For the 2020/21 season, The FA have introduced mandatory safeguarding responsibilities for all adult clubs.

These responsibilities MUST be abided by in order to affiliate and play football next season.

The purpose of these new policies and related courses is to safeguard Under-18s and all adults participating in open-age football across Merseyside.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

Clubs are being asked to complete the mandatory actions to ensure they meet the requirements for affiliation for the 2020/21 season. These are outlined below:

• Adopt and adhere to Affiliated Football’s Safeguarding Children Policy if your have ANY Under-18 players within your club. This policy can be found by clicking here
  
  
• All clubs MUST appoint a Club Welfare Officer and they MUST complete the following (click on the links for details or to complete):
  o FA Criminal Records Check (FA CRC)
  o FA Safeguarding Children Workshop (3-hour course)
  o FA Welfare Officer Workshop (3-hour course)
  o FA Online Safeguarding for Committee course
  
  
• All club’s committee members – Secretary, Chairperson and Treasurer – MUST complete the following (click on the link for details or to complete):
  o FA Online Safeguarding for Committee course
  
  
• All club’s coaches MUST complete the following if you have ANY players aged 18 or under playing in your team(s) (click on the link for details or to complete)
  o FA Criminal Records Check (FA CRC)

While it’s not currently mandatory, Liverpool County FA is encouraging all clubs to complete the Safeguarding Adults Course, which can be accessed online by clicking here

All clubs will have received letters outlining these new mandatory requirements already, but if not – please click on the links below to download them, read them and take any action needed.

Some clubs will have already completed the requirements, whilst others will be working towards ensuring that these apply to ALL aspects of their club.

If you believe you already meet the requirements detailed below and above, please review the safeguards you have in place across ALL of your open-age adult teams – from first-team professionals, semi-professionals and amateurs, all the way through to disability teams, community ventures and reserve teams – both men and women.

It is ESSENTIAL that every child under the age of 18 is afforded the appropriate safeguard at every level of the game and in every team.

More information, guidance, templates and CRC FAQs are available via TheFA.com and can be found by clicking here

Liverpool County FA ensures to offer support for ALL our grassroots clubs.

All clubs can contact Gordon Johnson, Designated Safeguarding Officer at Liverpool County FA, via 0151 523 4488 or email at gordon.johnson@liverpoolfa.com for further clarification and support.

In advance, we thank you for supporting football to safeguard adults and children across every level of the game.

OPEN-AGE FOOTBALL CLUBS SAFEGUARDING LETTER

OPEN-AGE FOOTBALL CLUBS SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES LETTER