At the FA we are always striving to build a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all children, young people and adults. To do that we want to ensure that we are supporting everyone within football to provide the best possible safeguarding learning and development for everyone involved in this incredible game.
To help guide those working with children, young people and adults who may at times be at greater risk of harm, The FA provides various safeguarding children courses. Sometimes these are required as part of a qualification (e.g., for coaches and referees), and sometimes for a role, (e.g., grassroots Club Welfare Officers and Chairs). There are courses suitable for everyone, whatever their role in football.
We’ve had over one million attendances on our courses – that’s a lot of people who are more safeguarding-aware and helping make football safe, fun, and inclusive.
All the England Football Learning courses listed at the end of the link below have the needs of children and young people, or adults who may be at times be at greater risk of harm, at their core and engage learners through interactive content. The focus of all these courses is that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, keeping everyone safe in the game is always our goal.
Safeguarding requirements for club officials: Grassroots Technology
Some of the courses available on our learning platform:
Safeguarding For All – A free introduction to child safeguarding basics, covering good and poor practice. Ideal starting point for anyone new to safeguarding, aged 14+.
Safeguarding Children Course – The FA's core safeguarding qualification for anyone working with under-18s, covering safer practice and reporting concerns. Leads to a two-year certificate.
Safeguarding for Committee Members – A free course for club committee members on safer recruitment, safe environments and reporting concerns. Required for Secretaries, Chairs, Welfare Officers and Treasurers.
Safeguarding Adults – An introduction to safeguarding adults at risk of harm, covering signs of abuse and how to raise concerns. For anyone working with adult players.
Player Welfare Course – A free, 45-minute course on the wider issues affecting player welfare, including safeguarding, conduct and mental health. Open to everyone, especially relevant in open-age football.
Welfare Officer Course – A mandatory course for grassroots Club Welfare Officers, covering the specifics of the role and where to get support. Requires an in-date FA DBS check.
For further information regarding our learning offer see the England Football Learning website.
