The Child Protection and Best Practice Guidelines have been developed to provide clubs, leagues and County FA’s with advice and guidance on the use of images children and young people and is integral to the work of The FA’s National Game Division. It is recommended that this is adopted by clubs, leagues and County FA’s and the Ten Golden Rules made available to as many people a possible. The whole policy document should be kept by the organisation’s administrators for future reference.
Any change to this guideline will be notified via The FA’s website and in any relevant publications. Please remember that the safety of children and young people should be paramount in all your activities and this has been designed to help you in this.
The FA is committed to providing a safe environment for children/young people under the age of 18. Implicit in this is the commitment to ensure that all publications, resources and media represent participants appropriately and with due respect. By adopting the points outlined in this guideline you will be putting in place the best possible practice to protect children and young people wherever photographs or recorded images are taken and stored.
The key concerns contained within this policy regarding
the use of images of children/young people relate to:
• The possible identification of children when a
photograph is accompanied by personal information
• The inappropriate use, adaptation or copying of images
for use on child pornography websites
• The taking of inappropriate photographs or recorded
images of youngsters.
There have been concerns about the risks posed directly
and indirectly to children and young people through
the use of photographs on sport web sites and other
publications. Photographs can be used as a means of
identifying children when they are accompanied with
personal information, for example: “This is a member
of the Anytown Junior Football Club and who likes
Atomic Kitten”. This information can make a child
vulnerable to an individual who may wish to start to
“groom” that child for abuse. Secondly the content of the
photo can be used or adapted for inappropriate use.
There is evidence of this adapted material finding its way
onto child pornography sites.
• All children featured in recordings must be appropriately
dressed with outer clothing garments covering their
torso from at least the bottom of their neck to their
thighs, (i.e. a minimum of vest/shirt and shorts).
• The photograph should ideally focus on the activity.
Where possible images of children/young people
should be recorded in small groups (the group may
comprise of any combination of adults and children).
• You should ensure that images of a young person, who
is under a court order, are not recorded and published
• Any instances of the use of inappropriate images should
be reported to The FA/NSPCC Helpline (see following
pages) or the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
• Club’s or organisation’s coaches and teachers should
still be allowed to use video equipment as a legitimate
coaching aid. However, footballers and their
parents/carers should be aware that this is part of the
coaching programme and care should be taken in the
storing of such films
• If the child is named, avoid using their photograph
• If a photograph is used, avoid naming the young person
or use their first name only, personal details of children
such as an email address, home address and telephone
numbers should never be revealed on a website
• Ask for the child’s permission to use their image. This
ensures that they are aware of the way the image is to
be used to represent the sport. A parent/carer and
child permission form is the best way of achieving this
and can be done at the beginning of the season (see
Club Annual Membership, Information and Consent Form)
• Ask for parental/carer permission to use an image of a
young person. This ensures that parents/carers are
aware of the way the image of their child is representing
the sport. A parent/carer and child permission form is
the best way of achieving this and can be done at the
beginning of the season (see Club Annual Membership,
Information and Consent Form)
• In order to guard against the possibility of a young
person under a court order appearing on a website, the
simultaneous streaming of images onto a website is not
recommended. Delayed streaming also provides an
opportunity for the editing of inappropriate clips (e.g.
disarranged clothing). If video/film clips are delivered
from your own server that material can be downloaded.
It is therefore recommended that you use an
independent server so that material cannot be accessed,
copied or downloaded
• Think about the level of consideration that you give to
the use of images in all publications, for example the
processes used in choosing photographs for a publicity
brochure for the club. Apply an increased level of
consideration to the images of youngsters used on
websites. Simple technology features such as
watermarking may dissuade third parties from using or
attempting to access controlled imagery
• Try to take photographs that represent the broad range
of youngsters participating safely in football.
This might include:
- boys and girls
- minority ethnic communities
- a range of clothing e.g. tracksuit/jogging trousers
- girls with hair covered - baseball cap will do
- disabled people
- glasses - OK if not actually playing at the time
- shin pads must be on if they are recorded playing
- jewellery should be off in all images
There is evidence that some people have used sporting events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young and disabled sportspeople. While this might be rare in football you still have a duty of care to young people to ensure that this risk is as small as possible. By taking some simple steps you will be reducing that risk.
If you are commissioning professional photographers or
inviting the press to a football activity or event it is
important to ensure they are clear about your expectations
of them in relation to child protection.
• Provide a clear brief about what is considered
appropriate in terms of content and behaviour
• Issue the photographer with identification, which must
be worn at all times (see Event Registration Form)
• Inform participants and parents that a photographer will
be in attendance at an event and ensure they consent to
both the taking and publication of films or photographs
• Do not allow unsupervised access to footballers or one
to one photo sessions at events
• Do not approve/allow photo sessions outside the event
or at a footballer’s home
Parents and spectators might also wish to take
photographs or record their children participating at
the event:
• If parents or other spectators are intending to take
photographs or video at an event they should also be
made aware of your expectations
• Parents and spectators should be required to register at
an event if they wish to use photographic equipment
(see Event Registration Form)
In addition:
• Participants and parents should be informed that if they
have concerns about inappropriate or intrusive
photography these should be reported to the event
organiser or official and recorded in the same manner as
any other child protection concern
• Event organisers should approach and challenge any
person taking photographs who has not registered with
them, they might need to refer it to the local Police
force if this person continues to record images
Child protection is about putting in place the best possible practices and procedures; this will protect not only the child but also you, the adult, in football. If you have any comments on this guideline or require any further support or guidance relating to children and young people please contact The FA Equality and Child Protection Department.
Guidelines revised by The FA Equality and Child Protection Department January 2006
The FA Equality and Child Protection Department
The Football Association
25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA
Telephone: 0800 085 0506
goal@TheFA.com
www.TheFA.com/Goal
Access The FA website, the Home of English Football, for the latest child protection information.
The FA/NSPCC Helpline
Telephone: 0808 800 5000
This is a 24 hour free and confidential telephone
Helpline that provides counselling, information and
advice to anyone concerned about a child at risk of ill
treatment or abuse.
Asian Helpline: 0800 096 7719
Welsh Helpline: 0800 100 2524
Deaf Users Textphone: 0800 056 0566
www.nspcc.org.uk
Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU)
3 Gilmour Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester LE4 1EZ
Telephone: 0116 234 7200
www.sportprotects.org.uk
The CPSU is a registered charity funded by the NSPCC and Sport England. Designed for use by anyone involved in sport or child protection, it is informative with sections on home, parents, children, organisations and professionals.
Department for education and skills (DfES)
Considerable guidance is on the DfES’S
Superhighway Safety website for parents, online
centre mangers and schools.
www.safety.ngfl.gov.uk
Internet Watch Foundation
To report potentially illegal material on the internet
please contact the IWF
Email: report@iwf.org.uk
Telephone the hot line: 08456 008844
Fax the hot line: 01223 235921
Online: http://www.iwf.org.uk/hotline/report.htm
The IWF was set up to address the issue of illegal material on the internet with particular reference to child pornography.
The FA wishes to acknowledge the Child Protection in
Sport Unit (CPSU), David Sweeney of Soccervation,
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Terry Williams
Oxfordshire CFA, British Association of Advisers and
Lecturers in Physical Education (BAALPE) and the
Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in the
production of this guideline.