1 Status of Rules

These Rules, (the Club Rules) are made under Section 29 of the Club Constitution and form a binding agreement between each member of the Club.

2 Rules and Regulations 

a) The Club shall have the status of an affiliated member club of the Football Association by virtue of its affiliation to the Worcestershire County Football association.

b) The Club shall have a Child Protection Officer who has attended a Football Association Child Protection course.

c) All adults working within the Club Shall consent to a check with the Criminal Records Bureau and to disclosure to the County Football association.

d) The Club shall appoint a Schools Liaison Officer.

e) A representative of the Club shall attend a Football Association Soccer Parent Course.

f) The Club will follow the advice of the Football Association with regard to best practice in Child Protection.

g) One coach with the minimum of a Level 1 Coaching Certificate must attend each team training session and matches.

h) The Club shall have a Code of Conduct for parents, players, coaches and officers.

3 Club Membership

a) The members of the Club shall be those persons currently registered by the Club with Stourport and District Youth Football League (the League).

b) Team Managers shall maintain a register of players.

c) Any person wishing to be a member must apply using the League registration form and deliver it to the Club. Election to membership shall be at the sole discretion of the Team Manager. Membership shall become effective as from the date entered on the registration card by the League and shall be deemed as a membership record.

d) In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion, the Club will hold the player’s registration until the end of the season, or transfer to another club.

e) The Association or Affiliated Association shall have access to membership records on demand.

f) Registration documents shall be taken to all matches and tournaments and presented to the opponents.

g) A Club Officer is also deemed to be a member.

4 Annual Membership Fees

a) An annual fee payable by each member shall be determined by the Club Committee (the Committee). Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be refundable.

 b) The Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfill the objectives of the Club.

5 Resignation and Expulsion

a) A member shall cease to be a member upon written notice of resignation being received by the Secretary. Any outstanding fees due to this date must be paid in full.

 b) The Committee shall have the power to expel a member when it would not be in the best interests of the Club for him to remain a member. There shall be appeal procedures.

c) A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or any share of, Club property.

5 Club Committee

a) The Committee shall comprise the Officers of the Club and other members appointed under the terms of the Constitution.

b) Each Officer and Committee member shall hold office from the date of election until the next Annual General Meeting, resignation or expulsion. No person may hold more than two positions at any one time.

c) The Committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the club. Election to the Committee shall be by a simple majority of all existing Committee members or at the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman shall have the casting vote in the event of a tie. In the absence of the Chairman a suitable member of the Committee shall be nominated to chair the meeting before it commences. The quorum for Committee meetings shall be three.

d) The decisions shall be entered into a Minute Book maintained by the Secretary. The Minute Book may be maintained electronically.

e) Any member of the Committee may call a meeting by giving 14 days notice in writing to the Secretary.

f) The Committee shall meet on not less than four occasions each year.

g) Any Committee member who does not attend any club matches or Committee meetings for 12 consecutive weeks may be deemed to have resigned.

h) Save in as provided for in the Constitution and the Rules and Regulations of the Football Association and the Worcestershire County Football Association, to which the Club is affiliated, the Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issues concerning the Club Rules.

i) The Committee shall have the power to make byelaws as deemed necessary and to amend them accordingly. No byelaw may nullify the effect of any rules.

j) A Committee member may be dismissed as a member of the Committee for Gross Misconduct. What constitutes Gross Misconduct must be laid down in the byelaws and shall not be made retrospectively.

6 Annual General Meeting

At the Annual General Meeting the Chairman shall provide a report on the activities of the Club and the Treasurer shall report on the Club’s finances and the Annual Accounts.

7 Club Teams

The Committee shall have the power to appoint a person (the Manager) to be responsible for each team. The Manager shall be responsible to the Committee for managing the affairs of the team and will be deemed a member of the club but not a member of the Committee unless otherwise elected. The Manager shall present to the Committee a report on the activities of the team at the end of each season and before the Annual General Meeting.

8 Club Finances

a) A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Club (Club Account). The designated signatories shall be the Treasurer and any member of the Committee. No sum shall be drawn out of the Club Account except by a cheque signed by the Treasurer and one other designated signatory.

b) The Treasurer shall receive all monies due to the Club.

c) When a member leaves the Club whether by resignation or expulsion he is responsible for returning all Club property, failure to do so will result in the member being charged for the value of the property together with any costs incurred by the Club in recovery as deemed appropriate by the Committee.

In these Rules any reference to gender is for convenience only, any reference to either gender should be construed as applying to both.

As an organisation working with children and young people the Club and adults involved with the Club have a “duty of care” towards them.

We endorse the principles that:

• Children and young people have a right to enjoy sport, free from all forms of abuse and exploitation.
• All children and young people have equal rights to protection from harm.
• All children and young people should be encouraged to fulfil their potential and inequalities should be challenged.
• Everybody has a responsibility to support the care and protection of children.
• Sporting organisations have a duty of care to children and young people who take part in sport.

Code of Conduct for Coaches

1. Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of each and every person and treat each equally within the context of the sport.
2. Coaches must place the well being and safety of each player above all other considerations, including the development of performance.
3. Coaches must adhere to all guidelines set down by governing bodies.
4. Coaches must develop an appropriate working relationship with each player based on mutual trust and respect.
5. Coaches must not exert any undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
6. Coaches must encourage and guide players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
7. Coaches must ensure that the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of players.
8. Coaches should at the outset, clarify with the players (and, where appropriate, parent) exactly what is expected of them and also what they are entitled to expect from their coach.
9. Coaches must co-operate fully with other specialists (e.g. other coaches, officials, sports scientists, doctors, physiotherapists) in the best interest of the player.
10. Coaches must always promote the positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play) and never condone violations of the Laws of the Game, behaviour contrary to the spirit of the Laws of the Game or relevant rules and regulations or the use of prohibited substances or techniques.
11. Coaches must consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.
12. Coaches must not use or tolerate inappropriate language.

Code of Conduct for Players

Obligations towards the game

A player should

1. Make every effort to develop their own sporting abilities in terms of skills technique, tactics and stamina.
2. Give maximum effort and strive for the best possible performance during a game, even if his or her team is in a position where the desired result has already been achieved.
3. Set a positive example for others, particularly young players and supporters.
4. Avoid all forms of gamesmanship and time wasting.
5. Always have regard for the best interests of the game, including where publicly expressing an opinion on the game and any particular aspect of it, including others involved in the game.
6. Not use inappropriate language.

Obligations towards one’s own team

A player should

1. Make every effort consistent with Fair Play and the Laws of the Game to help their own team win.
2. Resist any influence, which might, or might be seen to, bring into question their commitment to the team winning.

Respect for the Laws of the Game and competition rules

A player should

1. Know and abide by the laws, rules and spirit of the game, and the Competition rules.
2. Accept success and failure, victory and defeat, equally.
3. Resist any temptation to take banned substances or used banned techniques

Respect towards Opponents

A player should

1. Treat opponents with due respect at all times, irrespective of the result of the game.
2. Safeguard the physical fitness of opponents, avoid violence and rough play and help injured opponents.

Respect towards the Match Officials

A player should

1. Accept the decision of the match official without protest.
2. Avoid words or actions, which may mislead a Match Official.
3. Show due respect towards Match Officials.

Respect towards Team Officials 

A player should

1. Abide by the instructions of their coach and team officials, provided they
2. Do not contradict the spirit of this code.
3. Show due respect towards the Team Officials of the opposition.

Obligations towards the Supporters

A player should

1. Show due respect to the interests of the supporters.

Code of Conduct for Team Officials

Obligations Towards the game

The team official should

1. Set a positive example for others, particularly young players and supporters.
2. Promote and develop his own team having regard to the interest of the players, supporters and reputation of the national game.
3. Share knowledge and experience when invited to do so, taking into account the interest of the body that has requested this rather than personal interests.
4. Avoid all forms of gamesmanship.
5. Show due respect to match officials and others involved in the game.
6. Always have regard for the best interests of the game, including where publicly expressing an opinion of the game and any particular aspect of it, including others involved in the game.
7. Not use or tolerate inappropriate language.

Obligations towards the team

The team official should

1. Make every effort to develop the sporting, technical and tactical levels of the club/team, and to obtain the best results for the team, using all permitted terms.
2. Give priority to the interests of the team over individual interests of the team over individual interests.
3. Resist al illegal or unsporting influences, including banned substances and techniques.
4. Promote ethnical principles.
5. Show due respect for the interests of the players, coaches and the officials, their own club/team and others.

Obligations towards the supporters

The team official should

1. Show due respect for the interests of supporters.

Respect towards the match officials

A team official should

1. Accept the decisions of the match official without protest.
2. Avoid words or actions, which may mislead a match official.
3. Show due respect towards match officials.

Code of Conduct for Parents/Spectators

Parents/Spectators have a great influence on children’s enjoyment and success in football. All children play football because the first and foremost love the game-it’s fun. It is important to remember that however good a child becomes at football within your club it is important to reinforce the message to parents/spectators that positive encouragement will contribute to:

• Children enjoying football
• A sense of personal achievement
• Self-esteem
• Improving the child’s skills and techniques.

A parents/spectators expectations and attitudes have a significant bearing on a child’s attitude towards: 

• Other players
• Officials
• Managers
• Spectators

Ensure that parents/spectators within your club are always positive and encouraging towards all of the children not just their own.

Encourage parents/spectators to:

• Applaud the opposition as well as your own team.
• Avoid coaching the child during the game.
• Not to shout and scream.
• Respect the referee’s decision.
• Give attention to each of the children involved in football not just the most talented.
• Give encouragement to everyone to participate in football.

Disciplinary Procedure

All players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators connected with Kidderminster Athletic sign a code of conduct at the beginning of each season, which must be returned with the registration from each year. Failure to provide these will mean a player cannot be registered until they have returned the aforementioned code of conduct.

The committee shall deal with any breaches of the code of conduct or the rules of the league or the rules of the football association. The names and telephone numbers of all the committee members shall be published in the newsletter every month.

Should anyone wish to make an informal complaint then a telephone call to any member of the committee will mean that the matter is discussed at the next meeting and the finding will be noted in the minutes and verbally communicated to the complainer.

Should anyone deem a matter serious enough to warrant a formal complaint then the matter should be referred to the secretary in writing. The secretary may then call a disciplinary hearing to resolve the matter. Any member of the club may be required to attend a disciplinary hearing. The findings of the disciplinary hearing into a formal complaint will be made in writing to the complainer.

A matter of non-selection of a player is not a disciplinary matter. Anyone not satisfied with the result of the disciplinary hearing shall have the right to ask for a review of the case by the football association.

Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club 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.
 

1. 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, 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.

Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.

2. Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club has a role 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 (see The FA Handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who a volunteer, match official, or medical staff.
    
3.  We endorse and adopt The FA’s child protection and best practice guidelines for recruiting volunteers and will: -
1. Develop a role profile
2. Request identification documents
3. As a minimum meet and chat with applicants and where possible conduct interviews before appointing
4. Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines

All current Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit. If there are any concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club guidance will be sort 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 CRB Unit Enhanced CRB 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 and young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.

4. Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club 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 on 0207 745 4771, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA or by going direct to the police, social services or the NSPCC. Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club encourages everyone to know about it and utilise it if necessary.
    
5. Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club 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. The post holder will be involved with designated person’s training provided by The FA. The CWO is the first point of contact for all club members and parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person. They will liaise directly with the CFA CPO and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing an awareness of poor practice and abuse amongst club members.
    
6. 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 be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO. A member of the committee or, in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CPO.
    
7. Codes of conduct for players, parents, or spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club.

In order to validate these codes of conduct the club has clear sanctions to deal with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions, which may be implemented by leagues or the CFA in more serious cases. All prospective members will be informed of these codes.

8. Further advice on child protection can be obtained from: -
• The Worcestershire County Football Association’s child Protection Officer, whose details can be found in the County Handbook.
• The Football Association/NSPCC Child Protection 24-Hour Helpline 0808 800 5000
• www.The FA.com/goal
• The FA child protection team 0207 745 4649

Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the Club at every level. Football belongs to and should be enjoyed by everyone equally. Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability.

Equality of opportunity at Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club means that in all our activities we will not discriminate or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour religion or disability.

This includes:

• The advertisement for volunteers.
• The selection of candidates for volunteers.
• Courses.
• External coaching and education activities and awards.
• Football development activities.
• Selection for teams.
• Appointment to honorary positions.

Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal and will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.

Kidderminster Athletic Junior Football Club is committed to the development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination within its own organisation and in the wider context, within football as a whole.

These notes are intended to provide some guidance so that the Team Manager and Coaches can make the best use of the time they spend with the members of the team.

We strongly recommend that all players attend Tuesday training sessions. On match days selection preference may be given to those who attend training. If there is a good reason why a player cannot attend a training session or match please inform either their Team Manager or John Plane (01562 515187).

There is additional voluntary training available on Sundays when brothers or sisters are welcome to take part providing they are not older than nine years, this restrictions is for health and safety reasons.

ALL players must wear shin guards and suitable boots, trainers (indoors training) or Astroturf trainers at all matches and training sessions. This is a requirement of the Football Association that all Managers and Coaches must adhere to without exception. If a player does not have the correct equipment we cannot allow them to train or play.

Players should arrive 5 minutes before the scheduled start of any training session and 30 minutes before matches.

The Club provide rain jackets for team members, can you please ensure that they are worn when players attend training sessions and matches We believe that this helps to encourage team pride and spirit.

If you or your child is interested in becoming a member, please download, complete and return the attached application form.