Youth Team Policies

Please find on this page confirmation of all our Youth Team Policies. If you do have any questions, please get in contact with the club directly. However, if you have any concerns in regards to any childs safety, please contact the Clubs Welfare Officer.

The Clubs Welfare Officer is Faye Bateman and can be contacted on

youthwelfare@melkshamtownfc.net

Click to visit a section on this page

Photography and Video
Equality Policy

Complaints

Code of conduct for Managers/Coaches/Team Officials

Code of conduct for Match Officials

Code of conduct for Spectators, Parents and Carers

Code of conduct for Players

Code of conduct for the Football Community

Anti-bullying Policy

Photography and Video

In addition to the FA Guidelines below the Club would like to remind Managers and Coaches when using the club website or any other form of media to display photographs/videos, they ensure the photograph/video is suitable and as far as reasonably practicable the captured image(s) are not open to misconception. Please consider detail within the photo/video including background and any product/product labels that advertise alcohol or cigarettes/tobacco products that may be associated with, or inadvertently linked to the image/video.

If you are unsure please seek clarification from the Club Welfare Officer.

There has been much talk about who is allowed to take pictures of children (under 18s) playing sport and in particular what parents/carers are permitted to do. The FA would like to assure parents, carers, coaches, spectators, players and local media that we encourage the taking of appropriate images of children in football.

Potential risks
The FA has developed this guidance to help avoid the following:
• The inappropriate use, adaptation or copying of images for use on child abuse websites on the internet (often incorrectly referred to as pornography sites)
• The identification of children when a photograph is accompanied by significant personal information that
will assist a third party in identifying the child. This can lead, and has led, to children being ‘groomed’
• The identification and locating of children in inappropriate circumstances which include:
(i) where a child has been removed from his/her family for their own safety;
(ii) where restrictions on contact with one parent following a parental separation exist e.g. in domestic violence cases;
(iii) in situations where a child may be a witness in criminal proceedings;
(iv) other safeguarding children concerns.

It’s important to remember the majority of images taken are appropriate and taken in good faith. If we take the following simple measures we can help to ensure the safety of children in football.

Common sense considerations to ensure everyone’s safety

Do:
1. share The FA’s guidance on taking images with all parents, carers and members when they join the club
2. ensure the club has parental consent to use a player’s image if it is to be used in the public domain e.g. club website or newspaper article. This is essential in relation to point 3 below
3. ensure that any child in your club who is under care proceedings, is protected by ensuring that their image is not placed in the public domain. This can be done by using a Consent Form, so that parents/carers can identify whether this applies to children in their care
4. focus on the activity rather than the individual
5. ensure all those featured are appropriately dressed (a minimum of vest or shirt and shorts)
6. aim to take pictures which represent the broad range of youngsters participating safely in football e.g. boys and girls, disabled people, ethnic minority communities.

Don’t:
1. publish photographs with the full name(s) of the individual(s) featured unless you have written consent to do so and you have informed the parents as to how the image will be used
2. use player profiles with pictures and detailed personal information on websites
3. use an image for something other than that which it was initially agreed, e.g. published in local press when initially produced for a clubhouse commemorative picture
4. allow images to be recorded in changing rooms, showers or toilets – this includes the use of mobile phones that record images.

Filming as a coaching aid
The FA advises that coaches using videoing as a legitimate coaching aid should make parents/carers and players aware that this will be part of the coaching programme. Care should be taken when storing the videos.
We want to make all parents aware of the clubs code of conduct for parents and supporters. All parents signed up for this , if you wish to see a copy of this it is available on the website under the policies section. You can also ask your manager for a written copy of the policy

Photography

Equality

The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that Melksham Town Football Club is equally accessible to them all.

Melksham Town Football Club is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it.

Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage equal opportunities. This policy is fully supported by the Club Officers who are responsible for the implementation of this policy.

Melksham Town Football Club, in all its activities will not discriminate, or in any way treat anyone less favourably on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability. It means that Melksham Town Football Club will ensure that it treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, its activities.

Melksham Town Football Club will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse or victimisation of an individual, which for the purposes of this policy and the actions and sanction applicable is regarded as discrimination. This includes sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal.

Melksham Town Football Club will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.

Melksham Town Football Club is committed to taking positive action where inequalities exist and to the development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination and promote equality in football.

Melksham Town Football Club is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members to abide and adhere to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities legislation – Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as well as any amendments to these acts and any new legislation.

Melksham Town Football Club commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims when brought to its attention, of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a requirement that the practice stop and sanctions are imposed as appropriate.

Equality

Complaints procedure

In the event that any member feels that he or she has suffered discrimination in any way or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct has been broken, they should follow the procedures below:

1.

They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or another member of the Committee.

The report should include:

• Details of what, when and where the occurrence took place

• Any witness statement and names

• Names of any others who have been treated in a similar way

• Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to whom made

• A preference for a solution to the incident.

2.

The Club’s Management Committee will sit for any hearings that are requested.

3.

The Club’s Management Committee will invoke the Disciplinary Process and deal with the matter accordingly.

Complaints

Code of Conduct - Match Officials

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game. The behaviour of the match officials has an impact, directly and indirectly, on the conduct of everyone involved in the game both on the pitch and on the sidelines.
Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for match officials at all time.

I will:

• Be honest and completely impartial at all times

• Apply the Laws of the Game and competition rules fairly and consistently

• Manage the game in a positive, calm and confident manner

• Deal with all instances of violence, aggression, unsporting behaviour, foul play and other misconduct

• Never tolerate offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour from players and officials

• Support my match official colleagues at all times

• Set a positive personal example by promoting good behaviour and showing respect to everyone involved in the game

• Communicate with the players and encourage fair play

• Respond in a clear, calm and confident manner to any appropriate request for clarification by the team captains

• Prepare physically and mentally for every match

• Complete and submit, accurate and concise reports within the time limit
required for games in which I officiate.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my club, County FA or The FA.

I may be:
• Required to meet with The FA/County FA Refereeing Official / Committee

• Obliged to attend or re-attend The FA Respect training or other FA education course

• Issued with a written warning and or Fined by the County FA

• Offered less senior appointments / Suspended from all appointments for a defined period

• Excluded from affiliating as a FA Referee.

COC - Match Officials