BackPhotography Guidelines (Youth)
The FA Charter Standard
Club Programme
Celebrating Football
Photographs and Video
There has been much talk about
whether it’s safe to take pictures of
Under 18s playing sport.
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 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’; and
● 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 violence cases;
(iii) in situations where a child may
be a witness in criminal
proceedings; or
(iv) other child protection
concerns.
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
an annual consent form, so that
parents/carers can identify if this
applies to children in their care (visit
www.TheFA.com/Goal and click on
the downloads ‘Travel and Trips
Advice’ to access a template annual
consent form);
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
The FA Charter Standard
Club Programme
Celebrating Football
Photographs and Video
football e.g. boys and girls, disabled
people, ethnic minority
communities; and
7. Report any instances of
inappropriate images in football to
The FA Case Manager or the
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
contact details can be found on the
following page.
Don’t
1. Publish photographs with the full
name(s) of the individual(s) featured
unless you have written consent to
do so and you have informed the
parents as to how the image
will be used;
2. Use player profiles with pictures and
detailed personal information on
websites;
3. Use an image for something other
than that for which it was initially
agreed, e.g. published in local press
when initially produced for a
clubhouse commemorative picture;
and
4. Allow images to be recorded in
changing rooms, showers or toilets -
this includes the use of mobile
phones that record images.
Remember
● It’s not an offence to take
appropriate photographs in a public
place even if asked not to do so;
● No one has the right to decide who
can and cannot take images on
public land;
● If you have serious concerns about a
possible child protection issue
relating to the recording of images
then call the police. This action
should only be taken where you
believe that someone may be acting
unlawfully or putting a child at risk;
● The land or facility owner can
decide whether or not photography
and/or videoing of football activities
will be permitted when carried out
on private land. However you need
to make this known before allowing
individuals access to the private
property. If they do not comply then
you may request that they leave;
and
● Try not to use images that include
individuals wearing jewellery (as
wearing jewellery whilst playing is
contrary to the Laws of the Game as
well as being a health and safety
issue).
Commissioning professional
photographers and the local media
If you are commissioning professional
photographers or inviting the press to
cover a football activity ensure you and
they are clear about each other’s
expectations. Remember the key is to
plan ahead and communicate early on.
● Provide a clear brief about what is
considered appropriate in terms of
content and behaviour;
● Inform them of your club’s
commitment to safeguarding
children and young people and
The FA Charter Standard
Club Programme
Celebrating Football
Photographs and Video
establish who will hold the recorded
images and what they intend to do
with them, e.g. place on a website
for sale, distribute thumbnails to the
club to co-ordinate sales;
● Issue the professional photographer
with identification, which must be
worn at all times;
● Inform participants and parents or
carers prior to the event that a
professional photographer will be in
attendance and ensure you have
established that no under 18s will be
compromised due to child
protection concerns if their image is
taken – remember this can be done
by using the annual consent form at
the start of the season.
To report potentially unlawful materials
on the internet please contact:
The Internet Watch Foundation
Email: report@iwf.org.uk
Telephone: 08456 008844
Fax the hotline: 01223 235921
www.iwf.org.uk
FA Case Management
Email: ComplianceQueries@TheFA.com
www.TheFA.com/Goal
Club Programme
Celebrating Football
Photographs and Video
There has been much talk about
whether it’s safe to take pictures of
Under 18s playing sport.
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 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’; and
● 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 violence cases;
(iii) in situations where a child may
be a witness in criminal
proceedings; or
(iv) other child protection
concerns.
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
an annual consent form, so that
parents/carers can identify if this
applies to children in their care (visit
www.TheFA.com/Goal and click on
the downloads ‘Travel and Trips
Advice’ to access a template annual
consent form);
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
The FA Charter Standard
Club Programme
Celebrating Football
Photographs and Video
football e.g. boys and girls, disabled
people, ethnic minority
communities; and
7. Report any instances of
inappropriate images in football to
The FA Case Manager or the
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
contact details can be found on the
following page.
Don’t
1. Publish photographs with the full
name(s) of the individual(s) featured
unless you have written consent to
do so and you have informed the
parents as to how the image
will be used;
2. Use player profiles with pictures and
detailed personal information on
websites;
3. Use an image for something other
than that for which it was initially
agreed, e.g. published in local press
when initially produced for a
clubhouse commemorative picture;
and
4. Allow images to be recorded in
changing rooms, showers or toilets -
this includes the use of mobile
phones that record images.
Remember
● It’s not an offence to take
appropriate photographs in a public
place even if asked not to do so;
● No one has the right to decide who
can and cannot take images on
public land;
● If you have serious concerns about a
possible child protection issue
relating to the recording of images
then call the police. This action
should only be taken where you
believe that someone may be acting
unlawfully or putting a child at risk;
● The land or facility owner can
decide whether or not photography
and/or videoing of football activities
will be permitted when carried out
on private land. However you need
to make this known before allowing
individuals access to the private
property. If they do not comply then
you may request that they leave;
and
● Try not to use images that include
individuals wearing jewellery (as
wearing jewellery whilst playing is
contrary to the Laws of the Game as
well as being a health and safety
issue).
Commissioning professional
photographers and the local media
If you are commissioning professional
photographers or inviting the press to
cover a football activity ensure you and
they are clear about each other’s
expectations. Remember the key is to
plan ahead and communicate early on.
● Provide a clear brief about what is
considered appropriate in terms of
content and behaviour;
● Inform them of your club’s
commitment to safeguarding
children and young people and
The FA Charter Standard
Club Programme
Celebrating Football
Photographs and Video
establish who will hold the recorded
images and what they intend to do
with them, e.g. place on a website
for sale, distribute thumbnails to the
club to co-ordinate sales;
● Issue the professional photographer
with identification, which must be
worn at all times;
● Inform participants and parents or
carers prior to the event that a
professional photographer will be in
attendance and ensure you have
established that no under 18s will be
compromised due to child
protection concerns if their image is
taken – remember this can be done
by using the annual consent form at
the start of the season.
To report potentially unlawful materials
on the internet please contact:
The Internet Watch Foundation
Email: report@iwf.org.uk
Telephone: 08456 008844
Fax the hotline: 01223 235921
www.iwf.org.uk
FA Case Management
Email: ComplianceQueries@TheFA.com
www.TheFA.com/Goal