Soccer Safeguarding
Implementation Program

Because child safety doesn't just happen.

Assess, Report, Improve & Certify... to Power Growth

Soccer Safeguarding Implementation Program

Amateur Soccer / Football clubs face the significant challenge of navigating the complexities of child safety and safeguarding responsibilities. Adhering to the Victorian Child Safe Standards can be daunting, with clubs often lacking the resources or knowledge to ensure they fully comply, leaving them vulnerable to risks and legal repercussions.

Without a clear, structured approach to managing these critical responsibilities, clubs not only jeopardise the safety and wellbeing of their young members but also risk damaging their reputation and trust within the community. The stakes are high, with potential legal, ethical, and operational implications looming over clubs that fail to meet the necessary standards.

Safeguarding You’s “Soccer Safeguarding Implementation Program” offers a lifeline. Our program simplifies the process through a comprehensive assess, report, improve, and certify methodology. We start by evaluating your current practices against the Football Australia Safeguarding Policy, then provide detailed reports with actionable insights, guide you through targeted improvements, and if desired we can review and certify your club’s compliance.

How it Works

ASSESS >

REPORT >

IMPROVE >

CERTIFY >

BENCHMARK >

ASSESS >

REPORT >

IMPROVE >

CERTIFY >

BENCHMARK >

ALL PROGRAMS include access to a digital library of amazing tools & resources

This Program Includes

13 Components

FREE Smart Self Assessment

FREE Risk Report: High-Med-Low

Action Management Module

Digital Library of Resources

24/7 Access: Mobile & TV

Optional: Program Review & Certificate of Assessment

Program Modules

1. Safeguarding Commitment and Leadership

Emphasise the critical role of leadership in establishing a strong safeguarding culture within an organisation. Develop and regularly update comprehensive safeguarding policies, ensuring these are communicated effectively to all stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, and participants. Regular reviews of safeguarding practices and policies are key to maintaining accountability and continual improvement.

2. Safer Recruitment and Screening

Safer recruitment ensures that individuals who work with children and vulnerable adults are thoroughly vetted to prevent risks of abuse or misconduct. This includes incorporating safeguarding responsibilities into job descriptions, conducting background checks such as Working with Children Checks (WWCC), obtaining multiple references, and ensuring ongoing re-checks of staff and volunteers. A well-structured recruitment and screening process is vital for minimising risks and maintaining the safety of children involved in football activities.

3. Codes of Behavior

Clear codes of behavior define acceptable and unacceptable conduct for staff, volunteers, and participants when interacting with children. These codes set boundaries for physical, verbal, and online interactions, ensuring that all parties maintain appropriate relationships and communication. Training and regular reinforcement of these codes are necessary to embed these standards within the organisation’s culture, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children during football activities.

4. Physical Contact and Supervision

Organisations must establish clear policies governing physical contact between adults and children, ensuring that any contact is appropriate and necessary, such as during coaching or medical treatment. Adequate adult-to-child supervision ratios must be enforced, and policies must prevent one-on-one unsupervised interactions. These measures are designed to create a safe and supportive environment, ensuring that children are protected at all times during football activities.

5. Identifying and Managing Abuse

Staff and volunteers must be trained to recognise the signs and indicators of physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect, and to respond swiftly and appropriately to any concerns. Clear procedures must be in place for reporting suspected abuse, including mandatory reporting obligations. This proactive approach helps prevent abuse from occurring and ensures that any incidents are handled sensitively, confidentially, and in compliance with legal requirements.

6. Incident Reporting and Response

A robust incident reporting system is essential for addressing safeguarding concerns. This component ensures that organisations have a clear, accessible process for reporting safeguarding incidents, including anonymous reporting options. Staff, volunteers, and children must be aware of how to report concerns, and the organisation must have protocols in place to respond promptly and appropriately to all reports, including provisional actions and thorough investigations.

7. Training and Education

Ongoing training and education are critical for ensuring that all staff, volunteers, and participants understand their safeguarding responsibilities. This includes recognising and responding to abuse, complying with mandatory reporting laws, and maintaining appropriate behavior. Training must be mandatory for all new recruits and regularly refreshed for existing staff. Additionally, specific safeguarding education should be provided to children, empowering them to protect themselves and report any concerns.

8. Support for Children and Families

Supporting children and families involves creating open channels for communication, ensuring that children feel safe to raise concerns, and providing parents with the information they need about safeguarding policies. Special attention should be given to vulnerable children, such as those with disabilities or from culturally diverse backgrounds, ensuring that they receive additional support where necessary. Engaging families in safeguarding processes strengthens the organisation’s overall safeguarding culture.

9. Use of Technology and Social Media

Policies governing the use of technology and social media are essential to protecting children from online risks. These guidelines must address appropriate communication between adults and children, ensuring parents/guardians are included in electronic interactions. Restrictions on the use of children’s images and videos must be enforced, with parental consent required for any public sharing. These policies help prevent inappropriate contact and protect children’s privacy.

10. Change Room and Overnight Stay Policies

Clear policies on the supervision of children in changing rooms and during overnight stays are vital to safeguarding their privacy and safety. Adult supervision must be present, but policies must also ensure that children’s privacy is respected. Room-sharing arrangements must prioritise safety, ensuring children share rooms only with others of the same gender and similar age, unless otherwise requested by the family. These measures help prevent misconduct and create a safe environment for children.

11. Alcohol, Drugs, and Safeguarding

Strict policies must be in place prohibiting the use or supply of alcohol and drugs by staff or volunteers while supervising or engaging with children. This includes prohibiting the consumption of alcohol or drugs during any football-related activities involving children. Such policies are crucial for maintaining a safe and professional environment where children’s welfare is prioritised, and the risks of harm or misconduct are minimised.

12. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Monitoring and continuous improvement ensure that safeguarding practices remain effective and up to date. Regular discussions, feedback loops, and reviews involving staff, volunteers, and participants are necessary to identify areas for improvement. Incident reviews and policy updates must be conducted at least annually to ensure that the organisation’s safeguarding practices evolve to meet emerging risks and legislative changes, fostering a culture of continuous learning and safety.

13. Reporting to External Authorities

Organisations must have clear protocols for reporting safeguarding concerns to external authorities, such as child protection agencies or the police. Staff must be trained on mandatory reporting obligations, and the reporting process should be regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with legal requirements. Documenting all incidents reported externally ensures transparency and accountability, and helps organisations meet their legal and ethical responsibilities to protect children.

Safeguarding Survival Guide

Tailored for CSO’s, this guide cuts through the noise to deliver actionable strategies in Child Safeguarding.
More than just advice – it’s a blueprint for success. Avoid pitfalls, make smart decisions, and drive your organisation towards safer standards and sustainable growth. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to turn information into power.

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Disclaimer 🤚

We’ve put our heart and soul into building something to help millions of Startups & SMEs around the world.

We’ve done a lot right and made mistakes along the way, cause no one ever said #RegTech or startup risk management was easy.
Rest assured we are leveraging the brightest minds, deepest resources, connected partnerships and hunger for growth to develop a better product every day for you.

With that being said… In no event shall Safeguarding You (powered by Certified By), its affiliates, partners, or licensors be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to, lost profits, lost data, business interruption, or other losses arising out of or in connection with the use of, or inability to use, the Safeguarding You platform or any content, advice, or recommendations generated by the platform.

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Soccer Safeguarding Implementation Program

Because child safety doesn't just happen.

Assess, Report, Improve & Certify... to Power Growth