The FA have announced minor changes to their Charter Standard Club programme. The criteria have been slightly modified to reflect the views of over 37,000 people who were consulted during the development of The FA’s National Game Strategy for 2008-12.
Many of the alterations also replicate examples of good practice that have been implemented by FA Charter Standard Clubs and, as a result, the Programme is further raising standards and supporting the needs of grassroots football.
From July 2009, all new clubs have to adhere to the new criteria together with those existing FA Charter Standard Clubs renewing their status in season 2009/10. However, for existing Charter Standard clubs, a transitional period has been allowed to provide sufficient time and support.
A full list of the criteria are as follows:
FA CHARTER STANDARD CLUB AND ADULT CLUB
Growth and Retention
1. Affiliated to CFA - Your club must be an affiliated/member of a County Football Association or The FA.
2. At least one team in an affiliated league - You must have at least one team that plays in an FA affiliated league.
3. School-Club Link established - You should have a link with at least one school. This could be informal, from where you recruit players, to a more formal link, where you may help deliver school football.
Raising Standards
1. Code of Conduct - Clubs should use The FA Respect Codes of Conduct, which covers players, officials, parents and spectators.
2. Good disciplinary record - As an FA Charter Standard Club you are expected to have a good disciplinary record. We recognise that sometimes things will go wrong but the challenge as an FA Charter Standard Club is how you deal with this using your own code of conduct.
3. CWO-WOW trained - You must have a Child Welfare Officer who has attended FA Safeguarding and Welfare Officer training.
4. CRB for all volunteers - Your club must follow guidance set by The FA in ensuring all adults who have regular access to young people have had checks carried out by The FA CRB unit.
5. Emergency Aid trained individual with every team - Minimum FA Emergency Aid.
6. Signed up to FA Respect Programme by July 2009.
7. First aid equipment - The club ensures that there is first aid equipment at all coaching sessions and matches.
8. Regular briefings - The club holds a briefing for players, parents/carers and officials at start of each season, covering the acceptable standard of behaviour and the need for positive playing environments.
Better Players
1. FA Level 1 coach with every team below Under 16s - At least one FA Level 1 coach per team (youth award only).
2. One coach to have attended FA Age-Appropriate training - Introductory Module from July 2009 for new Clubs and July 2010 for existing Clubs (youth award only).
3. Player/coach ratio - The player/coach ratio for coaching sessions reflects FA guidelines – two adults always present. No more than 1-16.
4. Qualified first aider present with each team (adult award only).
Running the Game
1. Club rules - The club should have a set of rules/constitution. You can adopt the example given in the FA Charter Standard Club resource.
2. Annual Club Accounts - These should be produced and presented to your AGM, with a copy forwarded to the CFA.
3. Public Liability Insurance - All clubs MUST have as a minimum Public Liability insurance (this is currently provided by ECFA as part of the affiliation).
4. Equity Policy - Please adopt and follow The FA policy as provided in the resource.
Volunteer Development
1. Volunteer Coordinator - This person should support other volunteers, help with the recruitment of volunteers. Please see role profile to assist you in the resource.
2. Football Workforce - The club uses Football Workforce so that coaches and volunteers have job descriptions with clear roles and responsibilities. Copies available from your CFA or online at www.TheFA.com.
3. In service – The club must attend at least one update/in-service per year.
Facilities
1. Clubs must follow FA Goalpost Safety guidelines.
FA CHARTER STANDARD DEVELOPMENT CLUB
Clubs must follow the criteria for FA Charter Standard Clubs plus the following:
Growth and Retention
1. At least five affiliated teams.
Raising Standards
1. Development Plan - Club should have a development plan that covers the following areas:
Club Vision
Growth and Retention
Raising Standards
Better players
Running the Game
Volunteer Development
In the resources you will find development plan examples and templates.
Better Players
1. FA Level 2 Coach - At least one coach who has achieved FA Level 2 Coaching award.
2. FA Youth Module 1 - At least one coach to have achieved FA Youth Module 1 by July 2010.
Volunteer Development
1. In-service - Club must attend at least two updates/in-service per year
FA CHARTER STANDARD COMMUNITY CLUB
Clubs must meet the criteria of FA Charter Standard, Adult and Development Club plus the following:
Growth and Retention
1. Teams - At least ten teams. Clubs should have both male and female teams from mini soccer to adult.
Raising Standards
1. Improving behaviour - The club holds at least one workshop per season on addressing behaviour and improving standards (ethos/philosophy).
2. Advanced development plan – The club should produce a three to five-year development plan that covers the following areas:
Club Vision
Growth and Retention
Raising Standards
Better Players
Running the Game
Volunteer Development
In the resources you will find development plan examples and templates.
Better Players
1. FA Youth Module 2 - At least one coach to have achieved FA Youth Module 2 by July 2011.
2. Volunteer Development.
3. Schools Coordinator - This should be your point of liaison with local schools.
4. FA Mentoring Course - One person to have attended FA Mentoring Course - new clubs July 2010/ existing clubs by July 2011.
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