F17 should appoint and publish a Safeguarding Lead and reporting contact. This page is a website-ready operational draft, not a substitute for staff training or professional safeguarding advice.
1. Our commitment
F17 is committed to an environment where every child is treated with dignity, respect and fairness. Player welfare and safety take priority over match results, commercial interests or competitive pressure.
2. Expected conduct
- Coaches, staff, parents and players must communicate respectfully.
- Bullying, harassment, discrimination, intimidation, humiliation and abusive language are not acceptable.
- Physical contact must be appropriate, necessary for coaching or safety, and explained where practicable.
- Discipline must be proportionate, constructive and never degrading.
- Adults must maintain clear professional boundaries with players.
3. Medical and emergency information
Parents or guardians should provide accurate information relevant to safe participation and promptly update F17 when circumstances change. In an emergency, F17 may contact emergency services and the listed parent or guardian.
4. Communication with players
Programme and welfare communication should ordinarily include a parent or guardian. Coaches and staff should avoid private or secretive one-to-one digital communication with a child and should use official channels where available.
5. Arrival, supervision and collection
Parents and guardians remain responsible for safe arrival and collection unless F17 has expressly agreed to another arrangement. Children should not be left unattended before staff supervision begins or after the announced end of a session.
6. Photography and changing areas
Photography and video must follow F17’s Privacy Policy and venue rules. Recording in changing, toilet or private welfare areas is prohibited.
7. Raising a concern
Report an immediate danger to the relevant emergency service. For other safeguarding concerns, use the F17 AI Assistant to obtain the correct reporting and staff-escalation instructions promptly. Do not include unnecessary identifying or sensitive details in the chat. F17 should record, assess and escalate concerns appropriately.
8. Response and confidentiality
F17 should take concerns seriously, share information only with those who need it for safety or legal reasons, avoid promising absolute confidentiality and protect persons who raise genuine concerns from retaliation.