Match Day Information – Pages 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21
Rules – Pages 22, 23 & 24
Selection Statement – Pages 25 & 26
Constitution – Pages 27, 28 & 29
Useful Links, Contacts, Sponsors & Information – Page 30

Welcome to Swale SFA

Dear Player / Parent

First I would like to take the opportunity to welcome you as part of Swale Schools FA for the 2017-2018 season.

We have worked extremely hard over the past year to develop a Swale Schools Football Association that we can be proud of, which offers players the opportunity to develop their game in a fun, safe and professional environment.

Our ethos has and always will be to create the best environment in which each player can learn, experiment and develop their game.

We will provide each player with quality, structured and challenging matches, as well as an overall football education for all aspects of the game.

This handbook contains guidelines and important information relevant to the upcoming season, please take time to read it and also The FA’s Respect Programme.

Congratulations on being selected and we look forward to what should prove to be an exciting and enjoyable season.

Travis Way
Chairman

For and on behalf of
Kent Schools FA

Schools FA Talent Development

Our mission statement ‘To allow players opportunities to access appropriate levels of coaching and football, enabling the FA to reach its ultimate goal in producing elite players to compete on the world stage.’

CODES OF CONDUCT

For Players

• Play football for the fun and enjoyment of it
• Always play by the rules.
• Never question referees’ or assistant referees’ decisions.
• Always control your temper.
• Work equally hard for both yourself and the team. In this way, your team’s performance will benefit – and so will your own.
• Be a good sport. Appreciate all good play whether by your team or your opponents.
• Treat all players as you would like to be treated – with respect. Don’t interfere with, bully, or take unfair advantage of anyone.
• Remember that the real goals of the game are to enjoy, improve your skills and feel good
• Co-operate with coaches, team mates and opponents – without them you don’t have a game!
For Parents

• Always encourage your child to play by the rules.
• Teach your child that losing must be accepted without undue disappointment.
• Never ridicule children for making a mistake.
• Do not coach either your child or other team members.
• Never question the officials’ judgement – nor their honesty.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from the game.
• Monitor the number of games your child plays.
• Make sure your child has fully recovered from injury before playing again.
• Remember that children are involved in sport for their enjoyment and benefit – not yours.

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Code of Conduct for Parents & Players

I agree to adhere to the guidelines and Code of Conduct set out in Swale Schools FA’s Handbook and The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct. I understand that if I do not follow the guidelines and Codes, any/all of the actions specified in The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct may be taken by the School, Swale Schools FA, Kent Schools FA or The English Schools FA.

I have read and understood the FA’s Respect Code of Conduct found at

http://www.thefa.com/my-football/footballvolunteers/helpforparents/respect/myroleinrespect

I also understand that improper conduct will be dealt with appropriately and accordingly.

Player Name:

Player Signature:

Date:

1. Parent / Guardian Name:

Parent / Guardian Signature:

Date:

2. Parent / Guardian Name:

Parent / Guardian Signature:

Date:

AIMS

To identify and select the most talented football players in the district.

To provide quality coaching, education and welfare at age groups (Year 6 to Year 11).

To enhance player development, providing individuals with both technical, physiological, psychological and social knowledge to achieve their full potential.

To work closely with the County Schools FA to make sure any potential district player has the opportunity to be selected for their County.

To be advocates for and ‘live’ best practice in terms of developing players, officials and coaches in line with The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures.

OBJECTIVES

To develop players to a standard consistent with the highest levels in district and county schools football.

To recommend players for County Squad from Year 6 through to Year 11 selection if deemed at the appropriate standard.

To establish competitive squads from Year 6 through to Year 11.

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

STATEMENT OF INTENT

Bullying of any kind is unacceptable within SWALE SFA. If bullying does occur, all squad members or parents can voice their concerns and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to inform the Association’s Child Welfare & Respect Office (CWO) or other SWALE SFA officials.

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Bullying is the use of aggression – either physical or emotional - with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim(s).

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RESPOND TO BULLYING?

Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Individuals who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving. Bullying will not be tolerated within SWALE SFA and the Association recognises its responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to any issues of bullying.

SIGNS AND INDICATORS

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

• says he or she is being bullied
• is unwilling to attend training sessions, matches or other activities
• becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking in confidence
• feels ill before team activities
• comes home with clothes torn or training equipment damaged
• has possessions go "missing"
• asks for money or starts stealing money
• has unexplained cuts or bruises
• is frightened to say what's wrong
• gives improbable excuses for any of the above
These signs and behaviours may indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.

IN THE EVENT OF BULLYING TAKING PLACE

1. Any incidents of bullying should be reported to the team coaches and / or CWO.
2. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying will be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
3. An attempt will be made to help the bully / bullies change their behaviour
SWALE SFA BULLYING PROCEDURE

1. Reconciliation by getting the parties together. It may be that a genuine apology solves the problem.
2. Members of the Association’s Disciplinary Committee will meet with the parent and child alleging bullying to ascertain details of the allegation. Minutes will be taken for clarity, which should be agreed by all as a true account.
3. The same Disciplinary Committee members will meet with the alleged bully and parent(s) and put the incident raised to them to answer and give their view of the allegation. Minutes shall again be taken and agreed.
4. If bullying has in the view of the Disciplinary Committee taken place, the following procedures may be implemented:
o Consideration will be given as to whether a reconciliation meeting between parties is appropriate at this time.
o The individual shall be warned and put on notice that if a further incident(s) occurs, a temporary or permanent suspension will be implemented.
o If the initial incident is considered serious enough, the player will be asked to leave the squad with immediate effect. The Head Teacher of the player’s school will be informed. Also, the Head Teacher should be informed of any victim being bullied – in case it is happening elsewhere to the victim
o If necessary, the police will be informed.
5. All coaches involved with the individual(s) concerned shall be made aware of the concerns and outcome of the disciplinary process i.e. the procedures put in place.
IN THE CASE OF ADULTS REPORTED TO BE BULLYING ANYONE WITHIN THE ASSOCIATION

1. The CWO shall be informed.
2. A meeting involving the CWO and 2 other Disciplinary Committee Members, together with those alleging the bullying incident(s) will be held – minutes will be taken.
3. The SWALE SFA CWO shall be informed if necessary and will advise on further action to be taken.
4. In most cases where the allegation is made regarding an official or coach. The FA’s child protection and best practice awareness training may be recommended.
5. More serious cases may be referred to the police, social services or judicial complaints procedure.
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION

KIDSCAPE (a voluntary organisation committed to help prevent child bullying) can be contacted on 0207 730 3300 or their web site can be accessed at www.kidscape.org.uk.

You may also wish to access www.bullying.co.uk, another website designed to give advice and guidance to parents and children who are faced with dealing with bullying.

The FA website’s (www.theFA.com) Child Protection section provides further information and documentation on a variety of Child Protection issues.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Safeguarding Children Policy Statement

Every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football.

The Swale Schools’ Football Association recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is determined to meet its obligations to ensure that those Associations and schools providing football opportunities for children and young people do so to the highest possible standard of care.

Every child or young person (defined as any person under the age of 18) who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football. The SWALE SFA is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all children and young people to participate in the sport to the best of their abilities for as long as they choose to do so.

The Safeguarding Children Policy is supported by The FA’s Respect Programme to address verbal abuse and bullying of youngsters by parents and coaches on the side-lines. The Association’s Safeguarding Children Policy principles are that:

1. The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration;
2. All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, faith or sexual orientation;
3. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
4. Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their Parents and Carers is essential.
SWALE SFA is committed to working in partnership with the LEA, Police, Children’s Services Departments, Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) in accordance with their procedures. This is essential to enable these organisations to carry out their statutory duties to investigate concerns and protect all children and young people.

The SWALE SFA’s Safeguarding Children Policy is in response to government legislation and guidance, developed to safeguard the welfare and development of children and young people. All affiliated Associations and schools are required to endorse and adhere to Swale Schools FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy. All Welfare Officers are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct for volunteer Welfare Officers.

RESPONSIBLE USE OF
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

Guidance for Parents/Guardians/Carers

Mobile technology is a key part of everyday life including how and where you can find information about football. Whether it’s about professional teams you follow or your own team or club it’s a great way to get and share information. Within football we want you to use social networks, the internet, texts and email safely to get the information you need.

It’s essential that Clubs, parents, members and players make informed decisions about how they use the internet, mobile phone and email communications. Please read the below information so we can ensure everyone in football is using modern communications technology as safely as possible.

As part of Swale SFA you are responsible for and need to abide by the FA Rules and regulations regarding comments you place online about the league, club, players, managers and/or match officials.

It is against Swale SFA and FA rules to post comments that are or maybe conceived as offensive, insulting, abusive, threatening, racist, and discriminatory or any other reference that may cause offense or harm to others.

Any such comment made on club or league websites and/or social networking sites regarding officials may result in disciplinary action being taken in line with The FA’s Disciplinary policies and procedures.

Comments made on websites that are threatening abusive or racist could lead to legal action being taken against those responsible for posting or hosting them. Comments made may attract libel claims and legal action through the civil courts if they are untrue or defamatory.

Whilst the use of social networking sites brings many opportunities and benefits it also opens up some new risks and challenges. That’s why the FA has teamed up with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, which is run by the Police to promote online safety and vigilance, and their ‘Thinkuknow’ programme to keep U18s safe online.

Further FA guidance is available on the following areas:
1. Social networking, websites, mobile phones, and email communications
2. Running a website - Do’s and Don’ts
3. Responsible use of Social Networking sites
4. Communicating responsibly with Young Leaders, Coaches and referees Under 18
5. Using Texts and Emails with U18s – Do’s and Don’ts
6. Guidance for parents/carers - Responsible use of text, email and social networking sites
7. Guidance for U18s using: Club Webpages, Social Networks, Email and Texts

Guidance for U18s

The below guidelines set out Swale Schools FA expectations for the responsible use of social networking sites and the potential consequences for those who use them improperly.

It draws upon the FA’s Respect guidance on using club webpages, social networks, email and texts. The FA’s intention is to safeguard children and young people involved in football. It gives guidance to keep us all safe and to ensure that we respect each other.

Tell an adult you trust about any communication that makes you feel uncomfortable or that asks you not to tell your parent/carer

Know who from Swale Schools FA should be contacting you and how they should be contacting you

You can talk to the Child Welfare Officer (CWO) if you are unhappy about anything sent to you or said about you over the internet, social networking sites, and text messages or via email

Don’t post, host, text or email things that are hurtful, insulting, offensive, abusive, threatening or racist as this would go against football rules and could also be against the law

Don’t give out personal details including mobile numbers, email addresses or social networking account access to people you don’t know well offline

Facebook has different ‘set up’ guidelines for U18s to help to keep you safe – use them

Even if you get on with your coach, manager, administrator or Club officials, don’t invite them to become your friends online, they have been asked not to accept such invitations

Tell an adult you trust if an adult involved at the Club asks you to become their friend online and inform our Child Welfare Officer (CWO).

If you receive an image or message which you find offensive, threatening or upsetting tell an adult you trust. Make sure you copy and save the image/message elsewhere or print it off before you remove and destroy it because this may be needed as evidence

INJURY POLICY

Procedures for treatment of injuries at all age groups

• In the event of an injury, regardless of severity, the injured player must immediately report the injury to their coach.

• The Coach will decide on actions needed to be taken.

• In the event of a serious injury, an ambulance will be summoned directly. On arrival, Ambulance staff will then assume responsibility for the injured player. In the event that a player is despatched to hospital, they must be accompanied by their parent/guardian, or a responsible adult who has adopted responsibility (in the occasion that the player has received a lift to the session/match with another player and their parent).

• Whilst we cannot prevent any parent from undertaking medical treatment of their own son/daughter, we encourage parents to allow our qualified personnel to handle any injury assessment or Treatment.

REGISTRATION

Players who are registered with Swale Schools FA are registered with The FA.

While you are a registered player with our District you are not permitted to train or play for any other Schools District. If any player is found to be breaching this rule they will be immediately de-registered.

If a player is de-registered during the season and their full subscription fees have already been paid these will be retained by Swale Schools FA for on-going running costs. No fees will be returned in this case.

PLAYING/TRAINING KIT

Registered players will be provided with a Swale Schools FA playing kit for the season.

It will be the player and parents/guardians responsibility to ensure that the kit is worn to every match and is washed afterwards.

The playing kit remains the property of Swale Schools FA and must be returned clean at the end of the season or after your last match should you leave during the season.

Training Jackets may also be supplied or purchased separately for all registered players and must be worn at all training sessions and matches. If purchased by the player, these will remain the property of the player.

Swale SFA - First Team Colours/Kit

SUBSCRIPTIONS

• It is a requirement that every child pays a subscription sum of £40 prior to the first competitive game of the season.
• This subscription contributes towards the cost of football equipment, main competition entrance fees, referees, refreshments and so forth.
• Please note no further subscription money will be required for the remainder of the season (there will be no match fees), unless an individual Age Group decide to enter additional tournaments outside of the main Kent Schools FA competitions.
• If you have any difficulty making this payment please contact the Swale SFA Secretary.
• If for any reason a player is no longer selected for the District side then the player may be entitled to a partial refund at the discretion of the executive committee.
• The fees can be paid by cheque or paid directly into the Swale SFA Bank

Please make cheques payable to Swale Schools FA
Account.
Account Number:
Sort Code:

MATCHDAY - Code of Conduct

In the interests of ensuring the best possible environment for all players and spectators of Swale Schools FA on match days, please ensure you follow the below guidelines whilst on site at our home ground(s): -

● Pitch-side is strictly a non-smoking site, please smoke in the designated areas outside the facilities.

● Please ensure all children are supervised at all times.

● Children are not permitted to play any ball games anywhere on the side-lines whilst a match is being played.

● Spectators are strictly forbidden from entering the field of play at any point, particularly half-time, whereby no spectators are permitted to play in the goal mouths or on any area of the pitches.

● Please watch the games from behind the designated spectator areas by the side of each pitch. These areas are marked.

● Foul language, racist, and sexist remarks/abuse will not be tolerated in any form.

● Please place all litter in the bins provided.

● Please make all visiting players and spectators feel welcome.

● If you become aware of anyone not following the above guidelines, please notify a member of Swale Schools FA.

Please ensure yourself and others respect our Code of Conduct for the entirety of your visit.

Where we play.

Our ‘home’ games for this season will be played at the Oasis Academy*.

The address is:

Oasis Academy, Marine Parade, Sheerness, Kent ME12 2BE

*may be subject to change

A map of the school is below.

Matches

Year Group
Numbers
Y6 – Under 11
9-A-Side
Y7 – Under 12
9-A-Side
Y8 – Under 13
11-A-Side
Y9 – Under 14
11-A-Side
Y10 – Under 15
11-A-Side
Y11 – Under 16
11-A-Side

Duration of game and size of ball shall be as follows:

Under 16
80 minutes
Size 5 ball
Under 16 (girls)
70 minutes
Size 5 ball
Under 15
70 minutes
Size 5 ball
Under 14
70 minutes
Size 4 ball
Under 14 (girls)
60 minutes
Size 4 ball
Under 13
70 minutes
Size 4 ball
Under 13 (girls)
60 minutes
Size 4 ball
Under 12
60 minutes
Size 4 ball
Under 11
50 minutes
Size 4 ball

Matches will typically be on a Saturday morning, kick off time being 10:30 unless stated.

Outline of the Day for Home Fixtures

Year 6 & 7 *times subject to change and may vary
Time *

Activity