FA Safeguarding Courses
Training requirements for Associations with rep teams:
| Staff Member Role | FA DBS required | FA Safeguarding training (updated every 2 years) | FA Welfare Officer Workshop |
| Association Welfare Officer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rep team manager / coach (practising teacher) | Yes | No, but recommended | No |
| Rep team manager / coach (AOTT) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Rep team medic / physio | Yes | Yes | No |
| Association helper / driver / chaperone / assistant | Usually yes, but check with NWO | Yes | No |
| Association Secretary / Chair / Treasurer with no active coaching role | No | No, but recommended | No |
| Parent helpers on an overnight trip | Yes | Yes | No |
The FA’s Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer Courses are football-specific courses which cover the FA’s policies and procedures for reporting concerns and look at scenarios related to football and the FA’s guidelines for safeguarding children.
Managers, coaches and assistants in County or District representative teams who are not practising teachers with annual safeguarding training MUST have an in-date FA Safeguarding Course to comply with ESFA affiliation requirements. For practising teachers, the FA Safeguarding Course is not mandatory, although it is best practice.
Association Welfare Officers MUST have in-date FA Safeguarding training and attend the FA Welfare Officer Course. Both of these courses are mandatory for all Association Welfare Officers, regardless of whether they are practising teachers.
ESFA Welfare Officer procedures may not be the same as in schools and it is important that County and District Associations with representative teams follow FA procedures on Child Welfare matters, to comply with ESFA affiliation policy.
Both courses can be taken at home, along with the Recertification of the Safeguarding Course.
You will need to know your FAN and password to log into the FA Bootroom to access the courses. If you are unable to access the FA Bootroom, please let us know and we will help you find your FAN. Sarah DaCosta sarah.dacosta@schoolsfa.com Martin Duffield martin.duffield@schoolsfa.com
Available Course Information
Safeguarding Children Course
If you have not taken the FA Safeguarding Children Workshop previously, then this is the course you need to complete. It is an online course and you can do it in your own time. The cost is £30 which includes the recertification course, which must be completed every 2 years.
The Safeguarding Children Course covers the following:
- Why football needs to safeguard children
- Best practice in football
- Signs and indicators of abuse and poor practice
- Action to take if you have concerns about the welfare of a young person
- Your relationship and behaviour towards young players
You can find the FA Safeguarding Children Course here:
https://thebootroom.thefa.com/learning/qualifications/safeguarding-children-course
Safeguarding Children Recertification
To keep your FA Safeguarding training up to date, you will need to complete the online Safeguarding Recertification every 2 years. It is a free course for those who have already completed the full Safeguarding Children Course (either online or previously face to face)
The course can be accessed online here:
https://thebootroom.thefa.com/learning/qualifications/online-safeguarding-children-re-certification
Welfare Officer Course
This course is only for those who have taken on the role of Welfare Officer for their District or County Association. It is a tutor-led online course and takes 2 hours. It costs £25 and does not need to be renewed.
Please note – you must have completed the Safeguarding Children Course and have an accepted FA DBS before you can attend this course.
The Welfare Officer Course covers the following:
- The role of the welfare officer and the safeguarding children network
- Resources and support available
- Key safeguarding legislation
- Statutory agencies and role of The FA
- Making referrals and dealing with poor practice
- Action planning and creating an aware Association
Courses are available every week, both during the day and evenings and there are also some weekend courses. You can see available Welfare Officer courses and book online here:
https://thebootroom.thefa.com/learning/qualifications/welfare-officers-course
Other FA courses
FA Education also offers other courses and webinars, including the Playmaker, Emergency Aid and coaching courses which are accessed through the FA website here:
https://thebootroom.thefa.com/learning/qualifications/all-courses