FC Crusaders. is a new small football club situated in the Boxgrove area of Guildford, whose long term aim is to provide training and local league football for children aged between 6 and 16 years.

 The club ethos is to provide football for all ages and levels of ability and to ensure that our member children enjoy their training and matches and play for fun at all times. The club believes that football should always be played with consideration for others and not with the view to win at all costs.

 Players / parents / referees, supporters and members of other teams will be spoken to in a positive a reassuring manner at all times.

 Encouragement and constructive criticism will be provided at every opportunity. At the end of each game the man of the match award will be awarded irrespective of the result or team performance.

 No player will ever be made to feel inadequate, inferior or otherwise subjected to any form of humiliation, bullying or exclusive behaviour.

 In order to provide the correct and safe environment for training and playing, the club requires all managers, helpers, parents and children to abide by the Club Codes of Practice and the League Codes of Conduct. The club will be run by volunteers, the majority of whom will be parents of children playing for the club.

 All volunteers will be required to complete a Club Registration Form, providing sufficient details to allow for vetting checks to be carried out with Local Social Services and/or Police Force.

 In addition they will submit themselves for a vetting check against the Police National Computer and will provide a copy of any report received to the Committee for their consideration. Any fee incurred in obtaining this report will be refunded to the volunteer on receipt of the report.

 All volunteers will be provided with copies of this Code of Practice, the Surrey Primary League Codes of Conduct and Club guidance for managers and trainers. They will ensure that they have a good working knowledge of these documents.

 All volunteers will be encouraged to complete a FA Junior Team Managers Course within 12 months of joining the club and any other course appropriate to their duties (First Aid Refresher, coaching courses etc). Any fee incurred will be refunded to the volunteer on successful completion of the course.

 All volunteers will take responsibility for all child care and safety issues. Managers and trainers should only work with groups of 3 or more children. Wherever possible there should be a maximum of 12 children to every trainer. All training should only take place at a ground agreed by the club, using techniques and guidelines formally adopted by the club.

 Adults who have not been vetted by the club should not be allowed to have access to the children without supervision from an authorised volunteer.

 Volunteers should not give lifts to children when they are on their own and/or without parental consent. Where parental consent is given, the transport should be safe and secure for the respective age group and size of the child (ren).

 Volunteers should not enter a changing room, or a confined area, unless they are with another adult.

 Volunteers should not administer any form of massage, treatment or medication except when required on the field of play or touchline. Any injury and resultant treatment should either be recorded or brought to the parents/guardians attention at the earliest opportunity. Volunteers should never do anything of a personal nature for a child, which they could do for themselves, i.e. do not apply suntan lotion etc.

 Volunteers should avoid situations or conduct, which could offend, or be misinterpreted in any way by the child (ren) or spectators, i.e. suggestive remarks or gestures, unnecessary physical contact etc. Volunteers should wear appropriate and identifiable clothing at all times.

 When physical contact between volunteers and a child is a necessary part of any activity, i.e. coaching, the volunteer must explain to the child what physical contact will be required so that no action on their part can be misconstrued.

Volunteers should never show favouritism to, or spend excessive amounts of time with any individual child.

 Volunteers should never use physical force to admonish, or correct inappropriate behaviour, regardless of whether they have consent or lawful right. They should never admonish or correct inappropriate behaviour in a demeaning, bullying, or threatening way. Any withdrawal of rights should be appropriate and capable of being enforced.

 If a child makes any allegation of inappropriate behaviour against a volunteer or touches a volunteer in an inappropriate place, the volunteer should inform the age group manager (or if required another volunteer) immediately, and a record of the incident should be made as soon as practicable. Volunteers should be careful not to over-react or cause embarrassment to the child. Any such incident should be brought to the attention of the Club secretary or Chairman as soon as practicable.

 Volunteers should not keep suspicions of abuse by a colleague or young person to themselves. The club will hold regular meetings to discuss matters relating to the running of the club and provision of training etc. Child Protection Issues will be a standing item on the agenda. The Child Line number – 0800 1111 – will be displayed in an appropriate place and all volunteers will ensure they are aware of this number.

 Dean Hollands Chairman - FC Crusaders