Clubs are the heartbeat of football in this country. That is why The FA Charter Standard club programme, which raises standards and recognises and rewards quality, is so important.
Every player at some stage of their career will play in a grassroots club. We have a shared responsibility to ensure that this experience is a positive one - whether you are six or 60.
The FA Charter Standard Programme provides recognition that clubs are well run and sustainable, with child protection and safety paramount. It also recognises a club's commitment to coaching, player and coach development, and the raising of standards of behaviour in the game - all of which are big priorities for both me and The FA.
I am grateful for all the support provided by County FA officials to promote and develop The FA Charter Standard programme. The programme provides a benefit for everyone in the game, The FA, County FAs, coaches, volunteers, parents, but most importantly the players.
So thank you for everything you do to develop the game and the very best wishes for the future.
Jonathan Hall
Director of Football Services, The FA
Below is a full list of application and support resources. Click on the relevant link to download.
Supporting policies and guidance
- Player recruitment policy
- Coach recruitment and development policy
- Refereeing recruitment and development policy
- Volunteer recruitment policy
- Football workforce development
- Roles and responsibility
- Club complaints procedure policy
- Goalpost safety guidelines
- Press release guidelines
- Celebrating football photographs and video
- Dealing with an incident/accident
- Appointing a club welfare officer
- Guidance notes for club welfare officers
Good practice templates
- Club rules
- Club rules explanation
- Code of conduct for football
- Code of conduct for football explanation
- Code of conduct for coaches
- Code of conduct for coaches explanation
- Code of conduct for adult players
- Code of conduct for adult players explanation
- Code of conduct for youth players
- Code of conduct for youth players explanation
- Code of conduct for team officials
- Code of conduct for team officials explanation
- Code of conduct for parents/carers/spectators
- Code of conduct for parents/carers/spectators explanation
- Club programme equality policy
- Club programme equality policy explanation
- Club programme child protection policy
- Club programme child protection policy explanation
Useful forms
- Membership registration form
- Medical consent form
- Team membership register
- Training attendance register
- Venue risk assessment/goalpost safety form
- Incident/accident reporting form
- Annual review - players
- Annual review - coaches
- Annual review - parents/carers
- Equality monitoring form
- Volunteer application form
- Club monitoring
- Club league feedback
- Club annual league feedback
- Qualification records
Football development plans
- Community club development plan
- Community club development plan (example)
- Development club development plan
- Development club development plan (example)
- Football development toolkit
- Football development toolkit (example)
Application and GiF forms
- Charter Standard club application form
- Charter Standard development club application form
- Charter Standard community club application form
- Charter Standard adult club application form
- Frequently asked questions
- Get into Football Festival Pack
- Get into Football - Michael Owen Certificate
- Get into Football - Eniola Aluko Certificate
Charter Standard Leagues
- CSL Guidance for Leagues
- CSL Role of the Youth League Welfare Officer
- CSL Equality and Education Programme
- CSL Safeguard Children Policy
- CSL and Respect: FAQs
- CSL Open and Inclusive Clubs and Leagues
- CSL Full-Time Key Features
- CSL League Equality Policy and Complaints Procedure
- CSL League Development Plan Template
- CSL Coordinator Role Description
- CSL Better Players Guidance Note
- CSL Appointing a Charter Standard Youth League Welfare Officer
