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Club Referees from September 2008 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Introduction If you already have a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) you will be aware that in September 2008 the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (SVGA) becomes Law. This will impact significantly on our football. The Act identifies certain people as being involved in ‘regulated activities’ and according to the FA, a competitive football match is a regulated activity, and the referee is supervising it. As such, the referee of any AFC football match is subject to the Act, unless refereeing no more than two games per month (any football, not just AFC matches), or unless the game cannot involve players under the age of 18 (so Veterans football is exempt, but not AFC games, which are ‘open age’). CRB
Checks The Act requires that such referees have completed a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check suitable for football. These are commonplace, and anyone who has already registered as a referee or completed a FA Coaching badge will have already gone through the CRB process. It is also a requirement for Youth Club Coaches next season. Enclosed with this letter is a two page leaflet from the Football Association explaining what CRB checks involve for referees. Registered
Referees Referees
who are already registered with a County Football Association will have complied
with the requirements of the
SVGA which has been required since the start of the 2007-08 season as part of
Referee Registration. Referees’ will also have completed the FA Child
Protection Course. Unregistered ‘Club’ Referees Out
of necessity, many clubs regularly or occasionally appoint unregistered
referees. Some of these took a refereeing course many years ago and have allowed
their registration to lapse. Others have never taken a refereeing course, but
are prepared to referee on a Saturday and make sure the game happens. These
“club referees” will now need to complete a CRB check (which cost £12, are
valid for at least 3 years, and also mean the referee is covered by Public
Liability Insurance for all matches which are sanctioned by the Amateur Football
Alliance – i.e. all AFC games). They do not need to do the child protection
course, re-register with a County FA or take a Refereeing Course (though we’d
be delighted if they did). However,
a club referee who has not had the CRB check, who is refereeing more than twice in
any thirty day period (regardless of whether it is different clubs, leagues etc), will be in
breach of the SVGA, and so will be the club officer who appoints the
referee. What does the Amateur Football Combination Expect? The
AFC expects clubs to provide “a suitable person” for all of our games. Any
AFC game can involve players who are aged 16-18. Even if your team won’t
include any 16 or 17 year olds, your opposition might. We expect all under-18
players to be free to play in any match and not be prevented because the home
club haven’t provided a suitable referee. We
shall not be asking for clubs for proof that their club referees are suitable
– our duty is to inform clubs of the legal requirements and it is the
responsibility of each club to ensure they provide suitable referees. CRB Check – No Need to be Afraid The
CRB Check is nothing to be afraid of. Its purpose is to identify the small
minority of people who may present a risk to youngsters and other vulnerable
groups. As the FA guidance explains, there are no concerns over traffic
offences, most youth offending and indeed a wide range of other offences. It’s
the more serious, recent offences such as assaults, drug use and supplying,
racist offending, harassment, arson and sexual offences, especially any
committed against children that might cause an issue. If
there is an issue with a disclosure, all details will remain confidential and
won’t be revealed to your club. They will be told simply
about any restrictions on your eligibility to referee games involving players
under a given age. If dissatisfied
with the FA’s ruling you will be entitled to appeal but any restrictions
imposed will apply until such time as the appeal succeeds. I’ve had a CRB Check, but not Football Unfortunately, if you’ve already had a CRB check for another reason (such as for work, teaching, other sports, scouts, youth work) you still must have an FA CRB Check to referee. This is because disclosures are private to you and cannot be passed to other organisations. For example the Football Association cannot share your disclosure with the England Cricket Board, and nor can you. The
FA has been asking the Government to provide for the ‘Portability’ of
Disclosures, but as yet this has not been taken up by them, so at the moment
we’re required to have a CRB Check Need More Information If
any club, or club referee, wishes to have more information, then either contact
the Amateur
Football Alliance or myself, the AFC Welfare Officer. If your club
already has a Club Welfare Officer, then that person may also be able to assist
and help. I shall also be available at both Regional Meetings due to be held
later in May 2008. What Do You Need To Do? Please
can all clubs ensure a copy of this letter and the FA Guidance is passed to all
of their club referees as a matter of urgency, and ascertain whether they
already have a CRB Check, or whether they need one. A copy
is also available on the AFC website within the referees section. If they
need to take a CRB check, then the sooner they put it in motion the better –
that is why I’m writing now at the start of the summer, not in September when
the season is upon us. Club Welfare Officers There is no requirement at present from the Football Association for “open aged” (i.e. adult) clubs to have their own Club Welfare Officers, though the AFC recommendation is that each club should have one, to give a club contact for advice on these matters. For more information see pages 22 and 23 of the current Amateur Football Combination handbook, or the “Youth” section of the AFC website. If
you have any questions, or need more advice, please do not hesitate to contact
me. Danny McConnell (Amateur Football Combination Welfare Officer)
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