Charter StandardWitney and District Youth Football League move towards excellence
Tuesday, 22 April 2008.
The Oxfordshire Football Association will be working closely with the Witney and District Youth Football League over the next 12 months to help them become one of the first Charter Standard Leagues in the country, during the pilot phase of the Charter Standard Leagues programme.
The league committee have agreed to invest in the clubs within their league by making funding available to offset the cost of courses and fulfil the requirement of having a Level 1 coach within every youth team. Additionally funding will be made available to allow clubs to nominate members to attend the various referees' courses that are run by the OFA. This will ensure member clubs have more qualified referees available for their games.
The long term vision for Charter Standard Leagues is to develop a comprehensive and efficient league structure across the country that provides a positive environment including mini–soccer, youth football, adult and vets football and meets the needs of recreational football players.
To qualify as a Charter Standard League, a league must meet the following criteria:
- At least 60% of teams in the league have Charter Standard Club status*
- Evidence of active promotion of the RESPECT campaign through:
- Signed codes of conduct for players, officials, coaches, parents and supporters
- Procedures for applying sanctions linked to managing poor behaviour
- Annual fair play awards as a minimum
- Designated areas for supporters
- Adoption of the rule that captains only may talk to referees during matches
- A pre-season briefing for all participating clubs on acceptable standards of behaviour and sanctions for non-adherence
- A Child Protection policy and procedures that adheres to FA standards guidelines
- A League Welfare Officer who has an Enhanced FA CRB check
- Is sanctioned to The FA or CFA, as appropriate
- A Charter Standard League agenda item at league meetings
- The Youth League Welfare Officer and League Co-ordinator must sit on the league committee
- Must adhere to The FA standard code of practice
- use the FA’s Full Time league software
- A League Charter Standard Officer to c-ordinate the Charter Standard Award
- Provision of a minimum of three continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities per season for league volunteers
- A League Development Plan that identifies key development objectives and targets linked to the National Game Strategy key goals and enablers
- An agreed support package with the CFA
The Oxfordshire FA will be monitoring the pilot phase of the programme very closely and be looking to roll out a full programme during season 2009/10.
For further information about Charter Standard Leagues please email Gareth Jennings (County Development Manager) – gareth.jennings@oxfordshirefa.com
For details on the various referees courses available please contact Nigel Saverton (Referee Development Officer) - nigel.saverton@oxfordshirefa.com