It's Play Safe weekend

English football unites this weekend to promote Play Safe – a countrywide nationwide campaign to focus attention of the vital importance of safeguarding across our national game.

The F.A.'s Play Safe campaign is endorsed by the NSPCC and will be supported this weekend across every level of English football, including -of course- the Pitching In Isthmian League.

This year’s Play Safe campaign focuses on the safeguarding role that everyone can play – coaches, players, parents/carers, spectators or volunteers – to keep children and young people safe, no matter what the football setting.

This season The F.A. are asking clubs and leagues at every level of the game to make a Play Safe Pledge and to explain what they are planning to do to make a difference and highlight the importance of safeguarding over the Play Safe weekend. This includes grassroots youth team captains wearing Play Safe armbands and youth team coaches wearing Play Safe pin badges, up and down the country in support.

In addition, as part of this year’s Play Safe campaign, The FA are also promoting our free online Safeguarding Awareness Course for Parents & Carers to raise awareness around safeguarding and how to report any concerns. The aim is for 100,000 people from across the game to have taken the course, which only takes 30 minutes to complete, by the end of 2024. The free course provides important information that guides parents and carers through questions they should ask to ensure the club or venue where children play football has the correct safeguarding policies, people and practices in place.

FA Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham, said: "We want everyone involved in football – particularly children and young people – to have a safe, positive and enjoyable experience. English football will come together this weekend with leagues and clubs across the country participating in our Play Safe Weekend, taking our Play Safe Pledge to help build awareness and understanding about the importance of safeguarding. We encourage everyone in the game to take part."

The FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group [FASSSAG] has added its support to the campaign: "Creating safe environments in every football setting is a collective responsibility. It’s really important that every single person in football – no matter if they’re actively involved or on the sidelines – understands that they have an ongoing role to play. Knowing how to act on any concerns is vital and Play Safe is a key way to ensure everyone is vigilant and knows what to do if they become aware of any inappropriate behaviour."

NSPCC Chief Executive, Peter Wanless, says:

"Everyone has a role to play in preventing abuse and we’re pleased that the FA is again putting a spotlight on safeguarding awareness in football through the Play Safe weekend, which runs ahead of Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week 2-6 October. It’s great to see Play Safe is supported by every level of the game."

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