Longlevens Infants Football Club
MEMBERSHIP HANDBOOK

2010/2011 – What a season!


Firstly I’d like to congratulate the children, coaches and parents for a very successful season which has seen us win The Gloucester Youth Football League at both under 9 and under 10, also the league cup at under 9 and the league six a side at under 10. We have been successful in the summer tournaments with a clean sweep at Hucclecote in both age groups. Both under 9 and under 10 teams that were in the MGMS League finished as runners up which was a fantastic achievement. Our under 11’s side finished well in their league and now look forward to playing eleven a side football for Longlevens AFC – good luck!

The younger age groups are developing very well, next seasons under 9 sides are ready to go, this season we will be in the same league as we are not satisfied that the MGMS League is the best way forward for numerous reasons. Our under 7’s teams are playing very well and represented the club at the West Brom tournament, they were unbeaten and only conceded one goal! The other age groups are on track in their development and will soon be playing competitively.

We have well over 150 children involved in the club now and are growing all the time. Unfortunately with this number of people involved inevitably some people will have gripes, almost always when football changes to regular match play and teams are selected. It is disappointing when any child leaves the club but we try very hard to keep everyone happy – it is just not possible to keep everyone happy all of the time. Enclosed in this handbook you will find all of our codes of conduct and rules. You will see that this club isn’t something that just “happens” it takes an immense amount of time and planning in almost everything that we do. If at any time you do feel unhappy about something please feel free to talk to me or one of my coaches so that we can see if a resolution can be found, it’s not always possible but we will try our best.

We were awarded the highest possible FA Charter Standard mark this year which is something to be very proud of and also goes to show that we comply with ALL practices and procedures as laid out by the football governing body. This is a rigorous inspection and leaves no room for poor practice. You can be rest assured that LIFC has been very thoroughly examined and we were awarded the maximum level that we could achieve, the equivalent to outstanding in a school OFSTED inspection. We are very proud of this and have an ambitious development plan for the future, watch this space!

Thanks again for your support and we hope that your children continue to develop in the coming season.

Darren Smart - Head Coach

EQUIPMENT NEED


The football club will provide equipment for training sessions. Players should bring training kit suitable for the conditions. Appropriate football boots/training boots, shin pads and a drink should also be brought along to all training sessions and matches. Failure to have the correct equipment may result in exclusion from the session on safety grounds and to comply with insurance.


PLAYING LOCATIONS

Our home games will be played at Longlevens Infant School playing field. Away games will be in a variety of locations across Gloucestershire. Training takes place at the school also.


COST

The membership fee is £0 per season per player. Training & match day fees will be £3.00 per session paid for by a monthly direct debit of £12. Please note that LIFC has appointed the BACS Approved Direct Debit Bureau, Eazy Collect Services Limited (www.eazycollect.co.uk), to collect your payments and Eazy Collect will be shown on your bank statement.

Any member more than two weeks in arrears may render themselves unavailable for team selection until such time that payments have been received in full.

DN SPORTS COACHING
The origin of the business: Some years ago the head of the infant school asked if it was feasible to run an out of school football skills “club” due to expected demand from the children for such a service. We started this initiative and very quickly the service provided by DN Sports Coaching became very popular and several sessions per week were needed to accommodate all of the children.

As the business grew it became apparent that the children wanted to play matches and so we started to arrange friendly games against local teams. As the hunger for games grew we decided that we would set up a football club, Longlevens Infants FC (LIFC).

We then affiliated the club with the FA and subsequently entered a league structure. Today we are present in two leagues and have been awarded the charter standard development club status.

Longlevens Infants FC is an entirely finance free operation, no money goes into the club and no money goes out of the club. Your subs go to DN Sports Coaching who manage LIFC, your subs then get used to pay for all of the clubs extremely high running costs such as, affiliations, insurance, CRB checks, coach training and CPD, equipment (vast amounts!), coaches kit, coaches wages, donations to the school etc. the list is exhaustive. DN Sports Coaching also provide sports coaching to the infant school on a regular basis – free of charge. All of this has been verified and checked by both the GFA and the FA and full details are disclosed to HMRC.

LONGLEVENS INFANTS FOOTBALL CLUB
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Longlevens Infants Football Club believes that every child and young person that plays football should be able to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football.

Longlevens Infants Football Club recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying.

The aims of this policy are:

• To develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children and young people who play football.
• To demonstrate best practice in the area of child protection.
• To promote ethics and high standards throughout football.

The key principles underpinning this 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, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.


Our Child Protection Designated Person is as follows:


Darren Smart
FA Child Welfare Officer
07710 634245















CLUB USE OF PLAYER PHOTOGRAPHS

From time to time we would like to include images of our players and teams on the club website, news letters and other promotional material. Photographs may also be forwarded to the local press. Through the use of players images we hope to promote the club, however we recognise the need to ensure the safety and welfare of all young people. We will not allow photographs, videos or other images of young people to be taken without the consent of parents/carers and the individual.

Longlevens Infants FC will take all possible steps to ensure the images are used solely for the promotion and celebration of the club and no other use.

The club will follow the Football associations Child protection guidelines:

• All children will be appropriately dressed
• Images should focus on the activity and on small groups rather than the individual.
• Images of a child under a court under will not be used
• Personal details will not be revealed
• The consent form must be returned before any images are used
• Any concerns over the inappropriate use of images should be reported to the clubs Child protection officer








I_________________________________________ (parent/carer) consent to Longlevens Infants FC Videoing or photographing _____________________________ (name of child).

I also confirm that they are not currently under a court order.

Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________ Date: ________________


I __________________________________________ (Name of child) consent to the club photographing or videoing my involvement in football.

Players Signature: ________________________________________ Date: _________________






Membership Registration Form


PLAYER DETAILS

Full name: ______________________________________________________________________________
Home Address: __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ Post Code: __________________

Home Tel: ______________________________________ Mobile No. ______________________________

Date of Birth & School Year from Sept 2011:___________________________________________________

I agree to abide by the club rules and codes of conduct and the rules and regulations of the football association and all competitions that the club participate in. Failure to observe these rules could result in in expulsion from the club. I understand that Longlevens Infants FC accept no liability for any Personal injury or loss/damage to personal effects whilst attending any club activities. I agree to the club keeping my information on file (The club is bound by the Data Protection Act).

Players Signature:____________________________ Print__________________________ Date________


Parent/Guardian Signature:_____________________ Print__________________________ Date________