Vision
To offer everybody in grassroots football a high quality, safe, enjoyable experience that is nationally recognised.
The programme helps to:
- Target investment
- Deliver an improved service and support structure to leagues
- Improve communication with leagues
- Ensure succession planning within leagues
- Rationalise existing league structures
- Help implement the principles of Long Term Player Development
- Grow football for under represented groups
- Improve efficiency and sustainability of leagues
- Deliver on the Respect Programme
The Charter Standard League Programme assesses the ability of leagues to provide a high quality, safe and enjoyable football experience against a standard set of criteria. It also encourages leagues to continuously develop through on-going support from County FA staff and the review and on-going development of a league development plan as part of an annual health check process.
The Criteria
The criterion for the programme is divided into 6 development areas, reflecting the approach of the National Game Strategy.
These are:
- Growth & Retention
- Raising Standards & Addressing Behaviour
- Better Players
- Running the Game
- Workforce Development
- All Goals and Enablers
1. Growth and Retention
Evidence of how the league plans to retain/grow the number of male, female and disability teams (mini-soccer, small sided and 11v11) as appropriate.
2. Raising Standards and Addressing Behaviour
A. At least 60% of teams in the league have Charter Standard Club status.
* All other teams must have Enhanced FA CRB checks for all the welfare officers, coaches and managers working with children in youth football or with vulnerable adults.
The league will have two years to ensure that all participating clubs have Charter Standard Club status. Any new clubs entering the league after Charter Standard League status is gained will have 12 months to attain Charter Standard Club status.
B. The league actively promotes the Respect Programme through implementation of:
- The Respect codes of conduct
- Designated spectator areas for games (optional for adult leagues)
- Captains taking more responsibility for the behaviour of their players
- Referee managing the game
C. The league has an Equality Policy and complaints procedure that adheres to The FA Equality Policy and Complaints Procedure template.
D. The league has a Safeguarding Children Policy and procedures that adheres to FA requirements (youth leagues only).
E. The league has a named Youth League Welfare Officer who has an Enhanced FA CRB check and has completed the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer Workshops (youth leagues only).
3. Better Players
The league is committed to reviewing existing and developing appropriate competition and training programmes for youth players in line with the principles of Long Term Player Development by evidence of:
- A commitment to encouraging greater use of small sided football formats (3v3, 4v4, 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 etc).
- Promoting a culture of learning where there is an emphasis on player development over results.
- From the 2009/10 season, no division to exceed 12 teams [Unless permission granted in exceptional circumstances].
- No league tables at u7, u8 age groups.
- Encouraging the provision of flexible format festivals.
- A coach education programme to include: Level 1, One Day Introduction to Age Appropriate module, FA Youth Award Module 1 (this can be linked to the CFA Coaching Programme) (Note: Adult leagues only required to deliver FA Coaching Adults).
Plus two technical in service days per season, of which one must be aimed at coaches working with under 11s. (Note: Adult leagues not required to deliver under 11 in-service).
4. Running the Game
A.The league is sanctioned by the FA or County FA, as appropriate.
B. The league is signed up to The FA Standard Code of Rules.
C. The league has a Charter Standard League agenda item at league meetings.
D. The Youth League Welfare Officer and Charter Standard League Co-ordinator sit on the league committee.
E. The league has a web based administration system for results and fixtures. Full Time is recommended for this purpose but it isn't mandatory.
5. Workforce Development
A. The league has a named volunteer Charter Standard League Co-ordinator.
B. The league provides a minimum of three continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities per season for league volunteers and member clubs, ideally on days when there are no fixtures (flexible programmes to include mentoring for club and league secretaries).
6. All Goals and Enablers
A. The league has a development plan that identifies key development objectives and targets linked to the National Game Strategy key goals and enablers.
B. The league has an agreed support package with the County FA.
The following can be downloaded from related documents to the right of this page.
Guidance;
- Appointing a Charter Standard League Welfare Officer
- Co-ordinator Role Description
- Equality Programme
- Respect Frequently Asked Questions
- Role of Youth League Welfare Officer
- Respect Codes of Conduct
- Full Time Key Features
Forms to be completed by the League;
- Development Plan Template
- Equality Policy and Complaints Procedure
- Registration Form
- Safeguarding Children Policy & Procedures Template
Benefits
Incentives (for leagues signed up to working towards Charter Standard League status) By signing up to working towards Charter Standard League status, the league will be:
- Demonstrating that it is willing to work towards a minimum operating standard and to raising standards and addressing poor behaviour
- Committing to developing better players
- Encouraged to review what it does well, what it wants to do better and to identify how it can improve
- Helping to raise standards in clubs by encouraging teams to gain Charter Standard Club status as part of the Charter Standard League criteria
- Demonstrating that it is committed to investing in its workforce
In addition, the league will receive the following incentives:
- Support from County FA staff, to include initial briefing and quarterly support meetings
- FA guidance resources
- Networking opportunities
- 1 free Enhanced CRB check and 3 places (one on each workshop) for Safeguarding, Welfare Officer and Equality workshops
Benefits (once Charter Standard status has been gained)
By achieving Charter Standard League status, the league will:
- Have a clear plan for the league in line with County FA strategy
- Have an agreed support package with the County FA to help it achieve its vision
- Demonstrate that it is committed to the RESPECT campaign and will have procedures in place to improve standards and address poor behaviour in the game
- Gain recognition that it is committed to a quality experience for all
- Gain recognition as a well run league
In addition, the league will receive the following benefits:
- Membership logo, certificate and plaque
- Enhanced County FA support, to include a support visit and annual health check
- 2 free CRB Enhanced CRB checks and 6 free places (one on each workshop) for Safeguarding, Welfare Officer and Equality workshops
- 3 free FA/CFA training workshops per season
- UMBRO Fair Play Award voucher
- Access to free tickets for England women’s & youth internationals
- Enhanced member services via Full Time
Charter standard leagues;