve got a massive problem because you’re not only going to stop them being footballers, you’re also going to potentially have problems down the road with them.

“So if you’ve got a kid who buys into it all and is so focused and you can push them a little bit, then that’s fine, as you know your kids better than any coach will do, but you’ve got to be careful and think really, really hard before you make that call.

“The key thing is to support the kid. The difficulty with football is that everyone’s an expert – everyone watches Match of the Day or listens to Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher and thinks they know more – and that’s different from other sports.

“When I take my kids to other sports, you don’t hear parents say a word because they don’t have a clue.”

Certainly food for thought.

Guest article by Mat Kendrick, author of the Kick N Mix Newsletter which you can sign up to below.

• Kick N Mix, is a weekly kids’ football newsletter, it’s packed full of everything you want and need to know about the junior grassroots game – all you have to do is enter your email address below and they’ll do the rest!
• Sign up here for our free Kick N Mix newsletter

Enter your email address here to receive Kick N Mix

• We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info
• Submit

I have received… angry emails, full of “suggestions,” about who should he playing where and how I lost that day’s game for the kids. I thought I’d write an open letter to all of you parents, even though I might never send it.

I’ll start it this way: “I am a volunteer.” I’m the one who answered the call when the club said they didn’t have enough coaches.

I understand that you were too busy. I have some news for you. I’m not retired, I’m busy too, I have other children and a job, just like you do. Not only do I not get paid to do this — it costs me money. I see you walk up to the game 15 minutes after it started, still dressed for work. Do you know I’ve already been here over an hour?

Imagine it you had to leave work early nearly every day. I’ve never seen you at a practice.

I’m sure you’re plugging away at the office. But I’m out here, on the field, trying my best to teach these children how to play a sport they love, while my bank account suffers.

I know I make mistakes. In fact, maybe I’m not even that great of a coach. But I treat the kids fairly and with respect. I am pretty sure they like coming to my practices and games, and without me or someone like me, there would be no team for them to play on. I’m part of this community too and it’s no picnic being out here on this stage like this. It’s a lot easier back there with the other parents where no one is second-guessing you.

3 Pairs Nike Socks £9.99

And I also know you think I give my son or daughter unfair advantages. I try not to. In fact, have you ever considered that maybe I’m harder on him than on the others? I’m sure he hears plenty of criticism at school from classmates, who hear it front you at home, about what a lame coach I am. And if, even unconsciously my kids are getting a slight advantage because I know them better and trust their abilities, is that the worst thing in the world, considering the sacrifice I’m making? Trust me, I want to win too. And if your son or daughter could guarantee we’d do that, I’d give them the chance.

After this game is over, I’ll be the last one to leave. I have to break down the goals, put away all the equipment and make sure everyone has had a parent arrive to pick them up. There have been evenings when my son and I waited with a player until after dark before someone came to get them.

Many nights sure you’ve already had dinner and are relaxing on the couch by the time I finally kick the mud off my shoes and climb into my car. which hasn’t been washed or vacuumed for weeks.

Why bother cleaning it during the season? Do you know how nice it would be if, just once, after a game one of you offered to carry the heavy gear bag to my car or help straighten up the field?

If I sound angry, I’m not. I do this because I love it and I love being around the kids. There are plenty of rewards and I remind myself that while you’re at the office working, your kid is saying something that makes us all laugh or brings a tear to my eye. The positives outweigh the negatives. I just wish sometime those who don’t choose to volunteer their time would leave the coaching to the few of us who do.”

Author Unknown

Laceeze £9.99

The League official statement is below.