ANTI BULLYING POLICY

Inv3ntive Football Academy is committed to provide a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our members so they can participate in football in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our club. If bullying dose occurs, the club will take necessary action. This academy is committed to teach players how to respect each other so be a TELLER. If you ever come across bullying, we expect you to tell the Welfare officer or other committee member.

What this policy includes:

  • Different types of bullying
  • As an academy we take bullying seriously
  • Importance of players and parents knowing what the club policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises
  • Why bullying will not be tolerated

We classify bullying as:

  • Physical abuse- pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
  • Emotional abuse – being unfriendly, excluding (emotionally and physically) sending hurtful text messages, tormenting, (e.g hiding football boots/shin pads)
  • Sexual abuse – unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
  • Discrimination abuse – racial taunts, graffiti, homophobic comments, jokes about disabled people, sexist comments
  • Verbal abuse – referring to somebody by their colour of their skin, sarcasm, spreading rumors, teasing, name-calling.
  • Cyberbullying- person deliberately upsetting somebody else through social media.

You must reports to the welfare or any other committee member if there is any sort of bullying.

How to identify if your child is being bullied:

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

  • Says he or she is being bullied
  • Is unwilling to go to academy sessions
  • Becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
  • Feels ill before training sessions
  • Comes home with clothes torn or training equipment damaged
  • Has possessions go “missing”
  • Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay the bully)
  • Has unexplained cuts or bruises
  • Is frightened to say what’s wrong
  • Gives improbable excuses for any of the above
  • Stops eating
  • Attempts or threatens suicide or runs away.
  • Cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares

Procedures:

  1. Reporting any bullying incident to the welfare officer or member of committee of the academy
  2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be referred The FA Case Management Team
  3. Parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem
  4. If necessary and appropriate, the police will be consulted
  5. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
  6. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour
  7. If mediation fails and the bullying is seen to continue the club will initiate disciplinary action under the club constitution.

In the case of adults reported to be bullying anyone within the club under 18:

  1. The county wlfare officer will be informed and will advise on action to be taken where appropriate, this may include action by The FA Safeguarding Team.
  2. It is anticipated that in most cases where the allegation FA’s Safeguarding Children Education Programme may be recommended.
  3. More serious cases may be referred to the Police and/or Children’s Social Care.

In order to prevent bullying:

  • The academy has written a constitution, which includes what is acceptable and proper behaviour for all members of which the anti bullying policy is one part
  • All club members and parents will sign to accept the constitution.