The FA-led national safeguarding campaign lasts all year – but its highlight is the annual Play Safe Weekend. 

This year that’s on 28th & 29th September 2024, when the whole of football in England – from the professional game to the grassroots, and every level in between – joins forces to promote awareness of the importance of safeguarding across the game we all love.

Once again the Play Safe weekend is endorsed by leading children’s charity the NSPCC and will see a huge range of activity across the nation, fuelled by the encouragement and resources The FA provides.

Why is Play Safe important?

Anyone’s love of football can be taken away by negative behaviour and abuse. Safeguarding prevents this from happening. A Play Safe weekend at the start of each season is there to put safeguarding at the forefront of people’s minds. It reminds everyone to watch, listen, talk, act in every football environment.

The Play Safe Weekend comes around every year to celebrate our collective effort, support, and care.

For Play Safe 2024, we’re asking everyone to know their role in safeguarding.

This means no matter what role you have in football, you know your role and responsibility in making it a safe space for all.

Parent/Carer

Parents and carers remain responsible for checking their child is taken care of in football.

Things to do as a parent/carer:

• Complete the free, 30-minute online ‘Safeguarding Awareness for Parents/Carers’ course.
•  Know who your child’s coach/manager is and how to contact them.
•  Know how to contact your club’s welfare officer and where to report a concern. 
•  Ask about FA DBS Checks and safeguarding qualifications of the staff at your club.
•  Know what unacceptable behaviour looks like and the club’s Codes of Conduct. 
•  Keep on checking in with your child(ren) – make sure they know how to report a concern.

Committee Member

Committee Members have an explicit responsibility to ensure safeguards are consistently in place across the clubs’ activities. Working together you can really make a difference to keep everyone safe.

Things to do as a committee member: 

• Make sure your club is following a safer recruiting process - you can find that information here
• Support coaches, check they’re working with the right ratios and role modelling the clubs code of conduct, make sure you’re happy with the way they communicate and engage with players.
•  Make sure all your club’s digital/social media communications follow safe practice; they should be for specific football purposes.

Coach/Manager

As a coach or manager, you’re in a position of trust and responsibility to many. 

Things to do as a coach or manager:

• Check and challenge your own behaviour, as well as other peoples. Shouting at children is not okay. 
• Make sure you’re working with another DBS-checked coach. 
• Only communicate online with a child’s parent or carer. Keep it football related. 
• Be fair, encouraging, inclusive. Try to understand every child’s needs, speak with their parent/carer about what would work best for their child.

Player (Under 18)

On or off the pitch, players should expect to feel safe, always.

Things to do as a player: 

• If something feels wrong or unsafe, know how and where to report a concern. 
• Keep talking to your parent/carer. Tell them if you’re worried about anything. 
• Expect to play in a safe environment, always. 
• Be positive and always support other players.

Referee/Match Official

Being at the heart of the game, its important referees/match officials look after themselves and others.

Things to do as an under-18 referee/match official whether on matchday or at training events: 

• Know who you’re officiating/training with, how you’re getting to the venue and who the club/event organiser point of contact is.
• For matches, check important details, like changing facilities and post-match support. 
• Be prepared for a challenging game. Know how and where to report a problem.

 Things to do as an adult referee/match official: 

• Know who you’re officiating/training with and who the main point of contact is.
• Be responsible before offering under-18 officials a lift; get parent/carer consent, consider will there be a third person in the vehicle, ensure they sit in the rear of the vehicle.  
• Check important details before a match, like changing facilities or post-match support. 
• Be prepared for a challenging game and know how to manage conflict. Know how and where to report a concern.

DSO/CWO

As a designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) or Club Welfare Officer (CWO), you’re the first port of call.

Things to do as a DSO/CWO:

• Know who your members are and how to reach them. Consider how you can ensure everyone knows who you are and how to contact you.
• Share news and information about Play Safe to everyone at your club.
• Keep safeguarding as a regular item at committee meetings.
• Think about what could make a positive difference at your club/league and who could help you bring about that change.

Spectators

Supporters should keep the sidelines positive and supportive. This way, the game is better for all.

Things to do as a spectator: 

• Never shout abusive or negative things during a match. Keep it positive. Clap for everyone. 
• If there’s something that feels off or unsafe, report it to the club welfare officer, or member of staff.

“The central push behind this year’s weekend is to create awareness among individuals of the vital safeguarding role they can play in football. It really is about Everyone Everywhere, Every Time,” says Sue Ravenlaw, FA Head of Safeguarding.  

“To find out more about your role in safeguarding whether you’re a parent/carer, committee member, coach, player, referee, spectator or a safeguarding lead, visit  https://www.englandfootball.com/playsafe”.

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Play Safe Merchandise

To give Play Safe visibility, all grassroots clubs are provided with free captains’ armbands and Play Safe badges for coaches. In addition, clubs can purchase Play Safe-branded pitch-side banners – simply CLICK HERE

In addition, County FAs, as well as leagues and clubs at every level, are being provided with digital and print assets. A specially-commissioned Play Safe film will be provided for County FAs, leagues and clubs to link to via their websites and social media.

“Then it’s over to everyone to decide how they want to showcase their safeguarding work,” says Sue Ravenlaw, FA Head of Safeguarding. “There were some great examples last year which resulted in reaching three million people – we’re aiming for more this year.”

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