Poor Practice
THE OFA SEEKS TO SUPPORT SAFE AND ENJOYABLE FOOTBALL FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE
This means, if standards ever fall short with poor practice or unacceptable behaviour, there’s a process in place to make sure Oxfordshire FA can deal with it. By reporting a concern you can help us make sure that youth football is safe and enjoyable for everyone. 
If you have a concern about the welfare of a child and or the behaviour of an adult towards a young person (under 18 years of age) in a football environment, then please report it immediately. The OFA have 2 levels of safeguarding cases, High Level Incidents, and Poor Practice Cases, both of which are described below:
High Level Incidents
If the concern can be categorised as:
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Neglect
• Bullying
Or If the concern involves possible or immediate actual risk of harm to children you must email safeguarding@thefa.com or contact the NSPCC 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000.
If it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then immediately call the police or children’s social care.
Poor Practice Cases
If the concern DOES NOT involve any of the categories above and DOES NOT involve possible or actual risk of harm to children, you can report it to your Club Welfare Officer, who will be able to provide advice and guidance especially with things such as:
• Inappropriate language
• Verbal abuse
• In appropriate coach behaviour i.e. abusing the referee or entering the field of play without permission
• Inappropriate touch line behaviour by spectators
• Player concerns (i.e. poor matchday or training actions)
As stated, the first point of contact for Poor Practice cases should be the Club Welfare Officer, however if you feel that would be in appropriate or would prefer not to contact them you can report this directly to the OFA via the poor practice referral form below (this form can also be used for poor practice cases involving “adults at risk”).
If you make a referral using the form below the OFA will acknowledge the report within 2 working days of submission. We may contact you for additional information and we will keep you informed of any developments or outcomes (subject to any confidentiality issues).
Oxfordshire FA continues to work to ensure that all young people can enjoy football in a fun and safe environment and your help is vital in achieving this.
For more information on Safeguarding the please click here and for specific questions please email safeguarding@oxfordshirefa.com or to speak with the OFA Designated Safeguarding Officer call 07852 722540.