Rights, Rules and Responsibilities
A Code of Conduct is a set of expectations for how we should behave whilst at the Academy, during Games Programme fixtures and at Premier League events. There is a version for Clubs, Academy Players, and their parents or carers. You will have signed one as part of the registration process. These documents are very important and must be followed to help create and maintain a safe and fun environment. Your child’s Club may have their own versions too, here are the Premier League Codes of Conduct.
Academy Player Codes of Conduct
Academy Player Code of Conduct
The Academy Player agrees to:
• Attend the Academy regularly, be on time and do their very best to behave with selfdiscipline and let the staff know if you will be absent.
• Practice the techniques and skills taught by the Academy and do their very best to try them in matches.
• Do their very best in their education.
• Try to follow a healthy lifestyle such as spending leisure time positively; eating, drinking, relaxing and sleeping sensibly.
• Communicate with the Academy staff, and let them know about anything that affects them and their football.
• Never, ever bully or abuse anyone, including being violent or discriminatory in any way, at the Academy or away from it, such as online or at school.
• Follow the Code of Conduct and rules for their Club and Academy.
Games Programme Expectations
We would like everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time at our Games Programme events. We expect children and young people participating in our events to play their part on and off the pitch by:
• Representing your Club with pride and respect, both on and off the pitch.
• Believing in yourself, being confident, being humble and trying your best.
• Being yourself and creating an environment where everyone feels included and valued.
• Being professional and being the role model that you would want to have.
• Treating people as you want to treated - never communicating or behaving in a way that might hurt, upset or offend other people.
• Working with your teammates and encouraging them to do their best.
• Always playing by the rules of the game and respecting match official decisions.
• Treating your teammates, opponents, coaches, match officials, event staff and spectators with kindness and respect.
• If someone says or does anything that upsets you, or makes you feel uncomfortable, telling a member of your Club’s staff, the event safeguarding lead, or an adult you trust
• Following site and event rules, for example:
• listening to, and following, safety instructions from Premier League and Club staff.
• staying with your team, or where you are meant to be, unless you’ve got permission to leave with a safe adult.
• treating event and accommodation sites with respect and care.
• wearing your Club kit/tracksuit at all events/activities and;
• at residential events, wearing your accreditation pass when not in your bedroom and showing respect for others, for example, by keeping to your Club’s curfew time and not being too noisy.
If you don’t meet any of these expectations, we hope that you will put it right. If not, or for more serious issues, we might need to speak to you, your parents/carers and/or your Club.
Parents & Carers Codes of Conduct
The parent(s)/carer(s)agree to:
• Support the Academy Player to meet targets, including this Code and any Code of Conduct issued separately by the Club and/or any rules for its Academy.
• Support the Academy Player without pressure, praise good work and don’t criticise their mistakes. Remember, they are children!
• Be a good role model for the Academy Player and other parents/carers.
• Not approach or engage in communication, either directly or indirectly, with another Academy whilst the Academy Player is registered with an Academy, except for when it is permitted by the Youth Development Rules.
• Communicate with the Academy staff about any issues of concern and to keep them informed about any matters affecting the Academy Player.
• Adhere to any Code of Conduct issued by the Club and/or any rules for its Academy.
Games Programme Spectator Code of Conduct
These expectations have been written by children and young people who are current academy players in the Foundation and Youth Development Phases. They would like all parents, carers and spectators to:
• Be kind, calm, encouraging and supportive.
• Be their biggest fan, not their biggest critic.
• Be positive in your communication, including your body language
• Praise their effort, even if things aren’t going well on the pitch.
• Never distract players during matches
• Let the players play, the coaches coach and the referees, referee.
• Avoid using upsetting, offensive, discriminatory language or behaviour towards anyone.
The Premier League expects spectators to adhere to the following event rules:
• As a condition of entry, you must present your ticket/accreditation and photo identification.
• Never pass on your ticket/accreditation to anyone else.
• Always wear your spectator wristband.
• Never bring prohibited items.
• Comply with event safety procedures and instructions from event staff.
• Refrain from any form of bullying, harassment, abusive or disrespectful language or behavior.
• Refrain from distracting or criticising the children and young people participating – they have the right to take part in a safe, respectful and enjoyable environment.
• Respect all decisions made by coaches, referees and match officials.
• Remain within designated spectator areas. Spectators are not permitted within the field of play, player accommodation, changing areas or other restricted areas.
• Only take photos of children you have parental responsibility for. Filming is not permitted.
• Spectators are responsible for the safety and supervision of the children in their care.
• Smoking, vaping and consumption of alcohol (including alcohol-free variants) is not permitted.
• Spectators should report any concerns to our event staff without delay.
The Premier League reserves the right to determine appropriate action for breaches of this code of conduct. This may include being refused entry, ejected from the event and/or prevented from attending future events.
Clubs Code of Conduct
The Club agrees to:
• Provide a safe and inclusive environment in which the Academy Player can learn and develop free from abuse, bullying, mistreatment and discrimination in any form.
• Ensure all staff receive regular safeguarding training approved by the Club’s Head of Safeguarding and have been subject to safer recruitment procedures.
• Protect the welfare of the Academy Player, including their mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Ensure medical screening, monitoring and support for the Academy Player.
• Provide a structured football learning programme appropriate to the age, ability and growth of the Academy Player.
• Provide participation in football matches arranged or approved by the Premier League as part of the Games Programme.
• Provide trained and qualified coaching and other staff and facilities as determined by the Youth Development Rules.
• Provide guidelines to the Academy Player and parent(s)/carer(s) on the best ways for them to contribute to the Academy Player’s football and personal development.
• Provide compensatory education and support (in consultation with the Academy Player’s parent(s)/carer(s) and school) for the continued academic and personal development of the Academy Player, appropriate to their educational needs and training model.
• Provide regular communication and reports to the Academy Player and parent(s)/ carer(s) on their progress.
• Provide any additional Code(s) oof Conduct and/or Rules for its Academy.
Anti-Discrimination
Discrimination is sadly still part of our society. We don’t want it to play any part within our game. The Premier League has very clear Discrimination Reporting Protocols in place that was designed by youth Academy players to add more protection from discrimination. They should be briefed on the protocol before every match and at every Premier League Event. Discrimination can also be reported directly to your Club, for example to the Safeguarding Team, as well as to Kick it Out.
End of Season procedure
Renewing your Registration
If your child is happy to stay registered at the Club you do not need to do anything. The Club will notify the Premier League, and their registration will be retained for a further period, depending on their age.
Declining Extended Registration
If your child chooses to decline the offer of an extended registration period, they must tell their Club and the League in writing by the first Saturday in June. After your child receives confirmation from the League, they will then be able to agree registration at another Club, depending on the rules relating to travel distance.
If your child refuses an offer of retention and a new Club wishes to register your child, the new Club will have to pay money called compensation to your child’s previous Club. It’s also important to know that your child cannot be offered a professional contract until their U16 year or enter into one until they are 17 years old.
Scholarship Offers
Scholarship Offers A scholarship offer is a significant milestone in your child’s Academy journey. It means that the Club would like to offer them a registration extending after their Under 16 season. A Club may offer a young person a ‘Scholarship Agreement’ at the very earliest on or after 1st July between their Under 13 and Under 14 year, and at the latest by the 31 December in their Under 16 year.
Approaches and moving Academy
Scouts and intermediaries
A Scout represents a Club and is responsible for identifying talented young players. They often become trusted people for Academy Players and their families. Scouts must be registered with the Club who is responsible for ensuring high standards of behaviour. You should always confirm a Scout’s identity with the Club. If you are concerned about an approach from a Scout, contact your child’s Club Head of Safeguarding immediately.
An Intermediary used to be known as an Agent. They act on behalf of a player or a Club and may represent a player and/or a Club in contractual negotiations and on registration issues. Intermediaries can be helpful at the right time, but some can break the rules and be unhelpful. An intermediary may not approach a player before the 1st of January in the year of their 16th birthday. If you are concerned about an approach from an Intermediary, contact your child’s Club Head of Safeguarding immediately and also report it to The FA using Intermediaries@ thefa.com or by using the Intermediaries Hotline and calling 0844 980 8213. You or your child can also seek advice from the PFA’s Youth Advisory Service.
Inducements
Inducements Clubs are not allowed to encourage players to register with them by offering cash or some other benefit in kind to you, your child, or anyone connected to you. This is called ‘inducement’ and you or your child must not accept anything that is offered. Inducement could be breaking the Premier League’s Rules, and the rules cover registration with a new Club, or re-signing with a Club they may already be registered with. Inducements can be anything from cash payments to the payment or reimbursement of accommodation or travel costs. It is of course understood by the League that some expenses are genuine and guidance is available upon request explaining which payments are allowed. If you have any doubts whether something might be an inducement, you or your child should contact the Premier League before accepting anything. Remember, if you or your child have accepted an inducement, there could be serious consequences, including a potential sanction from the Premier League and/or termination or refusal of your child’s registration.
Moving to another club
If your child has had a previous registration where compensation is owing to their former club, your child and the two Clubs may need to attend an exit interview to talk through the circumstances of their proposed move. This is a process that has been agreed by all Premier League Clubs and is intended to make sure that no rules have been broken in relation to the move.
As part of the process, you, your child together with the Club that they wish to move to, will also need to sign a declaration that no approach has been made to you or your child prior to the relevant date, nor has any inducement been paid or offered to you or your child or anyone connected with you or your child to encourage them to move Academy. Following this process, you or your child may be asked to provide certain documents and/or other information to the Premier League to ensure that all Rules have been complied with. As an example, phone records and bank statements covering the last year may be requested.
You and your child should be aware that this process can potentially take a few weeks and while it is ongoing, your child will not be able to train with or play for the new Club’s Academy. We appreciate that this can be inconvenient and can be a time of uncertainty, but it is an extremely important part of ensuring the integrity of the Academy system and the Premier League Rules. We will endeavour to ensure the process is completed as soon as possible.
Compensation
Compensation is money paid by your child’s new Club to their previous Club to cover training and development costs if they decline an offer of extended registration. Clubs are required to calculate compensation based upon an annual fixed fee which relates to the age group of the Academy player and the category of Academy the player was registered with. The full compensation formula can be found within the Premier League Youth Development Rules. Should the Club offer your child a Scholarship, and subsequently this is not accepted, if your child then register elsewhere compensation could be determined outside of the prescribed formula.
