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Part 2 – National Club Licensing
Section 7 - Youth Team Football Criteria
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.0.1
Extent of Youth Team Each club shall have one youth Clubs shall have one or more Best practice. Best practice.
Programme team participating in the Youth youth teams participating in the
Performance system at each of Youth Initiative system at each of the following age levels: the following age levels:
16/17’s (dual banding) 16’s
15’s 15’s
14’s 14’s
13’s 13’s
12’s
11’s NB It is recommended that clubs run 3 youth teams within the programme.
All of the above competitions All of the above competitions shall be recognised and shall be recognised and
approved by the Scottish FA and approved by the Scottish FA and the Scottish FA shall retain all the Scottish FA shall retain all player registrations. player registrations.
Furthermore, each club will run a youth team or have a community/ fun football programme at the U10 age group level.
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry 7.0.2
Training and Coaching Clubs shall own suitable training Clubs shall own suitable training If applicable i.e. the club runs If applicable i.e. the club runs
Facilities for Youth Players facilities, or have these available facilities, or have these available youth teams, clubs will have youth teams, clubs will have
on lease or be contracted with on lease or be contracted with access to a training facility. access to a training facility. suitable training facilities for a suitable training facilities for a
minimum period of one year and minimum period of one year and be in a position to demonstrate be in a position to demonstrate this at audit. this at the audit.
Suitable facilities at this level shall Suitable facilities at this level shall minimally include access to the minimally include access to the
following: following:
An outdoor grass facility. An outdoor grass facility.
The provision of dressing The provision of dressing rooms to accommodate this rooms to accommodate this infrastructure. infrastructure.
An outdoor synthetic facility
and/or Additionally, clubs will be able to
An indoor facility (preferably demonstrate that training synthetic). facilities are available to
accommodate the club training requirements during the winter period.
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Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.0.3
Medical and First Aid Provision The club shall ensure that a The club shall ensure that a If applicable i.e. the club runs If applicable i.e. the club runs
at Training Venues (Youth medical kit bag or first aid kit medical kit bag or first aid kit youth teams, clubs will meet the youth teams, clubs will meet the
Players) approved by the Club Doctor (as approved by the Club Doctor (as terms of Gold and Silver Criteria. terms of Gold and Silver Criteria.
defined in Section 7 and defined in Section 7 and
specifically 7.2.9) is available and specifically 7.2.9) is available and in the possession of the in the possession of the
designated club medical designated club medical representative at all events. representative at all events. A club representative in A club representative in possession of a Sports First Aid possession of a Sports First Aid Certificate must be in attendance. Certificate must be in attendance. Clubs must ensure that the Clubs must ensure that the course content of the provider course content of the provider complies with the agreed Scottish complies with the agreed Scottish FA criteria for a Sports First Aid FA criteria for a Sports First Aid Qualification. The criteria are Qualification. The criteria are detailed within the general detailed within the general
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry 7.0.4
Medical and First Aid Facilities The club shall have a medical The club shall have a medical Where a club has a youth team(s) Where a club has a youth team(s)
for Youth Player Rehabilitation examination facility for the examination facility for the it shall have a facility for the it shall have a facility for the
rehabilitation of injured players. rehabilitation of injured players. rehabilitation of injured players. rehabilitation of injured players. This may either be within the club This may either be within the club This may either be within the club This may either be within the club ground or at the youth team ground or at the youth team ground or at the team training ground or at the team training training facility. training facility. facility or by arrangement with a facility or by arrangement with a
suitable third-party provider (e.g. suitable third-party provider (e.g. This facility shall be separate This facility shall be separate a private medical or a private medical or
from the team dressing room from the team dressing room physiotherapy practice). physiotherapy practice).
areas. areas.
The specific requirements for the The specific requirements for the The specific requirements for the The specific requirements for the facility shall have been agreed facility shall have been agreed facility shall have been agreed facility shall have been agreed between the club and the Club between the club and the Club between the club and the Club between the club and the Club Doctor (as defined in 6.0.8). Doctor (as defined in 6.0.8). Doctor (as defined in 6.0.8). Doctor (as defined in 6.0.8).
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Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.0.5
Medical and First Aid Provision The club shall ensure that a The club shall ensure that a If applicable i.e. the club runs If applicable i.e. the club runs
for Youth Players at Matches medical kit bag or first aid kit medical kit bag or first aid kit youth teams, clubs will meet the youth teams, clubs will meet the
approved by the Club Doctor (as approved by the Club Doctor (as terms of Gold and Silver Criteria. terms of Gold and Silver Criteria. defined in 6.0.8) is available and defined in 6.0.8) is available and
in the possession of the in the possession of the designated club medical designated club medical representative at all events. representative at all events. A club representative in A club representative in possession of a Sports First Aid possession of a Sports First Aid Certificate must be in attendance. Certificate must be in attendance. Clubs must ensure that the Clubs must ensure that the course content of the provider course content of the provider complies with the agreed Scottish complies with the agreed Scottish FA criteria for a Sports First Aid FA criteria for a Sports First Aid Qualification. The criteria are Qualification. The criteria are detailed within the general detailed within the general
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry 7.0.6
Medical Examinations, Records Each club shall ensure that the Each club shall ensure that the If applicable i.e. the club runs If applicable i.e. the club runs
and Procedures for Youth following is in place relating to following is in place relating to youth teams, clubs will meet the youth teams, clubs will meet the
Players the club’s youth team players: the club’s youth team players: terms of Gold and Silver Criteria. terms of Gold and Silver Criteria.
Contact details are held by the Contact details are held by the club for the responsible club for the responsible
medical representative in place medical representative in place for each match and training for each match and training
event. event.
That the location of the first aid That the location of the first aid kit is documented and kit is documented and
communicated to relevant communicated to relevant
personnel. personnel.
Details of the local hospital are Details of the local hospital are communicated to relevant communicated to relevant
personnel. personnel.
That the responsibility to ensure That the responsibility to ensure that medical care is provided that medical care is provided and available at away matches and available at away matches is assigned to a club is assigned to a club
representative. representative.
That the responsibilities for That the responsibilities for each youth coach are identified each youth coach are identified and communicated in the event and communicated in the event of a player accident or injury. of a player accident or injury.
That youth players are tutored That youth players are tutored in first aid procedures in the in first aid procedures in the event of accident or injury. event of accident or injury.
That the club has considered That the club has considered its position with regard to the its position with regard to the medical examinations and medical examinations and records for youth players. records for youth players.
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Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.0.7
Sports Science Provision Sports Science Provider Best practice. Best practice. Best practice.
Sports Science provision does not necessarily require the full-time employment of a named Sports Science provider. A part-time appointment can provide adequate service to youth teams. Sports Science provision can be brought into a club in partnership with higher educational institutions or relevant commercial bodies. Competence of the Provider The named Sports Science provider shall have a post- graduate qualification relevant to Sports/Exercise Science or have a relevant 1st degree and be working towards a post-graduate qualification. The implementation of specific tasks within the Sports Science testing and conditioning programmes can be delegated to other, sometimes less qualified, individuals when appropriate training is provided by the named Sports Science provider.
Scope of Sports Science Provision Sports Science provision shall apply, as a minimum, to all players in the Youth Initiative system at 13, 14, 15 and dual banding 16/17 age level.
Reporting Procedures Reporting procedures shall be employed to facilitate player development and monitoring through structured feedback from the coaching staff and named Sports Science provider.
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry 7.0.8
Head of Youth Development Club shall have an individual in Club shall have an individual Best practice only. Best practice only.
place fulfilling this function. The assigned and in the role. position shall be a full-time
appointment. The job holder shall be in possession of a job
description or contract outlining their duties at the club.
The job holder shall be qualified for the role and shall comply with one of the following:
a) have a Youth Directors’ Award
or
b) have an Advanced Youth Licence (Level 5 Youth) or
c) have a Recognition of of Competence Award.
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Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.0.9
Youth Coaches Club shall have two qualified One qualified youth coach in Where a club has youth teams it Where a club has youth teams it
coaches in place for each youth place for each youth team at the shall ensure that it has a shall ensure that it has a team at the club. Each job holder club. All other coaches at the minimum of one Level 4 Coach minimum Level 1 Coach at shall be in possession of a job club shall have a Coaching in the working with the youth teams each age level.
description or contract outlining Game Certificate (Level 3 Youth) and one Level 3 Coach at each their duties at the club. Within as a minimum. Each job holder age level.
these duties the club shall specify (either qualified or with a Level 3 the responsibilities of each coach Certificate) shall be in possession in the event of a player accident of a job description or contract or injury. outlining their duties at the club.
Within these duties the club shall specify the responsibilities of each coach in the event of a player accident or injury.
Each qualified youth coach with The qualified youth coach with At 18 and 19 age levels, the club each team shall have either an each team shall have either an may have a coach in place with a Advanced Youth Licence (Level 5 Advanced Youth Licence (Level B Licence (level 3 adult) or
Youth) or Basic Youth Award 5 Youth) or Basic Youth Award a Basic Youth Award (Level 4 Youth). As a minimum (Level 4 Youth). There shall (level 4 youth) however two coaches shall have however be a minimum of one
an Advanced Youth Licence coach with an Advanced Youth (Level 5 Youth). Licence (Level 5 Youth) working
within the youth programme. Furthermore clubs shall ensure Furthermore clubs shall ensure the following: that there is specialised
goalkeeping provided for
that there is a specialised goalkeepers by a qualified goalkeeping coaching provided goalkeeping coach, minimally for goalkeepers by a qualified qualified to Intermediate Level Goalkeeping Licensed Coach (Level 2 Specialist) and that this (Level 5 Specialist), and that comprises 50% of a goalkeepers this comprises 50% of a training programme.
goalkeepers training programme.
that there is minimally one coach qualified with an Advanced Children’s Licence (Level 5 Children).
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry 7.1.0
Child Protection Officer Clubs shall have a Child and Coach Clubs with childcare positions as Clubs with childcare positions as
Protection Officer in position. defined in Section 97 of the defined in Section 97 of the Refers to the individual at the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Protection of Vulnerable Groups club with a responsibility for all (Scotland) Act 2007 (“The 2007 (Scotland) Act 2007 (“The 2007 child and coach protection The individual job holder shall be Act”) are required to have a Child Act”) are required to have a Child arrangements. trained in child protection issues and Coach Protection and Coach Protection
issues and procedures and a Officer in position. Officer in position. record of this training shall
NB – clubs should be aware that be recorded. It is the responsibility of clubs to It is the responsibility of clubs to
the terms of this criterion determine whether the terms of determine whether the terms of
excludes those teams in membership Section 97 of the 2007 Act Section 97 of the 2007 Act
of the Scottish Youth FA. are applicable. are applicable.
These teams are subject to a
separate rigorous assessment process If the club deems that it is not If the club deems that it is not
via the Scottish Youth FA directly applicable the club will be applicable the club will be
required to return a completed required to return a completed template to the Scottish FA template to the Scottish FA confirming that it does not have confirming that it does not have childcare positions as defined childcare positions as defined in Section 97 of the 2007 Act. in Section 97 of the 2007 Act.
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Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.1.1
Child Protection Clubs are required to register Clubs with childcare positions as Clubs with childcare positions as
Countersignatory with Disclosure Scotland and defined in Section 97 of the defined in Section 97 of the
have a Countersignatory in 2007 Act will be registered with 2007 Act will be registered with position. Disclosure Scotland or the CRBS Disclosure Scotland or the CRBS
and will have a Countersignatory and will have a Countersignatory
Refers to the individual at the club who countersigns in position. in position.
applications and receives Disclosures.
NB – clubs should be aware that the terms of this criterion excludes those teams in membership of the Scottish Youth FA. These teams are subject to a separate rigorous assessment process via the Scottish Youth FA directly.
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry 7.1.2
Welfare Officer The club shall assign the The club shall assign the The club will meet the terms of The club will meet the terms of
following duties as a minimum to following duties as a minimum to the Gold and Silver Criteria where the Gold and Silver Criteria where a club representative: a club representative: the club has youth team or teams. the club has youth team or teams.
Co-ordination and monitoring Co-ordination and monitoring of a homework facility for of a homework facility for players with more than one players with more than one hour’s drive to the training hour’s drive to the training
venue. venue.
Dealing with player welfare Dealing with player welfare
issues. issues.
Delivering a core skills Delivering a core skills
programme. programme.
Player time management. Player time management. Where the position is full-time, the Where the position is full-time, the job holder shall be in possession job holder shall be in possession of a job description (or the duties of a job description (or the duties will be included in an existing job will be included in an existing job description) or contract outlining description) or contract outlining their duties at the club. their duties at the club.
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Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.1.3
Club Policy on Child and Coach Each club shall produce a Club Each club shall produce a Club Each club shall produce a Club Each club shall produce a Club
Protection Policy. Policy. Policy where the club has Policy where the club has
childcare positions as defined childcare positions as defined
Refers to the Club Policy on in Section 97 of the 2007 Act. in Section 97 of the 2007 Act.
safeguarding the welfare of all
young people and coaches with The Policy shall be The Policy shall be This Policy shall be This Policy shall be
whom the club is associated. communicated to all relevant communicated to all relevant communicated to all relevant communicated to all relevant parties at the club. The Policy parties at the club. The Policy parties at the club. The Policy parties at the club. The Policy shall be reviewed at intervals to shall be reviewed at intervals to shall be reviewed at intervals to shall be reviewed at intervals to be determined by the club. be determined by the club. be determined by the club. be determined by the club. NB – clubs should be aware that the terms
of this criterion excludes those teams in
membership of the Scottish A record of all reviews and A record of all reviews and A record of all reviews and A record of all reviews and
Youth FA. These teams are subject to means of communicating the means of communicating the means of communicating the means of communicating the
Scottish Youth FA Protection Policies. Policy within the club shall be Policy within the club shall be Policy within the club shall be Policy within the club shall be
evident to the Scottish FA evident to the Scottish FA evident to the Scottish FA evident to the Scottish FA
Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry 7.1.4
Registration with Disclosure Clubs shall be registered with Clubs shall be registered with Clubs with childcare positions as Clubs with childcare positions as
Scotland Disclosure Scotland and will be Disclosure Scotland and will be Defined in Section 97 of the 2007 Defined in Section 97 of the 2007
in a position to provide the club in a position to provide the club Act shall be registered with Act shall be registered with Refers to the registration by clubs Disclosure Scotland registration Disclosure Scotland registration Disclosure Scotland and will be Disclosure Scotland and will be with Disclosure Scotland for the number at audit. number at audit. in a position to provide the club in a position to provide the club
purposes of issuing certificates Disclosure Scotland Registration Disclosure Scotland Registration
disclosing criminal history Number at audit. Third party Number at audit. Third party
information to organizations under registration with the CRBS is also registration with the CRBS is also
Part V of the Police Act 1997 acceptable. acceptable.
(“The 1997 Act” & “The 2007
Act”) and any successor or Any club that is not registered Any club that is not registered
replacement bodies therefore. with Disclosure Scotland either with Disclosure Scotland either
directly or via the CRBS will need directly or via the CRBS will need
NB – clubs should be aware that the to provide the Scottish FA with a to provide the Scottish FA with a
terms of this criterion excludes those letter from an authorised club letter from an authorised club
teams in membership of the Scottish signatory using a template signatory using a template
Youth FA. These teams are subject to prepared by the Scottish FA, prepared by the Scottish FA,
Disclosure checks via the Scottish confirming that registration is not confirming that registration is not
Youth FA and its Registration via required following a review of required following a review of
Disclosure Scotland childcare positions as defined childcare positions as defined
in Section 97 of the 2007 Act. in Section 97 of the 2007 Act. .
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Criteria Gold Silver Bronze Entry
7.1.5
Processing PVG Clubs shall process PVG Disclosure Applications for all relevant Clubs registered with Disclosure Scotland either directly or via a
Disclosures club personnel. These shall be managed for existing personnel CRBS Body shall process PVG Disclosure Applications for all
over a three year period starting in 2012 and concluding in 2014. relevant club personnel. These shall be managed for existing
Refers to the process undertaken Clubs shall prioritise this checking process based upon the oldest personnel over a three year period starting in 2012 and concluding in by clubs for checking the criminal existing Disclosures first. 2014. Clubs shall prioritise this checking process based upon the
history of club representatives via oldest existing Disclosures first.
applications to Disclosure
Scotland. New personnel will be required to join the PVG scheme or where New personnel will be required to join the PVG scheme or where they are exiting members of the PVG scheme, a club will be they are exiting members of the PVG scheme, a club will be
NB – clubs should be aware that required to carry out a scheme record update on that individual. required to carry out a scheme record update on that individual.
the terms of this criterion excludes
those teams in membership of the Relevant club personnel shall be determined by the club but shall Relevant club personnel shall be determined by the club but shall
Scottish Youth FA. These teams include as a minimum all staff working with a club’s youth teams include as a minimum all staff working with a club’s youth teams
are subject to Disclosure checks via or children’s teams. or children’s teams.
the Scottish Youth FA and its
Registration via Disclosure Scotland. Clubs shall record evidence that Disclosures have been Clubs shall record evidence that Disclosures have been
conducted and shall retain a Club Register that includes the conducted and shall retain a Club Register that includes the
following information: following information:
Person’s name. Person’s name.
Issue date of the disclosure information. Issue date of the disclosure information.
Type of disclosure. Type of disclosure.
Targeted PVG application date (if relevant) Targeted PVG application date (if relevant)
Position in question. Position in question.
Unique number for the disclosure Unique number for the disclosure
NB - For a club to be awarded a Licence, a Disclosure shall be in NB - For a club to be awarded a Licence, a Disclosure shall be in