1. Introduction & Policy Statement
Old St Mary’s Football Club (OSMFC) is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members, players, officials, and volunteers, regardless of age, background, or level of participation. OSMFC recognises its legal, moral, and duty-of-care obligations to protect the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of everyone involved with the club.
While this policy applies to the entirety of the OSMFC adult playing membership, the club acknowledges the specific legal and regulatory distinction between adult players (aged 18 and over) and young players (defined by The FA as any individual aged 16 or 17).
OSMFC is formally affiliated with the Southern Amateur League (SAL) and competes within its adult Saturday football framework. The Southern Amateur League is dedicated to maintaining high standards of sportsmanship, governance, and conduct. Player behaviour across all teams and fixtures is monitored in accordance with League, County FA, and FA codes of conduct.
2. Core Safeguarding & Welfare Principles
OSMFC formally adopts The FA’s Safeguarding & Respect Policies and adheres strictly to The FA Grassroots Code for Adult Football.
The policy is underpinned by the following principles across all age groups:
- Safety and Welfare First: The health, safety, and well-being of every player is the primary consideration in all club operations, training sessions, and matchday activities.
- Zero Tolerance for Discrimination & Abuse: Every player has the right to participate free from abuse, harassment, discrimination, bullying, or intimidation—regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, faith, or belief.
- Proactive Duty of Care: All concerns regarding poor practice, misconduct, mental health, or physical harm will be taken seriously and handled swiftly, confidentially, and appropriately.
3. Policy Framework: Adult Players (Aged 18+)
For players aged 18 and over, OSMFC promotes an adult football environment based on mutual respect, high standards of conduct, and physical safety:
- Codes of Conduct: All adult players are expected to represent OSMFC with integrity, respecting match officials, opponents, teammates, and supporters.
- Anti-Bullying & Harassment: Physical aggression, excessive verbal abuse, discriminatory language, or persistent peer harassment—whether on the pitch, in changing facilities, or online/in club communications—will result in disciplinary action.
- Player Health & Duty of Care: The club will ensure appropriate first aid provisions are available at all fixtures and training sessions. Players are encouraged to report injuries, medical conditions, or mental health concerns to team management or the Safeguarding Officer.
- Social & Locker Room Environment: While open-age dressing rooms are adult spaces, conduct must remain respectful, consensual, and compliant with venue guidelines and league regulations.
4. Specific Provisions: 16–18 Year-Olds in Open-Age Football
The integration of 16- and 17-year-old players into adult Saturday football requires enhanced safeguarding measures. OSMFC strictly enforces The FA’s mandatory directives for young players participating in adult open-age football:
- Age Eligibility: In compliance with FA regulations, no player under the age of 16 is permitted under any circumstances to train or play in adult open-age football.
- Parental/Carer Consent: Formal written consent must be secured from a parent or legal guardian before any 16- or 17-year-old is registered, selected, or transported for adult fixtures.
- Mandatory DBS Checks: Team Officials (Managers, Coaches, First Aiders, and designated adult helpers) who directly manage, train, or hold regular responsibility for teams with 16- and 17-year-old players must hold a valid, clear FA Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Dressing Room & Showering Conduct:
- Adult players, team managers, and captains share a collective responsibility to ensure the dressing room environment remains safe, respectful, and free from intimidation or inappropriate exposure to adult-only themes.
- Where separate changing or showering facilities for under-18s are unavailable, adult players and officials must adjust their conduct accordingly.
- Photography & Media Restrictions: The use of mobile phones, cameras, or video recording equipment in changing rooms or showering areas is strictly prohibited for all players, with heightened enforcement when under-18s are present.
- Alcohol, Tobacco & Controlled Substances: Under no circumstances may 16- or 17-year-old players be offered, served, or permitted to consume alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances at match venues, post-match social functions, or during club travel.
5. Operational Best Practice (All Members)
- Policy Accessibility: This policy is made available to all incoming players, officials, and parents/guardians of U18 players upon joining OSMFC.
- Transportation & Travel:
- Players are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
- Where club members offer lifts to other players—particularly those aged 16 or 17—explicit agreement (and parental consent for U18s) must be in place. Drivers must hold a valid licence, suitable motor insurance, a roadworthy vehicle, and adhere strictly to zero-tolerance policies on alcohol or drug use before driving.
- Digital Communication: Club communication channels (group chats, social media) must maintain standard bounds of respect. Direct 1-on-1 private messaging between adult team officials and 16/17-year-old players should be avoided; group channels or parent-included messaging should be used instead.
6. Managing Concerns & Reporting Protocols
Safeguarding and welfare are the collective responsibility of every OSMFC member. If you see, hear, or experience something that causes concern, “no action is not an option.”
Reporting Internal Concerns
For concerns regarding poor practice, code of conduct breaches, player welfare, or safeguarding issues, members should contact the Club Safeguarding Officer:
- Club Safeguarding Officer: Adam Guildford
- Telephone: 07908 655954
- Email: adam.guildford21@gmail.com
The CSO will assess the situation and either resolve the matter internally or escalate it to the appropriate governing body.
County FA Escalation
OSMFC is affiliated with the Amateur Football Alliance (AFA). Issues can be escalated directly to the AFA Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):
- Email: safeguarding@amateur-fa.com
- Telephone: 07904 649879
External Support & Statutory Authorities
For serious concerns involving individuals in positions of trust, or where an individual is at risk of immediate harm:
- The FA Safeguarding Team: 0800 169 1863 | safeguarding@thefa.com
- NSPCC 24-Hour Helpline (for U18 concerns): 0808 800 5000
- Emergency Services / Police: Call 999 in an emergency.
7. Policy Governance & Annual Review
The Executive Committee of Old St Mary’s Football Club reviews this policy annually to ensure alignment with updated legislation and regulatory guidance from The FA, the Amateur Football Alliance, and the Southern Amateur League.
Policy Formal Review Date: June 2026
Next Scheduled Review: June 2027
