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🛡️ Safeguarding Adults in Football



“Respect. Protect. Empower.”

In today’s game, safeguarding isn’t just about children — it’s about every person in football, at every level. The FA / England Football Learning "Safeguarding Adults" course ensures coaches and club staff understand how to create safe, inclusive environments for all adults — particularly those who may be at risk of harm, exploitation, or neglect.


Whether you're working in grassroots, disability, or mental health football, this course is a crucial step in being a truly responsible and respectful coach.


🧠 Why Safeguarding Adults Matters


  • Many adult players face vulnerabilities (e.g., disabilities, mental health issues, or learning difficulties)

  • Coaches and club staff are often trusted figures — with that trust comes duty of care

  • A strong safeguarding culture protects both participants and staff


“Being a great coach starts with being a great human being.”

📚 Course Overview: What You’ll Learn


🧭 1. Understanding Safeguarding in the Adult Context


  • What safeguarding means for adult players

  • Who is considered an "adult at risk"

  • Common misconceptions about autonomy and consent


💡 Not all safeguarding is about protection — it's often about empowerment and respect.

🧩 2. Recognising Signs of Abuse and Neglect


  • Physical, emotional, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse

  • Discrimination, domestic abuse, institutional abuse

  • How to spot patterns and red flags without overstepping


🧠 “You don’t need to diagnose — you need to care enough to act.”

🔄 3. The Importance of Mental Capacity and Consent


  • Adults have a legal right to make their own decisions

  • Understanding mental capacity assessments

  • How to ask questions respectfully and involve the right people


⚖️ Balancing independence and intervention is key.

🗣️ 4. How to Respond and Report Safely


  • What to do if someone shares a concern

  • How to respond without causing distress or panic

  • Knowing when and how to report to safeguarding officers or authorities

  • Confidentiality vs. safety — understanding boundaries


📞 “You don’t have to fix it — but you do have to report it.”

🧑‍🏫 5. Creating an Inclusive and Safe Environment


  • Establishing clear codes of conduct

  • Encouraging open communication in your team

  • Ensuring accessibility and understanding for all players

  • Treating players as individuals, not just footballers


🏳️‍🌈 Inclusion isn’t an add-on. It’s part of your culture.

✅ Course Format & Delivery


  • 💻 Online delivery (self-paced)

  • 🕓 Takes around 45–60 minutes

  • ✅ Includes real-life scenarios and case studies

  • 🧾 Certification provided upon completion


This is not just a qualification — it's a responsibility every coach should take seriously.

🔑 Why This Qualification Sets You Apart


Having this certification means you're:


✔ Aware of the unique safeguarding needs of adult participants

✔ Equipped to take early, appropriate action

✔ Committed to building an inclusive football culture

✔ Trusted by players, clubs, and the wider footballing community


“The best coaches build environments where every adult feels safe, valued, and respected.”

⚽ Safeguarding in Practice: What It Looks Like


🗣️ Listening actively and checking in on players

📋 Making sure club policies include adult-specific safeguarding

👥 Working closely with Welfare Officers or Safeguarding Leads

🚪 Creating safe spaces on and off the pitch


It’s not about ticking a box — it’s about making a difference.

🏁 In Summary


The FA Safeguarding Adults course provides essential knowledge for all who work with adult participants. It helps ensure that football remains inclusive, safe, and enjoyable — no matter a player’s age, ability, or circumstance.


🌍 Putting People First in the Modern Game


Steve Halls is an FA qualified football coach offering consultancy, talent identification, mentoring and player representation in Cheshunt and the surrounding areas. In today’s connected world, Steve can offer his services to players, clubs, and organisations across the globe. With safeguarding and player welfare at the heart of his approach, Steve builds coaching environments that empower and protect — not just train.











Report hate and protect our game




ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Together we can end hate in football

In grassroots football, hate has many faces

Hate reveals itself in players, in coaches, in spectators. It ruins the experience for everyone who’s there just to enjoy the game.

Report hate and protect our game

Too often, people who don’t want to make a scene feel they have no option but to stand by and let it happen. Until now. 

We’ll take action when you tell us

As our eyes and ears on the ground, we’re asking you tell us every time you see hate happening. You can report it anonymously if you wish, your report will always be confidential. When we know about it, we can take the tough action needed to remove the haters, with tougher sanctions than ever before.

Only when you do your part can we do ours 

Together, we can protect our game. It means not standing by or relying on others. It means stepping up by reporting abusive behaviour every time it happens, whenever and wherever you experience it.

When you report hate, we can take the steps needed to remove it, and together can protect the game we love.



What counts as hate?

In grassroots football, hate is verbal abuse, insulting gestures or prejudicial behaviour. Racism, sexism and homophobia are the most common hate incidents we hear about, but we want to hear about any form of discriminatory behaviour any time it happens. If it feels wrong to you, it will to others too.

What are the punishments?

Let us be clear, we will take the strongest action against those who ruin the game for others. Tough punishments for players, coaches and spectators – and anyone else – who behave in discriminatory ways include:

• Players will be removed from play • Players will be suspended for games • Clubs can have points deducted • Clubs can have their ground closed • Spectators will be asked to leave

Remember, reporting hate is the first step to removing it and protecting the game we love.

How do I report hate?

We need you to report abusive behaviour every time you experience it. Only then will we know it’s happened. Only then can we act to remove it.


You can report hate anonymously if you wish, or you can give us your name along with your evidence. This gives us a better chance of successfully punishing offenders. When you do your part, you can rely on us to do ours.


You can report anything you don’t like at any time, even after the match has finished. To make this easy, here are four ways of telling us:


• To report it to The FA click here • To report it to Kick It Out click here • Report it to your County FA • Report it to a Match Official




What support is available?

If you are a victim of hate or discriminatory abuse, we make specialist support available to you. Funded by The FA, this a range of mental health and emotional well-being services delivered by the charity Sporting Chance.

You will have access to between one and six counselling sessions, with extra sessions considered on an exceptional basis. These are face-to-face within 45 minutes of where you live, or by online platforms. The sessions:

• start with an assessment of how the incident has affected you, followed by a confidential and safe talking space with a skilled therapist

• then focus on assisting you in contextualising the incident in the context of your broader life

• will be followed by teaching on self-care


Together we can stop HATE!



Embracing Neurodiversity in Football: NexxtGen Football's Commitment




Next week marks Neurodiversity Week 2024, an important time to celebrate and raise awareness about the diverse range of neurological differences among individuals. At NexxtGen Football, we recognise the significance of embracing neurodiversity, especially in the context of youth football, and we are fully committed to creating an inclusive environment where every player feels valued and supported.


Neurodiversity encompasses a spectrum of neurological variations, including conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, among others. While these differences may present unique challenges, they also bring a wealth of strengths and talents to the table. It's essential to understand that neurodiversity is not a limitation but rather a different way of experiencing the world.


As we strive to foster an inclusive football community, we believe it's crucial to accommodate the diverse needs of all players, regardless of their neurological profile. Whether it's providing additional support during training sessions, implementing sensory-friendly practices, or offering personalised coaching strategies, we are dedicated to ensuring that every player has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential on the pitch.


Steve Halls, the founder of NexxtGen Football, emphasises the importance of embracing neurodiversity in football. "At NexxtGen, we firmly believe that diversity is our greatest strength," says Steve. "By embracing the unique abilities and perspectives of neurodiverse players, we not only enrich our football community but also create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone."


In the world of professional football, there are several neurodiverse players who have made significant contributions to the sport. One notable example is former Premier League goalkeeper Tim Howard, who openly discusses his experiences with Tourette syndrome and ADHD. Howard's success on the pitch serves as a powerful reminder that neurodiversity is not a barrier to achievement but rather a part of what makes each individual unique.



Tim Howard


As Neurodiversity Week approaches, NexxtGen Football reaffirms its commitment to promoting inclusivity and understanding in youth football. We encourage coaches, players, and supporters alike to embrace the diversity of neurodiverse individuals and to celebrate the talents and contributions they bring to the beautiful game.


Together, let's champion neurodiversity in football and create a more inclusive future for all players, both on and off the pitch.


Best wishes,



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