Safeguarding in Open-Aged Football
Safeguarding Requirements In Open-Aged Football
There are some important changes incoming with regards to safeguarding in open-aged football, which will have implications for Club Affiliation.
For 2023/24 Club Affiliations, ALL Clubs with Open Age/Adult teams were required to have a named Club Welfare Officer at the point of affiliation. These officials as of now, do not require any additional safeguarding qualifications or DBS check, but this is changing for the 2024/25 season.
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, which can be accessed by clicking below.
Player Welfare training course
Adult/Open Age Club Team Officials
ALL Open Age/Adult team officials of teams with U18 players (coaches, managers, medics (including assistants)) as identified through the club portal/WGS record will be required to have an in date and accepted DBS check. This will be a formal requirement for affiliation for the 2024/25 season alongside the Player Welfare training course, but is still an appropriate certification required from this point forward.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS (16 and 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’. The downloadable infographic highlights the rights and helpful pointers for 16 & 17 year olds who participate in open-aged football.