Child Protection Policy
Marston Saints Football Club is committed to creating and preserving the safest possible environment for children to play football.

It is the duty of all Club officials, Team Managers and any other individuals directly or indirectly involved with children playing for Marston Saints Football Club to be aware of, and help prevent, the abuse which children can suffer; neglect, physical, sexual and emotional.

Marston Saints Football Club accepts that children's welfare is paramount and that all children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender or religious belief, have the right to protection from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

Forms of abuse

There should be an awareness of the four main categories of abuse:

1. Physical

This can include any direct acts of physical injury upon a child or young person, which are not the result of normal competitive interaction. This can also include training sessions, which clearly exceed the capacity of the child's body to manage.

2. Sexual

This includes all forms of sexual acts perpetrated upon a child by another person. Younger children cannot give consent due to their age and inexperience, but this issue is more complex when between older children of similar age groups. The essential issue is one of exploitation, which is considered to have occurred if the activity was unwanted when first began and/or involved a misuse of power, age or authority. This can also include exposure or failure to prevent the exposure of children to all forms of pornography.

3. Neglect

This relates to the persistent failure to prevent the exposure of a child to danger, or the extreme failure to carry out important aspects of care, medical or physical which results in the significant impairment of the child's health or development. This can occur when a coach fails to adequately supervise the safety of young children or exposes any child to extreme or unmanageable weather conditions or preventable risk of serious injury.

4. Emotional

This is persistent and psychological ill treatment, which results in a severe impact upon a child's behaviour and development. It will involve a denial of normal respect and may take the form of persistent personal criticism or humiliation in the absence of any positive interest or concern. This can happen in competitive situations when children are subject to a persistent level of personalised criticism and/or bullying as a result of the unrealistic expectations of others.

Actions upon allegations of abuse

Understand that this may be the only time the person has built up courage to tell someone what has happened. Stop what you are doing and respect the person's privacy, listen to what they tell you. Do not react in a way, which may add to the person's distress i.e. with anger or shock. Do not ask leading questions i.e. did he/she????? Only ask questions to establish exactly what was done and who did it. Explain that you cannot promise to keep any secrets; you may have to tell someone else. Let the person know that you understand how difficult it is to talk about such experiences.

Contact Marston Saints Football Club Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or Child Welfare Officer (unless implicated).
Contact the Oxfordshire Football Association Child Welfare Officer without delay.
Make an accurate record of the time and date and exactly what was said.
Do not discuss with any other parties who may be involved.
[b]When dealing with young players:

always

Treat all players and children with respect and dignity befitting of their age.
Be wary of language, tone of voice and the nature of any physical contact.
Record and report all allegations of abuse.
never

Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games including horseplay.
Allow or engage in inappropriate or intrusive touching of any kind.
Allow children to use sexually explicit language unchallenged.
Make sexually suggestive comments to a child even in fun.
Not follow up any allegations a child may make always act as directed.
Invade the privacy of children when they are changing, showering or going to the toilet.
avoid

Doing things of an intimately personal nature that children can do for themselves e.g. going to the toilet.
Spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.
Taking children alone on car journeys however short.
Taking children home.
Where any of these situations are unavoidable, first seek parental consent where possible.
If unable to contact the parents, always inform them of the circumstances as soon as practicable.