Whaley Bridge Athletic FC
Guide to Policies & Procedures
In line with our FA Charter Standard Community Club status, Whaley Bridge AFC adheres to and follows the FA’s best practice as denoted in its policies and procedures. We encourage all managers, coaches, parents and carers to read these.
Index: click on the following to take you to the desired policy area within this document where you will also find further links to download WBAFC & FA policy information held in our 'Policy' library.
Committee Roles & Responsibilities
Club Ethos
Teams & contact
Cub Welfare Officer (CWO) - role & responsibilities explained
Safeguarding Child Policy
Media Policy
Anti-Bullying Policy
Equality Policy
Recruitment of Volunteers
Whistle Blowing
FA Respect Codes of Conduct
Adult Players
Coaches, Team Managers 7 Club Officials
Spectators & Parents
Young Players
Complaints Policy
Accident/Incident Form
Covid-19 Risk Assessments
Club Development Plan
Exec Committee Roles and Responsibilities - contact
Chairman: Steve Rampley - overall responsibility for all club activity
Secretary: Ella Buttrill - admin contact, FA, Leagues, fixtures, registration etc.
Treasurer: Mike Prophet - all financial issues & audit
Club Welfare Officer: Nigel McCann - explained in detail below
Club Development Officer: John Hind - formulates the Development Plan & junior
Junior Liaison Officer: Ros Dranfield - between committee & junior coaches
THE Club’s Ethos
Whaley Bridge AFC will develop all our players through the Junior Football Club and Development Squad into the best players they can be, playing at the highest level they are each able to achieve, in a fun, safe, structured and developmental environment which is of high quality across all ages and abilities.
In particular, Whaley Bridge AFC will:
- Always try to encourage creative/imaginative football, developing an environment for players to enjoy the game;
- Strive to provide and promote football for all in our local community, respecting and celebrating people’s differences;
- Develop player’s physical, social, technical & psychological aspects of their game as consistent with FA best practice;
- Offer all our players the pathway to play football at the highest standard that they desire and are capable of;
- Offer high quality coaching, facilities, equipment and support to all our teams across all age groups and all abilities;
- Strive to be a valuable part of the local community and be recognised as “the club of choice” for senior and boys and ..girls junior football in the central High Peak area.
Who we are:
- We are a grassroots club which provides opportunities for adults, children and young people of different abilities and backgrounds to play football in a supportive, respectful and enjoyable environment, where learning and a lifelong love of the game are actively encouraged.
How we play:
- At all times respect, teamwork and sportsmanship will be expected from our players, coaches and parents.
- Winning games is not our priority. Our success will be measured by the improvement of each player and the team as a whole based on the Long Term Player Development model (4 Corner model).
- We encourage players to be comfortable on the ball and technically competent, play at a high tempo, retain possession of the ball and make effective decisions when attacking and defending as an individual and as part of a team.
Our Coaches
- Hold Player Development at the core of their Coaching Philosophy & will seek to develop the skills & abilities of each individual child at training sessions & whilst playing in games.
- Coaches will be appropriately qualified to work with the players that they work with.
- Coaches will represent the club in a positive and professional manner at all times.
Our support
- The club will promote a culture of excellence where all volunteers involved with the club are encouraged and supported to get qualified and as a result maximise the opportunity to develop themselves and their players.
- The club wants to grow its own players and provide a pathway for young players to enter senior football, through a structured development path, so that the club is embedded in the local community and becomes sustainable long term.
Our Players
- Will be encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning & development.
- Having a positive attitude and approach, demonstrating the appropriate behaviour and making their own decisions will allow players to fulfil their potential on and off the pitch.
Teams and contacts
Click here on ‘Management/Contacts’ (also via top menu bar on web page) to see lists of Club Committee & Team Coaches.
Parents, if not already, you can initially contact the club via the generic email
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, you will then be given specific contact details of your child's coach if appropriate; alternatively contact one of the junior officers listed under Management/Contacts who will forward the details to you.
In case of emergency please contact the Club Welfare Officer (CWO); details can be found within the list of Team Coaches.
CWO role/responsibilities
See also the FA's 'Welfare Officers' Roles & Reponsibilities'
The Club Welfare Officer has two key responsibilities. These are:
1. To be clear about the club’s responsibilities when running activities for children and young people. This involves: -
- ensuring these responsibilities are well understood by others
- working with the Youth League Welfare Officer (YLWO)
- working with your County FA Welfare Officer
- promoting The FA’s Respect Programme and helping to develop best practice
2. To help club personnel understand what their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people actually means and ....entails on a day-to-day basis. In order to carry out your responsibilities you need to follow these five simple stepS
a) Put in place:
i) a safeguarding children policy
ii) anti-bullying policy and equality policy
iii) responsible recruitment processes including the taking up of references and submitting FA CRB checks (getting the right people into the game)
b) Understand:
i) what the Respect Programme aims to do
ii) the benefits of implementing the Respect codes
iii) the quick wins to be gained by using The FA’s safeguarding children best practice guidance (e.g. Travel, Trips and Tournaments, Photography guidelines, Anti-bullying Policy and Safeguarding Children Policy Template)
iv) why certain roles require an FA CRB check and how The FA CRB process works
v) how to refer a concern about the welfare of a child
c) Communicate with:
i) club officials about the Respect Programme and its aims
ii) parents/spectators and get them to sign up to the Respect codes
iii) parents and new players by getting involved with running ‘start of season’ welcome sessions for members
iv) coaches and managers about the importance of being consistent role models for their players
v) your Youth League Welfare Officer – introduce yourself, find out how they can support you and let them know what you are doing to safeguard children in your club
vi) your County FA Welfare Officer if you need help or advice
vii) The FA by taking part in surveys, questionnaires, focus groups as and when asked
d) Encourage:
i) parents to complete the Respect education programme
ii) coaches, team managers, first aiders/medics to complete The FA’s Safeguarding Children Workshop
iii) coaches and team managers to listen to their players thoughts, ideas and views
iv) the committee to make use of the Respect programmes designated spectator area at all games
e) Monitor:
i) repeated incidents of poor behavior and liaise with your committee (and where necessary Youth League Welfare Officer or County FA Welfare Officer)
ii) compliance with FA CRB checks through The FA CRB Unit for those who require one using The FA Safeguarding Online System.
Safeguarding Children Policy
Safeguarding Children Policy
It outlines how to report a concern about a childs welfare with a link to the Derbyshire FA and external contact.
Media Policy – Juniors
Junior Media Policy
Anti-bullying policy
The FA defines bullying as one of the five categories of abuse. Having an Anti-bullying policy in place will help everyone understand what is and is not acceptable within your club. Having a clear process will help the club to manage any issues and hopefully prevent bullying.
Anti-bullying-policy
Equality Policy
The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that our club is equally accessible to all.
WBAFC Equality Policy
Recruitment of Volunteers
The club now follows the FA’s guidelines on recruiting volunteers.
Safer Recruitment of Volunteers
Whistle-blowing
Whistle-blowing can be used as an early warning system or when it’s recognised that appropriate actions have not been taken. This approach or policy is adopted in many different walks of life.
It is about revealing and raising concerns over misconduct or malpractice within an organisation or within an independent structure associated with it.
Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can also use whistle-blowing by calling 0800 169 1863 and asking for The FA's safeguarding team, or via email on
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.
Alternatively you can go direct the Police or Children’s Social Care and report your concerns there, or to the Child Protection in Sport Unit via
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or the NSPCC Helpline via 0808 800 5000 or by emailing
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.
FA Respect Codes of Conduct
The club actively supports and promotes the FA's Respect Codes of conduct to ensure that everyone involved within our Charter Status Club is playing their part to give players at all levels a positive experience both on and off the pitch.
The FA has individual online documents for the following:-
- Coaches, Team Managers and Club Officials
The general WBAFC Code of Conduct brings together all the relavent issues into one easy to read club specific document that should be read in conjunction with The FA's online documents that
Complaints policy
Most complaints can be dealt with by referring to club policies and procedures. However, where there are complaints which cannot be satisfied via these routes:
· Complaints can be submitted in the first instance to the Club Welfare Officer.
· Alternatively, where the issue relates to a technical aspect the concern can also be submitted to the appropriate age group coach.
· If the complaint relates to the CWO it should be sent directly to the club chairman and club secretary.
· All complaints must be submitted in writing.
· If an individual is unhappy with the outcome of their original complaint they can appeal to the club management committee.
· The outcome of an appeal to the club management committee is final.
· Individuals have the right to seek guidance from Derbyshire County FA where they feel they have been unfairly treated by the club’s management committee.
WBAFC Accident/Incident Form
Accident_Incident form
Covid-19 Risk Assessment
WBAFC Covid-19 Risk Assessment Guidance Notes
WBAFC Covid-19 Risk Assessment
Covid-19 Risk Assessment for Pavilion
WBAFC Development Plan
WBAFC Development Plan |