The safety and protection of children whilst at Target Football is paramount and all our coaching and management staff are committed to safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare whilst with us. Our staff are fully qualified, insured and CRB checked to ensure we provide a secure and safe environment.
Please Note: The use of the term ‘parent’ on this page (and the documents on this page) refers to whoever has parental responsibility for the child, and may include caregivers or other adult relatives.
Particular reference should be made to the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit for the guidance provided in putting together our Child Protection documents and processes.
1. Child Protection Policy
This policy should be read by all parents and coaches involved in the Target Football programme. It includes:
Policy statement/aims; Promoting good practice; Good practice guidelines; Use of photographic/filming equipment; Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers; Responding to allegations or suspicions; Reporting concerns about poor practice or suspected abuse; Confidentiality; Enquiries and further action; Bullying; Reporting concerns outside the immediate sporting environment (e.g. a parent or carer); Providing information to police or social services.
2. Welfare Officer, and designated person for Child Protection
The Welfare Officer and Child Protection Officer for Target Football is Ben Cobbett
3. Information and Guidance for Coaches.
They do not comprise any specific Target Football policies, but are deemed best practice and should be read and understood by all coaches.
Child Protection in Sport Unit Briefings
4. Risk Assessments
Target Football has two Risk Assessments, one for indoor sessions and events and one for outdoor sessions and events.
These risk assessments are updated annually, or when venues or circumstances change. Parents and Coaches should read these and follow the instructions and advice therein.
We also conduct a pre-session Risk Assessment at each venue. This is done by the coach, and is recorded on the register. Here is what we check for:
Slippery floors; Dangerous equipment or obstacles; Registers are visible and medical and contact information is easy to find; First Aid kit present and easy to find; Coach:Child ratio not less than 1:15; Children have appropriate footwear. long hair tied back, no jewellery.
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 RISK ASSESSMENT:
Government COVID guidance changes regularly. Target Football will update parents and families on procedures and processes regularly, in accordance with the latest guidance. Depending on this guidance, some or all of the processes in the additional COVID-19 risk assessment may be implemented.
5. Public Liability Insurance
Target Football has Public Liability Insurance with Insure 4 Sport.
6. Codes of Conduct
We have agreed Codes of Conduct for parents, children and coaches. When parents sign up for Target Football sessions, they agree to follow the Code of Conducts. As well as helping to protect the safety and well-being of children, we want to ensure that all children and all adults behave in a way which enhances our key values of learning, creativity, inclusion and enjoyment.
7. Consent Forms
If we decide to implement further consent forms we shall notify you immediately. Any additional consent forms must be completed and signed by the parent for all Target Football sessions or events.
8. Emergency Procedures
We have emergency procedures in place for all Target Football sessions and events.
9. How parents/families can help us.
We can best ensure the safety, protection and well-being of children at Target Football sessions and events if we work collectively. There are a number of things parents can do that will help us:
We recommend that children at Target Football wear shin pads, and we ask that you remove any jewellery that your child is wearing before they attend sessions. Long hair should be tied back. Flat soled shoes are required for indoor halls.
Parents of children in our youngest age groups should let the Target Football Coach know if they are not going to be attending sessions with their child.
10. Picking-up and dropping-off children
It is the parents responsibility to get the children safely to and from Target Football sessions. This includes dropping them off and picking them up from the exact session or event location.
Parents need to sign children in/out of sessions and events so we know at all times how many and which children we have. Target Football cannot take any responsibility for children who are dropped off or picked up in a car park or street, or children who have not been signed in/out properly.
If a parent wishes a different adult to drop-off or pick-up their child, then they need to inform a Target Football Coach, and will need to complete a new online data and consent form. If a parent wishes their child to find their own way home, they need to inform a Target Football Coach, and will need to sign a new online data and consent form.
11. Registers and Child Contact Details.
Target Football management will keep a register of all children at the session or event. This will be used in case of emergency. In order for the register to be accurate, parents need to sign their child in/out of sessions.
At every session, we will have all contact and medical information for each child, as given to us by parents when the child signed up.
12. Photography and Video.
We ask parents/families not to video sessions or events at Target Football without prior permission. Target Football reserves the right not to permit video or photography of sessions or events.
The Target Football Child Protection Policy contains information on Photography and Video at Target Football events or sessions.
13. Player:Coach ratios
Our maximum group size is 20 players in all our coaching sessions.
However, where possible we use assistant coaches at Target Football sessions, and aim for a Player:Coach ratio of not more than 10:1 (including management staff, assistant coach and lead coaches).
14. First Aid and Log Book, including Accident Report Form
All Target Football Coaches have attended the Football Association’s Safeguarding Children and Emergency Aid training.
We have a First Aid kit on-site at all Target Football sessions and events. There is a Log Book with the First Aid kit and all incidents should be logged by the Coach – including date, child’s full name, nature and description of accident, illness or incident, what treatment was provided, and what the effect of this treatment was.
The parents of ill or injured children must be informed of any incident when they collect their child, or by telephone as soon as possible if they do not pick their child up themselves.
Parents must let Target Football Coaches know of any medical condition on the Consent Form, and must notify us of any change in circumstance.
All serious accidents need to be logged and described by a Target Football Coach using the Accident Report Form.
First Aid kit contents: Plasters (assorted sizes), Antispetic spray or wipes, Tissues, Banadages, Dressings or swabs, Tape, Scissors, Cold packs, Log Book and pen, Accident report forms.
In addition, the Target Football coach will have each child’s medical information and family contact information.
15. Shared facilities and toilet breaks
Parents need to know that the premises we use for Target Football sessions and events are shared with other users. The actual playing area we hire is usually for our sole use, but the toilets are often communal and can be shared with many other children’s and adult users.
We need to ensure that children using these communal areas and toilets are safe and protected. The best way to do this is for parents to accompany their child to use toilets. Parents who can’t stay for the duration of the Target Football event or session should take their child to use the toilet before they drop them off for the session or event.
Children using the toilets during a session must let a Target Football Coach know they are going to the toilet. However use of the toilets cannot be supervised by coaches, and all parents need to understand this.
16. Our staff, and DBS checks, including recruitment and training.
All Target Football Coaches are qualified by the English Football Association. They are experienced professionals with a proven track-record of teaching children and of creating positive learning environments. All Target Football Coaches are involved in ongoing training to develop themselves as teachers of football.
All Target Football Coaches have completed the Football Association’s Safeguarding Children and Emergency Aid courses, and have an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure.
Staff training takes place regularly.
17. Equipment and Goalpost safety
Target Football makes every effort to ensure our Equipment is safe.
For more information on how we ensure the safety of equipment, see our Risk Assessments.
18. Discipline and sanctions
See Child Protection Policy
19. Holiday Camps
Holiday Camps are different from other Target Football sessions and events because they include meal-times, and because parents leave their child for an entire morning, afternoon or day.
Meal-times need supervision by at least two Target Football Coaches. Food should not be shared between children. Target Football Coaches need to ensure that all children eat and drink enough to keep them active, healthy and full of energy.
Toilet breaks need to be scheduled and supervised by Target Football Coaches.
20. Disability and Special Educational Needs
Target Football welcomes children with disabilities and special eduational needs. Target Football Coaches will make every effort to include these children in activities and sessions. Target Football will work closely with parents of these children to find a way that they can learn, play and be included.
21. Mixed age and mixed ability groups
At Target Football, we use a variety of factors to group players. We take into consideration the age of the child, but we also consider how athletic they are, how able they are and how confident and determined they are. We believe that grouping players correctly is paramount to learning and enjoyment. For more information on how we group players, visit our page on Inclusion.
Involving Children in Mixed Age Sport Activity (Child Protection in Sport Unit)
22.Anti-Bullying
See Child Protection Policy
23.Confidentiality
See Child Protection Policy
24. Equal Opportunities
Football should be enjoyed by all children who want to participate in it. Target Football runs programmes for all children regardless of their background and footballing ability.
Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage equal opportunities.
Target Football is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all children and requires all children, coaches and spectators to abide and adhere to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities legislation: Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as well as any amendments to these acts and any new legislation.
25.Competition and Winning
Target Football believes that competition and winning are important. However we believe that Enjoyment and Play are more important. We want to create a Learning Environment rather than a Win-At-All-Costs Environment.
Target Football does not believe there is anything wrong with children wanting to win, and we recognise that some children will naturally be more competitive than others. We do not aim to adjust, increase or change the child’s natural competitive desire, or lack of it. We recognise that there are problems associated with teaching and expecting young children to win at the expense of play, and that most of these problems are created by win-hungry parents and coaches.
26. Weather
Outdoor sessions are at risk of cancellation or postponement in heavy rain, severe cold,/wind snow, ice or hail.
Target Football Coaches will decide whether a session or event should be cancelled given the conditions, and aim to make parents aware of this as soon as that decision is made.
Parents may decide not to allow their child to take part in an outdoor event or session given their own view of the weather conditions and their child’s current state of health.
Target Football Coaches may need to ensure that children have breaks in play during an session or event. We aim to create a high-tempo, fun atmosphere, but we need to give all children the chance to relax and rest also. This is especially important in Holiday camps when we need to allow longer rest periods during the day, and include activities that are less intense than those used in weekly one-hour sessions.
27. Support and parent/spectator involvement from sidelines
Parents and spectators are encouraged to stay and watch the play at all Target Football sessions and events. We encourage support and encouragement.
However, we need to remember the effect that adults and spectators can have on the learning environment. All parents and spectators must adhere to the Target Football Code of Conduct
28. Feedback, comments and questions
Feedback, comments and questions are very welcome on any of the information contained on this page or any of the policies or documents therein. Feel free to email or call us.
We realise that we need the support of all parents and spectators in order to create the safest possible environment for the children to play in. So if you don’t understand something, have a question, or think we could do anything better, then we’d love to hear from you. Your comments and feedback will be dealt with in confidence.
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