Parent Guide

Safeguarding

Fulham FC Foundation is committed to the wellbeing and safety of all participants and young people who are under the Club’s care or utilising the Club’s facilities. It is the duty of all adults working at the Club to safeguard the welfare of participants and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm.

The aims of Fulham FC Foundation’s Safeguarding Participants Policy are to:

Safeguard all participants and young people who interact with the Club.
Demonstrate best practice in the area of Safeguarding participants.
Positively reflect and promote the Club Values (Pioneers, Confident Custodians, Action Orientated, Open & Inclusive and Service Excellence) in regard to safeguarding participants.
Develop a positive and pro-active welfare programme to enable all participants and young people to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.
Encourage parents and other members of the participant or young person’s family to be involved in a positive relationship with the Club.
Ensure that coaches, parents and other adults who come in contact with participants and young people provide good role models of behaviour.
Promote high ethical standards throughout the Club.

Fulham FC Foundation's full safeguarding policy is available upon request from soccerschools@fulhamfc.com.

Barnardo's Safeguarding Report 2019

Barnardo's and the Premier League completed their annual safeguarding audit at Fulham FC and Fulham FC Foundation in 2019. The report summarised the work of the Foundation:

"At the heart of their work is a commitment to empowering the most vulnerable members of the communities in which they work. The Foundation meets all of the (safeguarding) standards to a very high standard. Governance and leadership is excellent and there is clear evidence that safeguarding is well embedded in the organisational culture.

Staff working and volunteering at all levels of the Foundation understand their safeguarding responsibilities and there is evidence that the safety and well-being of children and adults at risk is a key consideration in all they do.

The commitment to providing a safe environment for everyone permeates from the highest level down through every aspect of the Foundation and its activities."

For any safeguarding questions, please contact safeguarding@fulhamfc.com.

What To Bring

At Fulham Soccer Schools, we want your participant to get the most out their experience with us. We strongly recommend that your participant brings the following items. If your participant arrives at the venue without the compulsory items (marked *) we regret that they will not be permitted to take part and full payment will still be taken.

Appropriate footwear*

We recommend football boots (studs or moulds), Astroturf trainers or trainers.

Packed Lunch

Depending on the length of your participant's course, a healthy lunch is important for your participant to maintain good energy levels. Skill Development and Participant Progression groups will have a 1 hour break for lunch. All groups will also break for a snack mid-morning (including Billy's Beginners).

Shin Pads*

Shin pads are compulsory for each participant. Without shin pads, your participant will not be able to take part. If your participant does not currently own shin pads, you can purchase shin pads from our Club shop or online store.

Water

We cannot guarantee regular access to water at some venues, therefore it is important to ensure that your participant stays well hydrated by providing plenty of water for the day.

Goalkeepers Gloves

If your participant is a goalkeeper, or is booked on to a goalkeeping course, then it is compulsory to bring goalkeeping gloves. We will not be able to provide these at our courses.

Sun Cream

We recommend that you provide your participant with sun cream, particularly during summer courses, as participants may be out in the sun for a few hours each day.

Clothing

Our activities take place at a range of indoor and outdoor venues. The venue is typically advertised during the booking process. Very occasionally we are subject to last minute changes, meaning we may have to move from an indoor venue to outdoors, or vice-versa. Therefore please ensure your participant has appropriate provision for different weather conditions.

Code of Conduct

We want everyone attending Fulham FC Foundation activities to have a fun and safe experience and so we have created a Code of Conduct for all participants.

Whilst taking part in our activities, we would like all participants to:

The essentials

Keep themselves safe by listening to their coach or tutor, behaving responsibly and speak out when something isn’t right
When with us, stay in the places where they are supposed to, not wander off or leave without telling a member of staff
Take care of our equipment and premises as if they were their own
Bring the correct kit to sessions and wear clothing appropriate for the weather

Behaviour

Represent and celebrate difference in our activities and do not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of ability, gender, race or sexual orientation
Report any incidents of bullying, including homophobia and transphobia to a member of staff, even if they are just a witness
Treat other people with respect and appreciate that everyone has different levels of skill and talent
Help make our activities a welcome and friendly place to be
Support and encourage their team mates. Tell them when they’ve done well and be there for them when they are struggling
Respect our staff
Be a good sport, celebrate when we win and be gracious when we lose
Play by the rules and have fun
Apply our behaviour principles when online

Whilst participating in our activities, we understand participants have the right to:

Enjoy the time they spend with us and know that they are safe
Be told who they can talk to if something isn’t right
Be listened to
Be respected by us and other team members and be treated fairly
Feel welcomed, valued and not judged based on ability, race, gender or sexuality
Be encouraged and develop skills with our help
Be looked after and if there’s an accident, injury or incident and have their next of kin informed

Behaviour management
We expect all participants to follow the behaviours and requests set out in this code. If any participant behaves in a way which contradicts any of the points set out above, we’ll address the problem straight away and aim to resolve the issue.

We will always work to support our participants, however, to ensure the safety, welfare and enjoyment for all, our coaches may issue timeouts, yellow cards and formal warnings. Continued or serious breaches of our code of conduct could lead to participants being suspended from our activities. If a serious incident occurs, we will always involve all parties and parents, where relevant. Wherever possible we’ll always try to keep everyone playing.

Covid-19 Participant Guidelines

Keeping everyone safe at all times is our main priority. To help keep everyone safe we need your help. To help us do this, please:

Before the session

Arrive on time, not too early. This will ensure we are able to register participants in safely, managing one-way systems, while adhering to social distancing guidelines
Come changed and ready to participate. Please make sure shoelaces are tied!
Bring at least one full water bottle. Please ensure this is clearly labelled with your name.
Bring anti-bacterial hand gel with you. Please ensure this is clearly labelled.
Do not bring any food with you.
Do not bring anything with you that is not essential – iPads, spare clothes etc.
Use the bathroom before you leave home.
Be aware of your own personal health. If you show any of the Covid-19 symptoms you must stay at home, inform NHS Test and Trace and seek medical advice.

During the session

Listen to your coach at all times.
Follow all one-way signage.
Do not share any kit or equipment.
Stay within the designated playing area and with the group you are placed in.
Maintain social distancing of 2 metres from all other participants and coaches when you are not participating.
Do not spit. Spitting and the rinsing out of mouths is now a recognised risk to health and must not be done. Avoid shouting or raising your voice near to other players.
Practise good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly, including before, during and after.

At the end of the session

Double check you have everything. We would usually store belongings left behind in lost property. However, we will not be able to do this currently.
Follow the one-way instruction to leave safely, maintaining social distancing.
We know you may want to stay and chat to friends, however, please do not stay at the session after it has finished. Please do not congregate nearby to playing areas, one-way paths, or entry and exit points.

FAQs

What should my participant wear?
A. We ask that all participants are dressed ready for sport and appropriately for the weather. Shorts, t-shirts and football socks are recommended, but tracksuit bottoms and tops are also absolutely fine. Shin pads are essential, your participant may not be able to take part in some (or all) of the activities if they do not bring shin pads. In inclement weather we recommend layers, so that your participant can take off/put on extra layers if they get too hot or cold. If your participant would like to purchase a Fulham kit in advance, you can do so here. There is a click and collect service available from our stadium store (near Bishops Park) and our Motspur Park venue.
Can I stay to watch my participant's session?
A. At Fulham Training Ground, Motspur Park parents cannot stay and watch, however we do allow parents to stay and watch the sessions at all other venues, should they wish. Parents are also very welcome to sign their participant in and leave them with us for the duration of the session if they prefer.
What footwear should my participant bring?
A. The footwear recommended depends on the venue that your participant is attending. For courses that take place on grass, we recommend football boots with studs during the winter months, although AstroTurf or moulded boots may suffice during the summer months. For courses that take place on 3G AstroTurf or synthetic grass pitches, we recommend AstroTurf trainers or moulded boots, but no metal studs.
What time do the Soccer Schools run to and from?
A. Our Billy's Beginners courses run between 9am-11am. Participant Development courses run from 9am-3pm. Other weekly sessions may vary.
What happens if it rains?
A. We will endeavour to keep the participants playing football for as long as possible during our Soccer Schools, but inevitably the courses can be disrupted by rain, particularly during the winter months. If our coaches deem the weather too wet or dangerous to play football safely then contingencies are in place at each venue to move inside and take part in indoor, or sheltered, activities. It is worth noting that not every venue has the facilities to cater for indoor football, therefore these activities may include quizzes, competitions or other such football-themed games.
What if I need to cancel?
A. If you need to cancel your booking, you can do so up until 72 hours prior to the course starting, as per section 2 in our Terms and Conditions .
Can I amend my booking?
A. We are unable to amend bookings on the system. If you would like to change your booking (e.g. day, week, venue or attendee etc.) you will need to cancel the booking in line with section 3 of the terms and conditions, and then make a new booking with the desired details. Please ensure there is availability for your desired booking prior to cancelling. If availability is limited, we advise making a new booking online with the desired details as soon as possible and then subsequently cancelling the original booking to secure your place. Please note that we are unable to provide credit for cancellations that are requested within 3 days of the course start date.
What other services do you offer outside of the holidays?
A. We offer bespoke team training sessions and match day experiences, in addition to our Soccer Schools. Our Saturday morning Skills Club also runs all year round at a number of venues across South West London and Surrey. For further information, contact soccerschools@fulhamfc.com. We also run an extensive schools programme across a wide network of schools in London and the surrounding areas, for further information on how your school can work with Fulham FC Foundation, contact schools@fulhamfc.com.

If you have a specific question that is not answered on this page, please email soccerschools@fulhamfc.com.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. ABOUT THESE TERMS

1.1.The terms and conditions relate to Fulham Football Club Foundation (Registered Charity No. 1111639) has its registered office at Fulham Football Club Training Ground, Motspur Park, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 6PT (registered in England No: 4573248). Any person making a termly block booking or single session with the Foundation relating to any of its programmes must comply with these General Terms and Conditions (the "General Terms and Conditions") and/or such other regulations as the Foundation may specify from time-to-time. Copies of any terms and conditions issued by the Foundation are available on the Foundation's website at https://www.fulhamfc.com/foundation/.

1.2These General Terms and Conditions and the terms, conditions and the regulations set out in paragraph 1.1 and any other applicable regulations shall be subject to change from time-to-time. They will each be available on the Foundation's website (as above).

1.3If a persons who is booking a course is under the age of eighteen (18) years old, his/her parent(s) and/or guardian(s) are responsible for his/her actions, conduct and compliance with the General Terms and Conditions.

2. CONTRACT FORMATION

a.When you submit your order, you are offering to buy the course at the price as stated in accordance with the terms and conditions, which, if accepted by the Foundation, will result in a binding contract. It is therefore important that you read and accept these General Terms and Conditions before submitting any order. When booking by telephone, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions at the time of the booking via our administrator.

b.Once you have completed your order, you will be taken to have accepted the General Terms and Conditions and any terms and conditions applicable to your order and you will be asked to confirm that your order is correct. It is your responsibility to ensure that your order is correct before submission. You should note that payment will be taken when you click the "make payment" button. This does not indicate our acceptance of your offer, and will be refunded in the event that we refuse your offer.

c.We will send a confirmation email upon receipt of your order.

d.Whilst we try to ensure that pricing information on the Foundation's official website is correct at all times, errors may occasionally occur. If we discover an error in the price or nature of the programme you have ordered, we will inform you as soon as possible and will give you the option of reconfirming your order at the correct price/specification, or cancelling it. If we are unable to contact you, we reserve the right to treat the order as cancelled and you will be entitled to a full refund.

3.FOUNDATION PROGRAMMES

a.Places on all Foundation programmes are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

b.The Foundation reserves the right, at its absolute discretion, to:

(a) increase or decrease the price of any Foundation programme from time-to-time;
(b) cancel Foundation programmes on notice to you due to adverse weather conditions (which are determined in the Foundation's absolute discretion); and/or
(c) introduce Foundation programme offers from time-to-time; and/or
(d) amend or alter the start and end times of Foundation programmes; and/or
(e) limit access to any venues used to run and operate Foundation programmes.

4. REFUND PROCESS

4.1.Save where clause 4.2 or clause 4.3 applies, in the event you have made a termly block booking or a single session booking, you may cancel your booking up to three working days before the commencement of the termly block booking or the single session and receive a credit on your account, any cancellations outside this period are possible but the Foundation will not be under any obligation to provide a credit and the funds will be allocated as a donation to the Foundation. For the avoidance of doubt, any credits must be used within 12 months from the date they are allocated to your account.

4.2.Where you have made a termly block booking, in the event the Foundation has to cancel a session due to adverse weather (in its reasonable discretion) which may include (by way of a non-limiting example) the pitch being waterlogged, more than once during a half term, you will be entitled to a credit on your account to the value of the session missed. For the avoidance of doubt, this credit will only be for second session of the termly block booking and will only apply to school half-term blocks of timetabling as advised to you by the Foundation from time to time.

4.3.Where you have made a single session booking, in the event the Foundation has to cancel a session due to adverse weather (in its reasonable discretion) which may include (by way of a non-limiting example) the pitch being waterlogged, you will be provided with the option to have a credit to your account for the value of the session, a refund or a donation to the Foundation.

4.4You acknowledge and agree that, any credits must be used within 12 months from the date they are allocated to your account.

4.5If by any reason of any Event of Force Majeure, the Foundation is delayed in, or prevented from performing any of the provisions of the booking or delivering any services or any element of any of its programmes, then such delay or non-performance or non-delivery shall not constitute a breach of these General Terms and Conditions, and the obligations of the Foundation shall be suspended for the full duration of such Event of Force Majeure. The Foundation shall not be liable for any loss, damage, costs, expenses or other claims for compensation (including in respect of any refund or credit for any payment made in advance to the Foundation in respect of any of its programmes) arising as a direct or indirect result of breach or non-performance of this Agreement due to an Event of Force Majeure. For the purpose of these General Terms and Conditions, an Event of Force Majeure shall be considered the following: an earthquake, subsidence, structural damage, epidemic, pandemic or other natural physical disaster, failure or shortage of power supplies, war, military operations, riot, crowd disorder, strike, lock-outs or other industrial action, terrorist action, civil commotion and any legislation, regulation, ruling or omissions (including failure to grant any necessary permissions) of any relevant government, football governing body, court or any competent national or international authority.

5. DATA PROTECTION

5.1.You acknowledge that in booking a course you may provide the Foundation with certain personal details about yourself ("Personal Data"). All Personal Data collected by the Foundation using the booking confirmation or otherwise in connection with booking courses will only be held and used with care and in accordance to any applicable legislation and in accordance with the Foundation's privacy policy, which can be found at the following link: https://soccerschools.fulhamfc.com/soccerschools/booking/privacypolicy.htm

5.2.On some Foundation programmes, the Foundation will collect medical information relating to you, the Foundation will only collect what is necessary and it is will be stored and processed in accordance with the Foundation privacy policy.

6. CANCELLATION & WITHDRAWAL OF FOUNDATION PROGRAMMES

6.1.Without prejudice to any other remedies it may have, the Foundation shall have the right in the case of any serious or persistent breach of these General Terms and Conditions to cancel attendance at any programme (whether one session or a block as determined by the Foundation). In the event of such cancellation no refund will be paid. A non-exhaustive list of actions which shall constitute serious breach is as follows:

(a) smoking in designated non-smoking areas;
(b) being (or appearing to be) intoxicated by reason of any substance (whether alcohol, drugs or otherwise);
(c) failure to wear adequate clothing, this may include (by way of a non-exhaustive example), warm clothing for outside programmes;
(d) the use of foul, obscene, abusive, racist and/or discriminatory language and/or gestures to Foundation staff, other participants or otherwise;
(e) fighting or engaging in and/or inciting violence;
(f) any failure to pay or default of payment in respect of any sums owing to the Foundation (or any third party) in respect of any Foundation programme; and/or
(g) any abuse of Foundation staff or other staff engaged in a Foundation programme, whether physical, verbal or in writing and whether in person, online or in any other forum.

7. EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY

7.1.Save that the Foundation does not seek to avoid or limit its liability in respect of death or personal injury caused by its negligence, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Foundation hereby excludes any liability for loss, injury or damage to persons/property during a Foundation course.

8. GOVERNING LAW

8.1.These Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales in respect of any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Conditions.