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 club and 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 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.
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 this 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 individual5. ensure all those featured are appropriately dressed (a minimum of football strip)
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
2. use player profiles with pictures and detailed personal information on websites or social media
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 and apprpriate consent given.
Care should be taken when storing the videos and ensure that only appropriate perons have access to stored files.
If you are concerned about the inappropriate use of images please report this to the Club Welfare Officer or to The FA Case Manager (contact details provided below).
Please remember
- • It’s not an offence to take appropriate photographs in a public place even if asked not to do so
• No one has the right to decide who can and cannot take images on public land
• If you have serious concerns about a possible child protection issue relating to the recording of images then call the Police. This action should only be taken where you believe that someone may be acting unlawfully or putting a child at risk
• The land or facility owner can decide whether or not photography and or videoing at football activities will be permitted when carried out on private land,however, you need to make this known before allowing individuals access to the private property. If they do not comply then you may request that they leave
• Try not to use images that include individuals wearing jewellery (as wearing jewellery whilst playing is contrary to the Laws of the Game as well as being a health and safety issue).
Commissioning professional photographers and the local media
If you are commissioning professional photographers or inviting the press to cover a football activity, ensure you and they are clear about each other’s expectations.
The key is to plan ahead and communicate early on.
• Provide a clear brief about what is considered appropriate in terms of content and behaviour
• Inform them of your club’s commitment to safeguarding children and young people. Establish who will hold the recorded images and what they intend to do with them, e.g. place on a website for sale, distribute thumb nails to the club to co-ordinate sales
• Issue the professional photographer with identification, which must be worn at all times
Inform participants and parents or carers prior to the event that a professional photographer will be in attendance and ensure you have established that no under 18s will be compromised due to safeguarding children concerns if their image is taken – remember this can be done by using a Consent Form at the start of the season.
If there are children for whom consent is not provided for any of the reasons previously stated then ensure that professional photographers can identify, or be informed about, which children should not be subject to photography.
To assist the photographer in identifying these children suggestions are
- provide a recognisable badge, sticker or wrist band to anyone NOT to be photographed
- have a system wherby the manager/coach liases with the photographer to ensure its clear which individuals or group of individuals should not feature in any images
Club Use
- The club uses photographs for promoting the individual teams and club activities on its website, social media and other marketing media eg leaflets.
- No names are to be used, in conjunction with photographs or video, of any individuals or group of players under the age of eighteen on any platform unless playing in an open age format AND consent has been provided.
- Currently only one open age team uses video recording for coaching purposes recording matches and/or training sessions. It is currently the policy for those recordings to only be available to players/coaching staff and will not be provided to anyone outside the club or any recording either whole or in part used on our website or social media platforms
Managers/Coaches
If you wish to take photographs or video training/matches for coaching purposes
- Ensure that a signed parental consent form is kept for each player (It is advised that this should be renewed at the start of each season or for new players on registering with the club)
- When other teams are involved inform them, prior to the match, that photgraphs/filming will take place, tell them how the photo’s/footage will be used and ask if there are any objections to this happening or if there are any players who should not be featured. (Note each club should have their own consent form in place for their players)
- Depending on opposition answers decide whether or not to allow filming, and notify opposition of any decison taken eg not to film, identify any players to be excluded (in respect of photographs). Do not continue filming or taking photos regardless if requested not to.
If opposition requests taking photos or filming
- ascertain what they intend to do with any video or photographs and how they will be stored
- you can object to them filming or request that, in the case of photographs, that certain individuals are not included (They do not legally have to agree to this)
- If they continue regardless then there are two further options…
- Play without players who have not been given consent or
- Refuse to play a fixture (however there could be a league fine for not fulfilling the fixture)
Contacts
Club Welfare Officer :
Gary Davis
Tel 07947 621880
email gary.davis@sgufc.co.uk
To report potentially unlawful materials on the internet please contact:
The Internet Watch Foundation
Email: report@iwf.org.uk
Telephone: 01223 237700
Fax the hotline: 01223 235921
www.iwf.org.uk
The FA’s Case Management Team
Email: case.management@TheFA.com
Telephone: 0207 745 478