Member Protection Update – March 2025

Working & Volunteering with Children in Football

It is important that all coaches, managers and everyone in a child-related role in football understand that there are acceptable and unacceptable behaviours when working and volunteering with children, and Codes of Conduct and Policies that apply.

The following is provided for everyone in football who is working or volunteering with children and young people under 18 years of age.

Professional Boundaries

• Any physical contact with children must be appropriate to the delivery of football activities and based on the needs of the child.
• Only use physical contact that is appropriate for the development of a particular skill, and only if there is prior permission of the child.
• If physical contact is necessary when applying first aid, it should be within the sight of others or with another adult present.
• The personal boundaries, personal space and privacy of children and young people must be respected at all times.
• Team officials should never embrace, hug, tickle, wrestle or roughhouse with children or young people in football.
• If a child or team has played or trained well, a high five, fist bump, pat on the back or positive feedback is sufficient.
• Team officials must never assist children with toileting or showering, this is the role of a child’s parent or legal guardian.
• When entering a change room, team officials should knock loudly, announce their intention to enter and wait for approval before entering.
• When children or young people are changing or showering, respect their right to privacy by remaining outside the changeroom entry door.
• Report to your club any behaviour which crosses professional boundaries.

Guidelines and Policies

• Child Safe Practices the Do’s and Don’ts
• Maintaining Appropriate Boundaries
• Keeping change room facilities safe for children and young people
• Football Australia – National Code of Conduct and Ethics
• Football Australia – Safeguarding Policy

For further information, refer to the following:

• Safeguarding young athletes in open-age sport
• Managing high-risk activities – child safeguarding practices in sport
• Sport Integrity Australia
• E-Safety in Sport
• FNSW Safeguarding Children
• FNSW Working with Children Check