Common Sense Considerations to Ensure Everyone’s Safety Through Photographs and Video.

 

Throughout the media there has been alot said about who is allowed to take pictures of children (under 18s) playing sport and specifically what parents/carers are allowed to do.

 

The FA would like to assure parents, carers, coaches, spectators, players and local media that they encourage the taking of appropriate images of children in football. 

 

Inevitably the majority of images are taken taken in good faith and are of course appropriate. These guidelines are here to inform and support you.

 

The FA recommend the following simple measures and guidelines to ensure the safety of children in football which we are pleased to share with you:

 

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; or

(iv) other safeguarding children concerns.

 

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.

 

Let’s make football safe not sorry