Football

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps:

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
• Tell your commissioner.
• Get a copy of the public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Check you hold the relevant qualification (if one is needed) to run the activity and let your commissioner know you plan to run it yourself. If you aren't sure, speak to your local adviser to check.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the needs of your group.
• Get any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
• Ask for a copy of the venue's safety guidelines and risk assessment (if relevant).
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls, leaders and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity if a qualification is needed). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents or carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents or carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation. 

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps. 

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
• Tell your local commissioner.
• Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
• Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
• Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
• Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Ask for evidence that the external provider has their own risk assessment for the activity they are running for you.
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
• Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

There are no formal qualifications needed if leaders plan on running this activity themselves, though they should have the necessary knowledge and experience to safely manage a football game.  

If you plan on using an external coach, they should've completed one of the following: 

• The English FA’s Introduction to Coaching Football.
• FAW’s Football Leaders Award.
• The Scottish FA’s Introduction to Coaching.
• The Irish FA’s Introduction to Grassroots Football.

You could consider contacting a local club to find somebody suitably experienced to help.

Football is a non-contact sport. Girls can ‘tackle’ the ball away from their opponents but should never make contact with other players. Girls should never ‘header’ the ball, which means to try and bounce the ball off their head, due to the risk of head and neck injury. 

Football is best played on a field or flat grassy area. It can also be played on hard surfaces – such as playground tarmac or a large indoor sports hall – but be sure to avoid playing near a road or where the ball may hit residential buildings. Use a soft ball when playing indoors.  

Girls should wear appropriate footwear, such as trainers. When playing on grass and using an actual football, consider studded shoes. Shin pads should be considered as part of the risk assessment for this activity.  

Consider hats and sunscreen for warmer weather. 

The ratios below are given as a maximum, and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment. This may lessen due to any medical conditions, physical ability or other factors. 

Leadership team ratio 

If this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the leadership team adult to child ratio is mandatory. 

• Rainbows: 1:5 (minimum of 2 adults)
• Brownies: 1:8
• Guides: 1:12
• Rangers: 1 leader, with a recommended second adult

Qualified adult to participant ratio 

There are no specific qualifications for running this activity.