Advice for Coaches
In your role as a coach/manager, a great deal of trust has been placed in you by each of the parents of the children. This trust is an honour to be shown.
However, with this honour comes a responsibility to consider the welfare
of all the children in your care.

The manner in which you treat the children has an impact on the type of young adults those children will grow into. Great care should be taken in how you interact with the players. What you say may not be taken in the same way it is intended. For example, you may crack a joke to help the player feel relaxed. However this player may be showing front to hide his inner fears and instead may feel humiliated by the joke. As a coach you will learn that different children respond in different ways and over time you will learn to deal with them individually. However, in the mean time, respect that they are individuals who learn and develop at different speeds.

Just because the child is not successful doesn't mean he is not trying. Just because the player is cracking a joke, doesn't mean they are purposely disrupting the session. Instead this may be the only way they can fit in.

Affect of commentating
As a coach it is easy to be immersed in the passion of the game. However,
by doing so we may not be thinking through the affect on our players.
Try to allow the players make mistakes and learn from them. Guide them where they are going wrong but wait until the ball is out of play or the other end of the field to avoid distraction. This goes against the coaches natural instinct to help the player through the game. However by 'commentating' through the game, you are inclined to be trying to play the game for the players.

The following quote is from the F.A. Coaches Association Journal Insight from John Allpress.

"Young players do not want the answers - what they may need are clues to what the answer may be. Too much detail, explanation or demonstration by the coach is often counter-productive as it can leave players little room to experiment with their own thoughts and ideas - they can end up simply copying to please the coach. Yes the coach can affect the players' performance in the short term but how much have they really learned because the art of self discovery is a central pillar to effective long term learning" (Allpress 2007)

To help protect our children from abuse, it is important we act appropriately around our players. Although this may lead to us being over cautious, it also makes those who wish to harm our children more visible.

Here are a few basic guidelines that should be followed to help prevent you being placed in a compromising situation: -

1) Do not get changed with the players. Getting changed with the players can be seen as poor practice and puts you in a compromising situation where accusations can be made against you. Don't put yourself in this position.

2) Coaches should not leave themsleves alone with the players and especially not a player on his own. A simple way to ensure this is followed is to make sure you are not alone when entering the changing room. Also if you need to speak to a player in private, may sure it is done in full public view. If the content of the conversation may be used against you, ensure there is another adult with you to witness the content of the conversation.

3) Some younger players may ask you to tie up their laces for you or help them in some way. It is only natural for you to want to help them, and if they are not able to perform the activity then it is a good idea to help them. However, if they can perform the job for themselves, it is best to encourage them to do it for themselves. Otherwise you may put yourself in a position where you are seen to be too intimate with a child.

4) Within a football club, it is often necessary to help out other parents by giving their child a lift to games. It is important that we assist each other so that all the players are able to attend the matches. However, we should also follow the following guidelines to protect ourselves and expose those who are potential threats. Where possible 2 adults should be in the car with the children. This gives you an adult witness. If this is not possible, make sure there is more than one child in the car with you (unless this is your own child). It is also recommended that other people's children are seated in the back and adults in the front.

Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) disclosures
CRB checks are a tool in the recruitment procedure. A CRB Enhanced Disclosure tells The FA about a person’s recorded offences. It can indicate that a person is not suitable to work with children. It may also tell The FA that further investigations are required, for example if the person has a history of drug dealing or racist offending.
The FA will take into account the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and only consider offences which are relevant to the care, supervision and training of children. The FA is not allowed to tell the club or County FA about the actual offending and so applicants can be assured of confidentiality. The FA will however tell the club and County FA whether or not the person is considered suitable to work with children. Applications for CRB checks should be dealt with by the Child Welfare Officer. Further information about this process can be obtained from www.TheFA.com/Goal or crb@The FA.com.
If an applicant claims to already have an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure the club should seek advice from The FA CRB Unit or the Goal website on how to proceed.

F.A.'s guidelines on what to take into consideration when looking after children

Reducing the potential for vulnerability
Bearing in mind that children and young people can be and are disadvantaged by these and other experiences, it is important for all clubs, CFAs and leagues to be extra vigilant in creating a safe culture, including:
• Finding ways of understanding and communicating with all children and young people
• Ensuring best practice at all times in physical and health care
• Developing knowledge of the diverse cultures they serve
• Respecting cultural differences
• Building relationships with parents and carers and including all families in club activities
• Observing carefully changes in mood, appearance and behaviour and discussing those concerns with families, carers or the designated person if suspicions or concerns are significantly aroused about the care of the child or young person
• Acknowledging that disabled children and young people are additionally vulnerable and that vigilance is essential
• Acknowledging that abusive behaviour directed towards a minor whilst they are carrying out a leadership role is not acceptable and will be reported to the appropriate designated person as poor practice and or abuse
• Implementation of a club code of conduct for spectators and players
• Acceptance of the special role club officials have in setting a good example of the way in which people should behave towards children and young people in leadership roles.

Obligations towards the team
The team official should:
• Make every effort to develop the sporting, technical and tactical levels of the
club/team, and to obtain the best results by the team, using all permitted means
• Give priority to the interests of the team over individual interests
• Resist all illegal or unsporting influences, including banned substances and techniques
• Promote ethical principles
• Show due respect to the interests of players, coaches and other officials, at their own club/team and others. 

Obligations towards the supporters
The team official should:
• Show due respect to the interests of supporters.
Respect towards the match officials
A team official should:
• Accept the decisions of the Match Official without protest
• Avoid words or actions which may mislead a Match Official
• Show due respect towards Match Officials.

References
Allpress, J. (2007). Player development - the art of being an adult.
Insight The F.A. Coaches Association Journal. Spring 2007.