Photography and Football

Since Child Protection issues first became addressed in football, the area of Photography and photographic access has caused much concern and on occasions distrust and accusation. Since the first photographs were produced they have been kept as memories of times that for whatever reason mean a lot to us as individuals. A babies smile, a wedding picture, a family celebration or a loved one perhaps long since departed, all these are reasons for wanting to take and keep pictures. Photography has progressed greatly since its early days and we now have digital cameras and camcorders that can now do almost as professional a job as the specialised photographic industry itself.

Within football the team picture representing a group of players is regarded as living proof of a successful day, season, tournament or just a good team spirit and a group of friends. Club houses, front rooms, school cabinets, attics etc all bare testimony to the group of players that made that team special to the owner of the picture.

However what is safe and appropriate with regard to photography is causing major concern to many people at this present time. Unfortunately there is evidence that certain individuals and groups will visit sporting events to take inappropriate photographs or video footage of young or disabled sports people in vulnerable positions. Child pornography is a flourishing market for these individuals who wish to publicise their actions to others. Does this mean that all photography needs to be banned in order to prevent such things happening? The answer quite simply is NO, but care and consideration have to be taken in the area of photography. The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit as well as the FA has issued guidelines to sport to help prevent this form of abuse taking place. Major Child Protection organisations worldwide are continually trying to address the problem of children and inappropriate photography. All clubs need to remain vigilant and keep up to date on any information about this area and any concerns during an event should be reported to a club official or other responsible person.

It is not an offence to take pictures of football players unless the game is played on private land (and the taking of pictures has been prohibited), so relations and friends can still take pictures of such occasions as little Susan playing her first game for her team. To ensure your club does not have a problem regarding the permission to photograph your players you should have included a permission section in the Players Code of Conduct which was signed on their registration for the club.

So what guidelines should a club have in order to safeguard their players. These guidelines are designed for professional photographers that your club may hire but they should be adhered to by all amateur photographers as well.

Professional Photography

If you are commissioning a professional photographer or inviting the local press to an event, it is important that they understand your expectations of them in relation to child protection. You should:-

• Provide a clear brief about what is considered appropriate in terms of their behaviour and the content of the photography.
• Ask to see the photographers CRB check, if they are working regularly with children they will be aware of this necessity.
• Issue them with identification which they must display at all times.
• Inform players and parents / carers that there is going to be photographer present.
• Do not allow photographers unsupervised access to players or one-to-one photo sessions during the event.
• All commands for positioning of children will be verbal without having to touch any children at all.
• Do not allow any photo sessions to be held away from the playing areas or at a participant's home or photographers home or studio without full parental / carer permission and their presence.
• Children cannot give their consent to being photographed without parental or carers consent as well.
• All pictures taken will only include children appropriately dressed for the game.
• There will be no photographic equipment taken into or used around the changing rooms or toileting areas.
• The photographer will not drink or smoke or use inappropriate language when he is taking his pictures.
• All images taken will be deleted after 4 weeks of the photography session.

Some of you players will not have given permission for their photographs to be taken and should not be forced into it. Some less-than-obvious reasons as to why they would not want their picture taken include; Some children have been removed from their families by Social Services or Children agencies for their own safety (possibly Child Abuse cases) and may be staying in foster or temporary care. Some children may be the innocent victims in child custody cases or domestic violence and are currently in hiding. Some children may be witnesses in court proceedings and their safety (even their life) may be at risk. These are all very important reasons why the children and the adults responsible for them do not the picture taken.

Photographs of Children on club Web Sites

Many clubs now have their own web sites which promote the club and maintain an excellent method of communicating with their players and parents. Young (and old) players love to see their pictures on screen and they all want to be recognised for their achievements. If a club wishes to show action shots or team photos then they must make every care to ensure that any information is kept to a minimum. To show a picture of Mattie T, the top scorer this season, and name him and give his hobbies as opera and swimming is far too much personal information that is accessible to everyone visiting that site. ‘Grooming’ is an obvious danger in this case – this has been covered in the Types of Abuse section on this site and gives a clear outline of the process of making contact, befriending and eventually creating a situation where possible abuse could take place. Not everyone who logs onto a web site belonging to a club is looking to groom children but there are individuals who will be looking for sufficient information to be able to make an initial contact without raising too much suspicion.

Each club will need to have an agreed policy about what they use on their web site and they intend to represent the clubs duty of care to both children and parent / carer in order to minimise any opportunities of misuse. An example might well be:-

• Easy Guidelines to follow.
• Avoid the use of the children’s names if at all possible, if this is not possible then avoid using either first name or surname if accompanied or in reference to a picture.
• Children should not have their picture or name included on a site without parent / carer and the child's permission.
• Only post on the web / club house etc pictures that have been viewed by both child and the parent / carer (if under 18).
• Only ever post fully clothed pictures even if it may seem good fun at the time.
• Do not create a web site where non club members can get access to current players internet mail addresses etc

Videoing as a Coaching Aid

Videoing as a coaching aid is an excellent tool with which to identify particularly weak areas and plan how to improve them. If your club decides to use video recording equipment the guidelines are the same for taking photographs, with permission required and all the requirements regarding privacy and distribution.