The FA offering 50% discount on Safeguarding Children course
To help clubs adjust to the new safeguarding requirements for the 2023/24 season, The FA are offering clubs a 50% discount on the cost of the Safeguarding Children Course.
For all teams to affiliate for the 2023/2024 season, all managers and coaches of youth teams (U18) are now required to complete The FA’s online Safeguarding Children Course and ensure this qualification remains in-date by doing the re-certification course every two years.
The Safeguarding Children Course costs £30 and lasts two years, with a free re-certification to last a further two years.
To support this new mandatory requirement, Oxfordshire clubs were contacted directly via email at the start of June, and again in the middle of June, offering a 50% reduction via a discount code for their coaches taking the Safeguarding Children Course, bringing the cost down to £15. If you have not received this, please contact your club secretary or club welfare officer in the first instance or you can contact our Education, Safeguarding & Referee Support Manager Nigel Saverton on Nigel.Saverton@OxfordshireFA.com
FA Safeguarding Requirements for 2023-2024 Affiliation
For the 2023-2024 season, the FA have introduced mandatory Safeguarding responsibilities for all U18s Youth Coaches and Adult Clubs who have 16/17year old players registered to play.
These responsibilities MUST be abided by in order to affiliate and play football next season.
The purpose of these new policies and related courses is to safeguard Under-18s and all adults participating in open-age football across Merseyside.
What do I need to do?
Clubs are being asked to complete the mandatory actions to ensure they meet the requirements for affiliation for the 2023/24 season. The requirements for roles at clubs are outlined below - simply scroll to the type of team you work in and find your role to see what your requirements are.
All relevant courses are on England Football Learning and are linked below. Please note that all your courses must all be in date.
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U18s Youth Football
Club Welfare Officer
- FA DBS
- FA Safeguarding Children Course
- FA Welfare Officers Course
- Safeguarding for Committee Members Course
U18s Youth Team Coaches
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Adult Teams who have players aged 16/17yrs registered
Adult Clubs or teams with registered players who are aged 16 & 17 years old must name:
- An Adult Club Welfare Officer
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Disability Football Clubs
Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary & Club Welfare Officer
Youth Club Welfare Officer
- FA DBS
- FA Safeguarding Children Course
- FA Welfare Officers Course
- Safeguarding for Committee Members Course
Adult Disability Clubs and Teams
U18s Youth Team Coaches
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While it’s not currently mandatory, Oxfordshire County FA is encouraging all clubs to complete the online free Safeguarding Adults Course, which can be accessed online by clicking here.
Some clubs will have already completed the requirements, whilst others will be working towards ensuring that these apply to ALL aspects of their club.
If you believe you already meet the requirements detailed above, please review the safeguards you have in place across ALL of your open-age adult teams and U18s Youth Teams – from first-team professionals, semi-professionals and amateurs, all the way through to disability teams, community ventures and reserve teams – both men and women.