hartlepool st francis welcome pack SEASON 2023-2024

Children play football because they enjoy it and its fun. 

It is important to remember that irrespective of a child’s ability we all bear a collective responsibility to set a good example and help provide a positive environment in which children can learn and enjoy the game. 

Play your part and always observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for spectators.

• Remember that children play for FUN

• Applaud effort and good play as well as success

• Respect the Referee’s decisions even when you don’t agree with them and remember most Referee's in Grassroots football are still Children and learning themselves! Without these young Referee's your child will not have a match to play

• Appreciate good play from whatever team it comes from

• Remain behind the touchline and within the Designated Spectators’ Area

• Let the coach do their job and not confuse the players by telling them what to do

• Encourage the players to respect the opposition, referee and match officials

• Support positively and offer players encouragement not criticism

• Never engage in, or tolerate offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour

• No smoking or vaping is allowed on site
• No Alcohol is allowed within the grounds of Hartlepool St Francis unless it is a Club organised event and provided by a licenced operative  
• No dogs (except guide dogs) are allowed on the premises
• Put litter in the bins provided. No bottles/empty bottles to be left on pitch after each game
• St Francis follows and champions the FA respect code of conduct.
• This framework promotes good behaviour from adults, spectators, parents, coaches, club officials and match officials. The FA’s Respect programme aims to educate parents and coaches on their roles in creating a fun, safe and inclusive environment for players to ensure the campaign is embraced throughout the age groups and result in sustained participation from players and volunteers alike.

Understand that if this code  is not followed any/all of the following actions may be taken you

• Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official

• Required to meet with the club, league or CFA Welfare Officer (listed above)

• Required to meet with the Club Board Members  (listed above)

• Obliged to undertake an FA education course

• Obliged to leave the match venue by the club

• Requested by the club not to attend future games

• Suspended or have my club membership removed

• Required to leave the club along with any dependents.

All managers/coaches have a duty of care and are all screened through Hartlepool St Francis and The FA with a current and up to date DBS to check all history and more importantly to see if they are suitable to work with children, Nobody will be given a role with in Hartlepool St Francis till this process is completed.

 Mangers/Coaches Wil

• Treat all individuals with respect and equally regardless of ability. 

• Place the wellbeing  and safety of all players  above all considerations. 

• Must adhere to all guidelines set out by governing bodies.  

• Develop a appropriate working relationship with each player.

• Must encourage and guild players to accept responsibility for there own behaviour.  

• Must encourage to reach there full potential.

• Fully explain any training exercises and decisions during match days 

• Must consistently display high standards of behaviour towards opposition and the referee. 

Understand that if this code  is not followed any/all of the following actions may be taken you

• Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official

• Required to meet with the club, league or CFA Welfare Officer (listed above)

• Required to meet with the Club Board members (listed above)

• Obliged to undertake an FA education course

• Obliged to leave the match venue.

• Suspended or have my club membership removed

• Required to leave the club along with any dependents. 

• Requested by the club not to attend future games

Code of Conduct for Parents, Players, Coaches and Associates at Hartlepool St Francis                            Football Club Social Events

From time to time, Hartlepool St Francis Football Club may arrange social events such as a

presentation evening, team building event or a parents social evening.

Although these events take place mostly away from the football area and outside of normal

training times, Hartlepool St Francis Football Club rules and code of conduct applies to such

events. 

While we want everyone to enjoy these social events, it is up to individual parent,

player, coach and all associated with the club to ensure that their behaviour is acceptable.

Parents, Coaches and Associate’s should consume alcohol only in moderation at

Hartlepool St Francis Football Club social events

It is strictly forbidden for any Hartlepool St Francis Football Club associate to use

classified drugs at any club social event or whilst being part of the organisation.

Hartlepool St Francis Football Club’s policy on harassment and bullying applies to

club-related social events.

Parents, Coaches, Players and Associates should not say or do anything at a

Hartlepool St Francis Football Club social event that could offend, intimidate,

threaten, embarrass or upset any other person, whether as a joke or not.

Parents, Coaches, Players and Associates must not behave in any way at any club

related social event that could bring the Hartlepool St Francis Football Club’s name

into ill repute.

Understand that if this code  is not followed any/all of the following actions may be taken you

• Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official

• Required to meet with the club, league or CFA Welfare Officer (listed above)

• Required to meet with the Club Board members (listed above)

• Obliged to undertake an FA education course

• Ordered to leave the venue.

• Suspended or have my club membership removed

• Required to leave the event along with any dependents

• Requested by the club not to attend future events

Hartlepool St Francis acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child

and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is committed to working to

provide a safe environment for all members. A child or young person is anyone under the

age of 18 engaged in any club football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association’s

child protection and best practice policy and procedures and endorse and adopt the policy

statement contained in that document.

the key principles of The FA Child Protection Policy are that:

The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration

All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse

regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin,

religious beliefs or sexual orientation.

All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to

swiftly and appropriately.

Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and

their parents or carers is essential.

We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be

able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and

abuse. Hartlepool St Francis recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our

club.

Hartlepool St Francis has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young

people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or

bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football Association’s child protection regulation

applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary

capacity. 

This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours,

football coach, club official or medical staff.

We endorse and adopt The FA’s Child Protection and Best Practice Guidelines for Recruiting

Volunteers and will:

Develop a role profile

Request identification documents

As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct

interviews before appointing

Request and follow up with two references before appointing

Require an FA DBS Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA

guidelines.

All current Hartlepool St Francis members with direct access to children and young people will be

required to complete a DBS Enhanced Disclosure via The FA DBS Unit. 

If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of St. Francis, guidance will be sought from The Football Association. 

It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA DBS Unit Enhanced DBS Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.

It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. 

This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimize the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.

We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse.

Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. 

If bullying does occur, all players, parents or guardians should  know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and may result in your being dismissed by the club.

Incidents need to be reported to the Club Welfare Officer, a member of the board (all listed above or, in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CPO.

Hartlepool St Francis supports The FA’s ‘whistle blowing’ policy. 

Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Child Protection Manager 

Hartlepool St Francis has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in line with The FA’s role

profile and required completion of the child protection and best practice workshop.

 Hartlepool St Francis Club Welfare Officers

Mr Trevor Robinson
07716023630

Mr Craig Seymour
07944004360

F.A Safeguarding team
0800 169 1863
Safeguarding@TheFA.com

Immediate concerns can be reported directly to the following

Hartlepool Police
01642 326326 or 101

Hartlepool Children’s Social Care services
01429 284284

The Child Protection in Sport Unit at cpsu@nspcc.org.uk;

The NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
help@nspcc.org.uk 

 As the governing body of the game, The Football Association is responsible for setting standards and

values to apply throughout the game at every level. Football belongs to, and should be enjoyed by,

anyone who wants to participate in it. The FA’s commitment is to eliminate discrimination whether

by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour,

religion or belief, ability or disability.

The FA is also committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by

recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and by providing access and

opportunities for all members of the community. The following policy should be at the heart of your

club’s activities.

Equality Policy for Clubs The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with

respect and that Hartlepool St Francis is equally accessible to them all. Hartlepool St Francis is

responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football

belongs to and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it. Our commitment is to

confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital

status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage

equal opportunities. This policy is fully supported by the Club Officers who are responsible for the

implementation of this policy.

Hartlepool St Francis, in all its activities will not discriminate, or in any way treat anyone less

favourably, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin,

colour, religion or belief, ability or disability. It means that Hartlepool St Francis will ensure that it

treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for all

members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, its activities.

Hartlepool St Francis will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse or victimisation of an individual,

which for the purposes of this policy and the actions and sanction applicable is regarded as

discrimination. This includes sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour,

whether physical or verbal.

Hartlepool St Francis will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in

whatever context it occurs.

Hartlepool St Francis is committed to taking positive action where inequalities exist, and to the

development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness - raising events and activities in

order to promote the eradication of discrimination and promote equality in football.

Hartlepool St Francis is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all

members to abide and adhere to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities

legislation - Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Disability Discrimination Act

1995 as well as any amendments to these acts and any new legislation.

Hartlepool St Francis commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims, when it is brought

to its attention, of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a

requirement that the practice stop and sanctions imposed as appropriate.

Club Complaints Procedure in the event that any member feels that he or she has suffered

discrimination in any way or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct have been broken they

should follow the procedures below.

 They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or another member of the Committee.

The report should include:

Details of what, when, and where the occurrence took place

Any witness statement and names

Names of any others who have been treated in a similar way

Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to

whom made 

A preference for a solution to the incident

The Club’s Management Committee will sit for any hearings that are requested.

The Club’s Management Committee will have the power to:

Warn as to future conduct

Suspend from membership

Remove from membership any person found to have broken the Club’s Policies

or Codes of Conduct.

If the complaint is with regard to the Club’s Management Committee, the member has the right to

report the discrimination direct to the relevant County Football Association.

As the governing body of the game, The Football Association is responsible for setting standards and

values to apply throughout the game at every level. Football belongs to, and should be enjoyed by,

everyone equally. Our commitment is to eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender,

sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or ability and to encourage equal

opportunities.

Club expectation from players, parents/carers and  supporters

Abide by the FA respect code of conduct for players / parents / supporters

Players to wear appropriate footwear and shin pads for matches and training

A drink of water should be taken to every match / training session

Players are expected to attend all training sessions (or you may not be selected for the

match)

Ensure prompt drop off / pick up timings for training sessions

Ensure players arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before kick-off time to ensures a correct

warm up and team practise can take place

To support the club in any way you can

To applaud the opposition

Please let the manager manage and the children play football

You must not coach your child from the side line during training or match days, this is

the duty of our managers, too many instructions will confuse the players

Please reply to any messages your manager may send regarding training or matches.

Failure to do so could result in games being cancelled as the manager will think that

you are unavailable and a whole team could lose out.

If you are not available for training or are constantly late, you may not start or play the

next match

Players who suffer with asthma must leave a named inhaler with the coach/manager at

all times

HARTLEPOOL ST FRANCIS MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP FEE IS £23 PER MONTH AND ALL MEMBERS CAN PAY BY CLICKING THE BELOW LINK 

https://hartlepoolstfrancis.subscriby.shop/

BY MAKING PAYMENT YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE T&C'S SET OUT BELOW BY HARTLEPOOL ST FRANCIS FC

NON PAYMENT OF SUBS WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING ACTION TAKING PLACE

• TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM

GREEN

 If not brought up to date after 7 days the club will contact you with a polite reminder requesting payments. 

AMBER

After 14 days the club will  contact you with a final reminder requesting payment.

RED  

After 28 days you will be contacted and unfortunately players will be suspended until the appropriate payments are made and the account is brought completely up to date.

*Obviously we do not want this to happen, and the club does not want to enforce this, but unfortunately without subs the club cannot function and remain open. 

NOTE: If you are having difficulty paying the subs you should inform your team manager or club welfare officer immediately.

The following must be adhere to

• Subs will be payable until the final match and/ or training session took place, irrespective of whether you attended or not.

• You will also be required to return Hartlepool St Francis badged Kit/Equipment.

NOTE: This is the property of the Hartlepool St Francis and not team or individual irrespective of who pays for it. 

*It has a value and thus non return may lead to a debt that will prevent a player signing for another club until settled. 

*Any personalised Named kit need not be returned.

Please Note:

A player, who intends to leave a club for another, needs the permission of the club he/she is currently registered with. 

This will not be given until all financial matters are settled.

If you are having difficulty paying the subs you should inform your team manager or club welfare officer immediately.

NOTE If kits are not returned you will be charged full price for each item not returned

All the officials, managers and coaches are volunteers. 

However, we still have to collect memberships to cover the expenses we incur as a Club. 

Without payment, quite simply St Francis football club would not exist. 

To ensure your son / daughter is able to train and then play at the weekend costs many thousands of pounds a year.

How much is our monthly membership and when and how do we pay them? 

• membership will be collected via the clubs subscription shop from 1st July 2023

• If having technical issues paying a club representative will arrange for a cash payment until we resolve these issues on a short-term basis. 

• Hartlepool St Francis can increase or change how we collect subs at any time, but we will always give 28 days' notice.  

Some of the main expenses we have are.

• Pitch hires for winter training on artificial pitches or indoor training. 

• Maintenance of all the pitches including hire of the pitches from the local council 

• Maintenance of all equipment 

• Referees’ fees

• Insurance

• Durham League Affiliation

• Renewal of match equipment

• Paying football professional development and coaching courses 

• Presentation nights, trophies

 MEDICAL FORM

The following information will be used in the event that a next of kin is not available. 

The purpose of this information is to provide a quick reference for medical personnel should the need arise. 

Please fill out this form completely and return it to the Teams Manager as soon as possible.

If a particular question is not applicable, please write none or n/a.

 If additional space is need please use the back of this form. 

All information disclosed here will be treated as confidential. 

PLAYERS  INFORMATION

Name: 

Date of Birth:

Address:

Postcode:

PARENT/ GUARDIAN  INFORMATION

Name: 

Date of Birth:

Address:

Postcode: 

Mobile:

EMERGENCY MEDICAL INFORMATION

Please list any information relevant to your child's medical history.

Allergies:

Medical Conditions:

Injuries:

Medication:

NEXT OF KIN DETAILS

Name: 

Address:

Relationship:

Mobile:

If we cannot get hold of your first next of kin, please state a second below.

Name: 

Address:

Relationship:

Mobile:

I hereby give consent to any and all health care providers, authorise any first aid, emergency

treatment, including but not limited to transportation to and from health care facilities

(doctors/hospital) and/or any medical professional to provide treatment, order injections,

hospitalise, give anaesthesia or perform surgery. I understand that this authorisation is given prior

to any need for medical care, but given to avoid unnecessary delay in emergency treatment which

may be deemed advisable in the exercise of best judgement by the health care professionals.

Print Full Name

_________________________________________________

Signature

_________________________________________________

Date

_________________________________________________

For use of Photographs, Film or Video Recordings of Children or Vulnerable Adults

Dear Parent / Guardian

Hartlepool St Francis is committed to the protection of children involved in sport, We like to celebrate children’s participation in sport at Hartlepool St Francis FC with appropriate images and have rules set in place when using camera's.

We do not allow any images taken by anyone in private areas such as changing rooms, shower

facilities and toilets and for this reason we require children to switch off mobile phones when they arrive at Hartlepool St Francis FC premises- these include matches away from Hartlepool St Francis FC premises.

Photography

If you want to take pictures  of your children in activities, please ask the relevant manager and if appropriate also the opposing team manager.

Please do respect the decision taken as we cannot always agree to image taking.

Examples may be that posing for unofficial images may get in the way of some activities. 

Another important reason for not giving permission is that it is sometimes against the law to take images of particular children – they may have been removed from their family for safety reasons, there may be a dispute between parents or where parents have refused permission for images to be taken.

Use of Photographs

Hartlepool St Francis FC may ask a photographer to attend activities and team matches. 

Photographs will be used as a historical record of the club as well as using its images in media, in support of sponsor publications as well as the Hartlepool St Francis FC website.

Hartlepool St Francis FC will take all reasonable measures to ensure these images are used solely for the

purposes for which they are intended.

If you become aware these images are being used inappropriately you should inform Hartlepool St Francis FC Welfare Officer immediately (listed above)

Hartlepool St Francis FC reserves the right at all times to prohibit the use of photography, film or video at any activity with which it is associated.

Once completed Please return to your team manager 

PLAYER/PARENT AGREEMENT 

BY SIGNING BELOW, I AGREE TO HAVE READ THIS THE FULL WELCOLME PACK

AND I AGREE TO ABIDE BY ALL THE POLICIES THAT ARE PROVIDED IN THIS

DOCUMENT AND UNDERSTAND THAT BREAKING ANY OF THEM COULD RESULT

IN YOU OR YOUR CHILD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TEAM OR CLUB

PLAYER: ________________________________ 

DATE:___________ ________________________

PARENT: ________________________________ 

DATE: ___________________________________

COACH : ________________________________

 DATE: ___________________________________

Parents/Guardian telephone number

____________________________________________

Parents/Guardian contact email

_____________________________________________