For Players
We have a duty of care to make sure you are safe at all times and to help make football an enjoyable, safe and fulfilling activity for all of you. At PSG FC we want to create a culture of respect for all people, openess and best practice to safeguard and protect you and the adults involved with the club.
If you are worried about anything, talk to an adult you trust. If you do not feel able to talk to an adult you know then you can contact Childline by clicking on the logo anywhere on the website or calling the number. You can contact them about anything, no problem is too big or small.
The ‘Think U Know’ website has lots of great information about how to stay safe online.
Before Training or Matches…….
You must tell your Team Manager or Coach if you have any injuries. It is great that you are keen to take part, but training or playing when you are injured may make the injury worse and mean it takes longer to get better. That could mean that you end up missing more training sessions or matches. It is best to rest and wait until the injury is completely better.
Dispose of sweets or chewing gum in a bin. It is dangerous to train or play with anything other than a dental brace or gum shield in your mouth because of the risk of choking. If you have a brace your Dentist will be able to tell you whether it is ok to play sports with it in.
Remove any jewellery. It could injure you or another player. This includes ear rings, rings, bracelets, watches and body piercings. Even ‘stud’ type ear rings should be removed before training or playing. It is best to remove them and leave them at home, but if you forget your coach will keep them safe.
Wear suitable footwear. You will not be allowed to play in a match or train if you are not wearing the correct footwear for the surface. If you are playing on grass or an artifical pitch football boots are usually best, unless the ground is firm and dry when football trainers might be ok. If you are playing on a hard surface such as a tennis court or in a sports hall football trainers are usually best and you should never wear football boots.
Wear shinpads. You must wear shinpads to play in a match and we recommend that you always wear them for training. You may be asked not to participate in cetain drills during training if your coach thinks you could get injured because you are not wearing shinpads.
Tie back long hair. If you are playing a match or training it is very important that you can see where you are going, so please remember to tie up long hair to stop it getting in your eyes.
Bring a drink of water. Drinking water before, during and after training or playing is very important. The best way is ‘little and often’ and not waiting until you feel thirsty. Avoid fizzy drinks. You may think they taste great, but they do not contain what your body needs to play sport.
Remember. Your parent or carer will probably have lots of things to think about before taking you to training or a match, try and help them out by thinking about what you need to take to football. Why not make your own MY FOOTBALL CHECKLIST to help you remember or ask your parent or carer to download and print you one? You could get your things ready the night before so you don’t have to rush about in the morning!!
1. Football boots and trainers
2. Shin pads
3. Water bottle.
4. Medicine (Ask your parent or carer about this one).
5. Kit (Shirt, shorts, socks)
6. Extra clothes (Tracksuit, hats & gloves if its cold).
7. Hairband (If you have long hair).
8. Remove any jewellery (ear rings, rings, bracelets, watches and body piercings).
9. Safe Away Card (Ask your parent or carer about this one).
For Parents and Carers
Your child’s welfare is our number one concern. Every child has a right to be safe and protected regardless of their age, gender, racial origin, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. We believe that we are a well run Club that provides a safe, fun, supportive and inclusive environment for school age girls of all abilities, where they can develop their football and social skills, build personal confidence and improve personal fitness through participation in a team sport.
Why not download the FA Choosing a Club for your Child checklist and judge for yourself? You can view or download all our Club Rules and Policies on the SAFEGUARDING, RESPECT & GOVERNANCE. You can also contact any of the Elected Committee members, Team Managers, Coaches or Welfare Officer (details on the CONTACT page) who will be happy to answer any queries you have. We also recommend that you speak to the Parents and Carers of existing players.
Choosing a Club for your Child
If you do decide to join us, the Child and Parent or Carer will need to read and confirm that they agree to abide by the Respect Young Players or Spectators, Parents & Carer’s Code of Conduct by completing and signing the Club Membership form. You will also be asked to tell us if you do not want your child to appear in photographs or videos placed in the public domain. If you have any queries please read the Photography & Video Guidelines and or contact our club Welfare Officer Sonia Moorey welfareofficer@psgfc.co.uk
Spectators, Parents & Carer’s Code of Conduct
Photography & Video Guidelines
The Right Equipment
If your child does join PSG FC they will be issued with a club shirt, shorts and socks once you have paid the registration fee, club tracksuits and hats can also be purchased. It is essential that you provide your child with suitable footwear for the surface and shin pads for training and matches. Your childs welfare is our primary concern, so they may not be permitted to participate in certain activities if they do not wear them. Also read Before training and matches above.
Concerned?
If you have any concerns, as a first step you can talk to our Welfare Officer Sonia Moorey welfareofficer@psgfc.co.uk alternatively you can contact the FA County Welfare Officer at helen.hever@essexfa.com
Did You Know?
You can find lots of useful advice on about how to keep your child safe online by following the CEOP link below.
Too Much Too Soon?
We all want children to be active and stay fit and healthy, but research has shown that from the ages of 8 1/2 to 12 girls are particularly susceptible to ‘Overplay’ Injuries. It is very unlikely that your child will play too much football with PSG, but many of our players also play other sports such as hockey, netball, tennis etc in addition to PE at school, and it is the cumulative effect that you should be aware of. If your child has any injuries or aches and pains you should always consult you GP and inform their respective coach. The FA’ s Too Much Too Soon explains the condition and what to look out for.
Head Injuries
Football is a contact sport and accidental injuries do happen. If your child receives a bang on the head during training or in a match you should seek medical advice, but the Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool is a great source of information about what to look out for.
Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool
Travelling Away
If not taking them yourself, it is the responsibility of parents and carers to make appropriate travel arrangements to away matches and tournaments for their child. Your child’s Team Manager will have your emergency contact details, but we recommend that you complete the Safe Away Cards and give a copy to your child and the Team Manager on the day.
Medical Conditions & Medication
You will be asked to provide details of any medical conditions and medication that the club needs to be aware of on the Medical Consent Form when your child joins and as part of the annual registration process, but it is essential that this information is regularly updated. If there is any change in circumstances you must inform the club and ensure your child brings the appropriate medication with them to training and matches. We recommend that any medication is given to the Team Manager who can keep it with their first aid kit so that it is on hand if needed in a hurry. You must also ensure that your child and the Team Manager has the correct instructions on the dose and administration of the medicine.