PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

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There has been much talk about who can take pictures of children (under 18s) playing sport and in particular what parents/carers are permitted to do. The FA would like to assure parents, carers, coaches, spectators, players and local media that we encourage the taking of appropriate images of children in football.

Potential risks

The FA has developed this guidance to help avoid the following:

• The inappropriate use, adaptation or copying of images for use on child abuse websites on the internet (often incorrectly referred to as pornography sites)

• The identification of children when a photograph is accompanied by significant personal information that will assist a third party in identifying the child. This can lead, and has led, to children being ‘groomed’

• The identification and locating of children in inappropriate circumstances which include:
(i) where a child has been removed from his/her family for their own safety;
(ii) where restrictions on contact with one parent following a parental separation exist e.g. in domestic vio-lence cases;
(iii) in situations where a child may be a witness in criminal proceedings; or
(iv) other safeguarding children concerns.

It’s important to remember the majority of images taken are appropriate and taken in good faith. If we take the following simple measures we can help to ensure the safety of children in football.

Common sense considerations to ensure everyone’s safety

Do:

1. Share The FA’s guidance on taking images with all parents, carers and members when they join the club
2. Ensure the club has parental consent to use a player’s image if it is to be used in the public domain e.g. club website or newspaper article. This is essential in relation to point 3 below
3. Ensure that any child in your club who is under care proceedings, is protected by ensuring that their image is not placed in the public domain. This can be done by using a Consent Form, so that parents/carers can iden-tify whether this applies to children in their care
4. Focus on the activity rather than the individual
5. Ensure all those featured are appropriately dressed (a minimum of vest or shirt and shorts)
6. Aim to take pictures which represent the broad range of youngsters participating safely in football

e.g. boys and girls, disabled people, ethnic minority communities.