Safety is
everyone's responsibility.

1. Our commitment

Bole Michael Football Club & Academy is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for every child and young person who participates in our football programs, training sessions, trials, competitions and academy activities.

We believe that every child has the right to participate in football without abuse, discrimination, harassment, bullying, exploitation or inappropriate treatment.

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. Coaches, staff, volunteers, players, parents and guardians are expected to contribute to a positive and safe football environment.

2. Who this policy applies to

This safeguarding commitment applies to everyone involved in the academy, including:

• Players and young people
• Parents and guardians
• Coaches and assistant coaches
• Academy staff and administrators
• Volunteers and team officials
• Visitors and other individuals involved in academy activities

3. Respect and appropriate conduct

Everyone involved with Bole Michael Football Club & Academy is expected to treat children and young people with dignity, respect and fairness.

We do not tolerate:

• Physical abuse or violence
• Sexual abuse, exploitation or inappropriate sexual conduct
• Emotional or psychological abuse
• Bullying or intimidation
• Harassment or discriminatory behaviour
• Humiliation or degrading treatment
• Threats or deliberate harm
• Inappropriate communication with children
• Any conduct that places a child at unnecessary risk

4. Safe coaching and supervision

Coaches and other adults working with young players should maintain professional boundaries and act in the best interests of the player.

Training, trials, matches and other activities involving young players should be organised with appropriate supervision, communication and attention to the age and development of the players.

Coaches should avoid conduct or situations that could reasonably place a child at risk or create an inappropriate relationship between an adult and a young player.

5. Parents and guardians

Parents and guardians play an important role in creating a safe football environment.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to:

• Keep the academy informed of relevant concerns affecting their child
• Support respectful behaviour toward players, coaches and officials
• Follow academy rules and safeguarding procedures
• Raise concerns when they believe a child may be at risk
• Ensure registration and consent information is accurate

6. Trials and registration of young players

Because many of our programs are designed for children and young people, trial and registration information should normally be submitted by a parent, legal guardian or another person with appropriate authority.

The academy will seek to use player information only for legitimate registration, communication, football development, safeguarding and administrative purposes.

Parents and guardians should provide accurate contact information so that the academy can communicate appropriately regarding training, trials and other relevant activities.

7. Photography and video

Football activities may be photographed or recorded for academy communications, football development, news, promotional material or website and social media content.

When children or young players are identifiable, the academy will consider appropriate parental or guardian consent before using their images publicly.

We aim to avoid publishing unnecessary personal information alongside photographs or videos of young players.

8. Online safety

The academy recognises that safeguarding also applies to digital communication and social media.

Coaches, staff and other adults involved with young players should maintain appropriate professional boundaries when communicating online or through digital platforms.

Personal information, private conversations, photographs and videos involving young players should be handled responsibly and should not be shared inappropriately.

9. Bullying, discrimination and inclusion

Bole Michael Football Club & Academy is committed to an inclusive football environment.

Bullying, discrimination, harassment or exclusion based on a player's background, identity, ability, circumstances or other personal characteristics will not be accepted.

Players should be encouraged to respect one another and to report behaviour that makes them or another player feel unsafe.

10. Reporting a safeguarding concern

Anyone who is concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child involved with the academy should raise the concern as soon as possible.

Concerns may relate to something that has happened at training, during a match, at a trial, online, during travel, or in any other situation connected with an academy activity.

You do not need to be certain that abuse or harm has occurred before raising a genuine safeguarding concern.

Safeguarding concerns can be reported directly to the academy using the contact details below:

11. Immediate danger or emergency

If a child is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical assistance, contact the appropriate emergency or public protection services in your area first, and notify the academy as soon as it is safe to do so.

The academy should not be treated as a replacement for emergency, medical, police or child-protection services.

12. Confidentiality

Safeguarding concerns should be handled sensitively and shared only with people who have a legitimate reason to receive the information.

Information may need to be shared with appropriate authorities or professional services where necessary to protect a child, comply with applicable requirements, or respond to an emergency.

The safety and best interests of the child remain the priority.

13. Recruitment, training and supervision

The academy aims to ensure that individuals responsible for working with young players understand their responsibilities toward children and maintain appropriate professional standards.

Where applicable, the academy will use appropriate recruitment, reference, safeguarding training, supervision and conduct procedures for people working with children.

These procedures should be reviewed and strengthened as the academy develops its youth programs.

14. Player welfare

Player development is not limited to football performance. The academy recognises the importance of discipline, character, respect, wellbeing and a positive learning environment.

Coaches and academy staff should consider the age, development and individual circumstances of young players when planning training and football activities.

15. Working with parents and the football community

Safeguarding works best when the academy, players, parents, guardians, coaches and wider football community work together.

We encourage open communication and expect concerns to be raised responsibly and promptly.

16. Review of this policy

This safeguarding policy will be reviewed as the academy's programs, staffing, facilities and safeguarding procedures develop.

We may update this page when our safeguarding arrangements change or when additional procedures are introduced.

Last updated: September 2026