Welfare

WELFARE AT COLTS​

Our priority at Harpenden Colts is to ensure the game is a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience for our young players and the adults who regularly watch, coach, referee and volunteer.

We are supporting The FA’s Play Safe campaign – see below for the Players video, and right for the Parents & Carers video.

 

 

The key pillars of our approach

Prevention of the issues

We promote FA Respect Campaign, practice safer recruitment, process DBS checks and renewals and raise awareness through appropriate safeguarding education to create a fun, safe football environment.

Dealing with concerns

We ensure that any concerns are investigated promptly and dealt with in accordance with the Club’s policies and relevant rules.

Reporting

We make the reporting of concerns as easy as possible.

Welfare news

Harpenden Colts FC is one of the largest grassroots clubs in the country. We are...
Summer Holiday Football Camps 3G Artificial Pitch at  Harpenden Town Football Club July 22nd – July...
Former Colts Chair Richard Bandell recently received an award from Harpenden Town Council Mayor Councillor...
PRESS RELEASE Parents’ generosity pays for local charity to be Harpenden Colts’ shirt sponsor Harpenden...
  Corporate Donations and Community Cashback Schemes.   We have recently received some donations from...
England Lionesses players Leah Williamson and Jill Scott (MBE) both sent messages of support to...

Welfare Team

anna hamilton-watson

Club Welfare Officer

Anna took over as Club Welfare Officer in 2022, and represents the welfare function on the Football Management Committee.

She has also been a coach for her daughter’s squad since she joined the club in 2020.

Anna can be contacted at 

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Asst Welfare Officer – Boys’ Section

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Asst Welfare Officer – Girls’ Section

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Get in touch

If you have any question about safeguarding in football at Harpenden Colts or want to report a concern, please contact Anna Hamilton-Watson.

Alternatively, you can get in touch directly with Herts FA’s Safeguarding department.

Training

FA Playmaker

Online, entry-level football coaching course.

This free course is perfect for anyone interested in taking a more active role in grassroots football. There are five modules covering coaching, medical modules and safeguarding and you do not need any previous football experience or qualifications before signing up.

FA intro to Coaching football course

The FA’s new ‘Introduction to Coaching Football’ course will replace the old ‘FA Level 1 in Coaching Football’ qualification. The new course will be online and is designed to provide learners with an introduction to coaching the game. It will be complemented by practical and face to face learning experiences delivered locally as part of FA’s ongoing coach development offer. More details to follow as the course is rolled out.

The Club requires all squad leads to take this course prior to, or shortly after appointment.

Level 2 in Coaching course

For those who want to take their coaching journey to the next level, the FA’s Level 2 course comprises 10 days’ of in-person training spread over three different blocks of learning. It has been extensively designed and recently re-shaped to better reflect what is required to coach specifically within youth football. It combines content from the previous ‘FA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football’ course, with elements of The FA Youth Award Modules 1 & 2.

The club will consider requests from coaches to meet the cost of taking this course.

FA Safeguarding Children

The FA offer the Safeguarding Children Course as an online training module to complete at a time that suits participants. This course will replace the Safeguarding Children Workshop.

FA Safeguarding Children (recertification course)

Coaches who have attended a FA Safeguarding course in the past (including as part of the Level 1 course) need to recertify periodically (usually every three years). The FA provides an online recertification course which can be found at the following link: 

Introduction to first aid in football

Introduction to First Aid in Football is an online course suitable for anyone looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of medical care for players of all ages.

Training and Continuous Professional Development

As part of the club’s philosophy, we are committed to providing coaches and volunteers with appropriate training and CPD. We actively encourage completion of FA Playmaker, other relevant online and face to face courses and pay for Introduction to Coaching Football (Level 1) and Level 2 courses which form the core of the FA’s coaching pathway. See link below for FA Boot room to view all training opportunities and CPD.

Referee Advice and Mentoring

From time-to-time we rely on our parents or careers to officiate games as referees or assistant referees. We recommend a new, free and online FA guide for unqualified volunteer referees to further understand the laws of the game or as pre-learning for enrolment on the FA referee course.  For advice on how to qualify as a referee or to receive support to complete trainee referee qualifying games, please contact Anna Hamilton-Watson

Important contacts