Osun FA Chairman, Sola Fanawopo on Saturday, December 16, 2023, during the 2023 FUBF Day, delivered a lecture on the topic “Safeguarding Grassroots Players, Opportunities and Challenges.”
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CONTENTS
- 1. What does safeguarding mean in football?
- 2. What is grassroots in football?
- 3. Why Osun State is the hub of grassroots football in Nigeria?
- 4. Why Grassroots football is the backbone of our game?
- 5. What are we safeguarding against? What are the possible abuses?
- 6. What is Osun FA’s approach to Safeguarding?
- 7. Working together to make a difference for football
What does safeguarding mean in football?
Safeguarding in football is the process of protecting children and adults from harm by providing a safe space in which to play football and be active.
A key part of child safeguarding is spreading the message about keeping children safe and building a culture of always acting in the best interest of all children.
What is grassroots in football?
Grassroots football is all football that is non-professional and non-elite. This includes but is not limited to, children’s football, schools and youth football, amateur football, football for disabled players, football for veterans, and walking football.
Why Osun State is the hub of grassroots football in Nigeria?
- 1. with 450+ Clubs
- 2. 1000+ Teams
- 3. 15+ Leagues
- 4. 400+ grassroots coaches
- 5. 16,000+ Players
- 6. 13+ Referee Societies
- 7. 300+ Referees
Only one club, Osun United FC is involved in professional and elite football among 449 football clubs in our state.
Founded in 1991, Osun FA provides a support structure that enables players, volunteers, coaches, and referees to develop individually or as part of a club or league.
Why Grassroots football is the backbone of our game?
Grassroots football is the backbone of our game and the key to our success as a football state.
Our extensive Youth Review has shown that talking to young people is key to understanding their needs and shaping the game for the future.
The development of the game relies on football being a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience for the millions of children and young people who regularly play, watch, coach, referee, pump up the balls, and help to put up the nets.
Osun FA is committed to this goal. With so many young people involved in the game, it is our responsibility as the governing body to have a clear Safeguarding Policy that is accessible to and adopted by grassroots football.
What are we safeguarding against? What are the possible abuses?
Concerns identified as abuse will fall within the following five categories:
- Physical Abuse: A child is physically hurt or injured by an adult or an adult gives alcohol or drugs to a child or young person
- Neglect: A childs basic physical needs are consistently not met or they are regularly left alone or unsupervised
- Sexual Abuse: An adult or peer uses a child or young person to meet their own sexual needs
- Emotional Abuse: Persistent criticism, denigrating, or putting unrealistic expectations on a child or young person
- Bullying: Persistent or repeated hostile and intimidating behavior towards a child or young person
What is Osun FA’s approach to Safeguarding?
Osun FA has a duty of care to create a safe environment for football development in the state.
Therefore, Osun FA will soon develop a Safeguarding framework in which the people, the policies, and the education program will raise awareness of the responsibility that every person involved in football has in safeguarding children and young people.
To that end, affiliated football will have clear and well-publicized policies on:
- 1. Safeguarding and protecting children and young people
- 2. Reporting poor practices and abuses
- 3. Recruitment of staff and volunteers
- 4. Whistle-blowing
- 5. Confidentiality
- 6. Health and safety
- 7. Anti-bullying
- 8. Equality
- 9. Codes of conduct (ethics)
- 10. Complaints
In addition, there is a requirement for all those working or volunteering with children and young people in football to complete appropriate levels of introductory and ongoing safeguarding training.
In this fast-moving world of ever-changing technological improvements and the increasing use of social media affiliated football must be mindful of both the potential benefits and the potential risks to children and young people.
In addition, Osun FA will continue to work with government agencies, private sectors, and other stakeholders to help affiliated football concerns, comply with the FAs Safeguarding Policies.
Milestones
- 1. Osun FA has teamed up with Osun Ambulance Services Agency, also known as O-Ambulance to provide emergency medical services for football activities across the state.
- 2. Trumax Pharmaceuticals Limited has teamed up with the Osun Football Association to offer special discounted prices for First Aid essentials to football clubs in the state.
- This development will empower over 400 grassroots football clubs in the state to be well-prepared when treating an injured player.
- These special prices are exclusively available throughout the 2023/24 season and beyond.
- 3. Osun FA is currently in discussion with Osun Health Insurance Agency to develop an affordable health insurance scheme for all our footballers, administrators, referees, and grassroots coaches.
Working together to make a difference in football
Osun FAs policy will clarify what is expected of everyone involved in working or volunteering with children and young people in affiliated football.
We must all work together to safeguard our kids against abuses, discrimination, and all negative practices that can stunt the development of the beautiful game at the grassroots.
