Code of Conduct for parents/caregivers and guardians at youth games

Information for Parents – Just Let Kids Be Kids

• Support and encourage players.
• Treat the opposition how you would like to be treated.
• Let the coach’s coach.
• Remember that the referee may be learning the game.
• You are always a role model to children before, during and after the game.
• Applause for both sides.
• Always make the game fun.
• Do not encroach onto the pitch.
• No angry post-mortems after the game.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

The FA Member Protection Framework and Safeguarding Policy works to keep all children and young people under 18 safe from abuse, discrimination and harassment.

Insufficient Game Time

Insufficient game time is not a child protection issue. It is a decision for the coach of a team to determine how much game time players receive. Some clubs have policies relating to amateur football game time and this can be clarified by contacting your club to find out if they have a game time policy.

Football is a team sport and time on the bench is part of playing a team sport and being in a football team. The strategies used by coaches are many and varied in their efforts to try and provide players with fair game time, but equal time is not always possible particularly where the games are closely contested and where player fitness, endurance, ability and team cohesion are factors in player selection, rotation and positioning.

Non-selection in team or squad

Non-selection is not a child protection issue. The selection of players and the suitability of players for a team is a decision for selectors. Players are generally selected based on skill, strength, stamina, physique, fitness, commitment, positive attitude and a willingness and ability to learn and improve. A good behaviour record and compliance with the Codes of conduct, Laws of the Game and all relevant club, Football West and FFA policies, both on and off the field, is also important.

Our team is not winning – My child is not scoring goals

It is interesting to note that a study on children’s sport found that the top 3 reasons children play amateur sport were: To make friends, to have fun and to play the game.

Winning is not always a priority for children and just playing with their friends, having fun and kicking the ball is often what they base their good experience on. Parents should support their children and encourage good sportsmanship no matter their priorities or outcome of the game – win, lose or draw, the experience should always be a positive one.

Sport is great for children’s fitness and well-being and is often the only outlet a child has from the stress of school and the pressures of life in general, so it is important they are allowed to enjoy their football and have a good experience.

My child is not being played in the position they prefer

The position that a child plays in or is allocated to is a decision for the coach of the team. Although a child may play in a certain position when they join the club or trial for a club, there is no guarantee that this is the position the child will play in at the club. While clubs and coaches like to try and keep everyone happy, it is not always possible to play children where they want or prefer to play at any level.

Behaviour of the coach

Inappropriate behaviour in football is unacceptable and clubs and associations are responsible for taking appropriate action where they consider the behaviour of their team officials to be in breach of the Coaches Code of Conduct or relevant policies. Clubs are responsible for managing all complaints in relation to their coaches and any appropriate disciplinary action that may arise in relation to their employees and volunteers. Local associations also have a level of jurisdiction over coaches and team officials which can result in those persons appearing before the association tribunal and penalties applied.