Please read through this carefully as the information affects you all.

You have received from time to time the FA bulletins on implementing Safeguarding procedures. They were being sent out to you even before this season started, both from the FA and me.

So with the County FA Affiliation fast approaching, I thought I would take this opportunity to send out a reminder of the new FA mandatory requirements.

All adult (open age) teams will need to ensure all of the requirements are completed in your club portal, otherwise your affiliation will be rejected

All teams that are affiliating as an adult open-age club will need to comply regardless if they have under 18’s or not at the time of affiliation.

Question. Why do I have to do this, we don’t have any under 18’s in the squad?

Answer. The County FA will not be able to manage teams if they decide during the season to sign u18’s, they will not have the requirements. So if they are an open age team, they need to ensure measures are in place from the beginning.

What does this mean?

Answer Team Managers, coaches, etc have to obtain a DBS Check and undergo safeguarding training (online) before they can manage / supervise children playing / training football.

I repeat, these requirements have become part of the affiliation process for adult clubs from next season, meaning that you will be unable to affiliate until you have personnel with the necessary checks and qualifications in place.

In brief, the actions required from both you:

1. The FA have produced a Know Your Rights document, which the League has circulated to you already. It is the responsibility of each Club Secretary to ensure that all 16/17 year old players (who play in adult football) are given a copy.

2. All clubs to adopt and implement the FA / Wiltshire FA Club Safeguarding Children’s Policy. All adult clubs to appoint a Welfare Officer. This was previously only a mandatory for Youth and Minor clubs.

4. The FA are currently devising an “adult specific” online course for Adult Club Welfare Officers.

I hope that this hasn’t come as too much of a shock? The District League also has to write and submit an action plan, more of that to follow in due course.

Welfare officer courses are now fully booked until May and the DBS needs to be completed before the course can be done, so time really is pushing on.

The FA have also made me aware this week that ALL clubs/teams will also need to sign a ‘safeguarding commitment statement’. This is new to the requirements, and will be sent out shortly with affiliation information by Shane Comb. Again, unless this form is manually signed and returned by each club/team, or they will not be able to affiliate.

If you need anything in relation to the safeguarding requirements, please contact Maria Lai the Designated Safeguarding Officer

Phone 07340272564 Email maria.lai@wiltshirefa.com