Wellbeing & Protection

Information for Children and Young People

Regardless of how you are involved in Scottish football we want you to be safe, have fun and enjoy it. We want everyone to respect and promote your rights and to take your wellbeing and protection seriously so that you can achieve the best you can.

If you are looking for specific information on social media, please click here and for specific information on bullying, please click here.

For resources to help through the COVID-19 pandemic from a mental wellbeing point-of-view, made by the Scottish FA Youth Ambassadors of Change, please click here.

Your Rights

You have rights, whatever your ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status. Your rights are explained in the “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child” or “UNCRC”. This UNCRC provides a list that informs you of the rights that children and young people are entitled to around the world. The UK government agreed in 1991 to make these rights part of our laws, which means that adults have to follow these rights when making decisions that affect you. Some of your rights identified within the UNCRC are as follows:

• Article 1: A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18;
• Article 2: You have the right not to be discriminated against
• Article 3: Your best interests must be put first
• Article 12: You should have the opportunity to say what you think and to be taken seriously
• Article 19: You should be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and mistreatment
• Article 28: You should have access to education
• Article 31: You have the right to relax, play and join in a wide range of activities.

To find out more information on your rights you will be able to find a child-friendly rights poster by clicking here or a more detailed poster explaining each right by clicking here. The Children’s Commissioner for Scotland also works to help you understand your rights and to make sure those rights are respected. More information on the Children's Commissioner can be found here. 

Your rights also extend online. 5Rights Foundation exist to explain your rights online. Your 5Rights are:

• The right to remove - the right to easily edit or delete content
• The right to know - the right to know who is holding/profiting from your information
• The right to safety and support – the right to be protected from illegal practices and supported through upsetting scenarios
• The right to informed and conscious use –the right to understand and use technology but be able to control your usage
• The right to digital literacy – the right to be taught the skills to use and create digital technology effectively

To find out more on the 5Rights Foundation, the 5Rights and what you can do to use them in your daily life, please click here. 

Participation and Engagement 

When it comes to participation, engagement and including your voice in matters that affect you within the game, the Scottish FA runs the “Scottish FA Youth Ambassadors of Change programme”. Their role is to promote and represent every child and young person across the country involved in the game. For more information on the Scottish FA Youth Ambassadors of Change programme and what they do within the game please click here. 

Your Rights and your Club Registration

• A club registration is not a contract – it is a registration that allows you to play for a club;
• A registration does not guarantee game time;
• Registrations are not guaranteed every year – it should be seen as an opportunity;
• It is a binding legal document.

If you are registering with a Club Academy Scotland Club you should look to take the time to read the Young Player Registration Guidelines with your parent/carer and know your rights. The Scottish FA has a Young Player Wellbeing Panel (YPWP) to give consideration to and make decisions on registration issues referred by young players aged 10 – 17 years or their parent/carer who are registered within the Club Academy Scotland programme.

In the first instance you and your parent/carer should seek to resolve the issue your club academy and the club Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer. If it cannot be resolved, it should be referred to the YPWP. How to do this can be found in the Young Player Registration guidelines and this dispute then will be dealt with in line with the procedures and in a timely manner.

If you have any questions about your registration, you can email registrations@scottishfa.co.uk.

For guidance on what to consider if you are thinking about engaging the services of an intermediary (football agent) please take the time to read Information for Young People on the role of Intermediaries. 

How you can raise a concern

If you are worried or concerned about anything, this could be something about you, a family member, a friend or the way an adult is acting or acted towards you, there are a range of people who you can talk to who can help and provide you with the support you need:

• A trusted adult such as a parent/carer, a family member, a teacher or a doctor;
• Your coach;
• Your club’s Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer;
• The Scottish FA’s Wellbeing & Protection Department.

They will listen to you and take your concerns seriously. They may need to report these concerns on to someone else but they will inform you who they are going to tell and why. It can be daunting telling someone about your concerns but Childline provide some tips on how to build confidence within yourself so you can tell someone you trust. This guidance can be found here or through their YouTube page here. 

The team here at the Scottish FA can be contacted on 0141 616 6133 or childrenswellbeing@scottishfa.co.uk and we are more than happy to help and support you with any questions you have about being involved in football. Childline are available to support you 24/7 on 0800 1111 or if you are concerned about the way someone is communicating with you online, you can report this to CEOP here.

Further Support and Information 

For more information and guidance on a range of different topics and support services, please click here.