Dh and some of the school dads run Saturday morning football in the village - what is their liability (worried)?

[hmc]

Our local village school does not have a PE teacher - the staff just coach whatever they fancy. Consequently there is a gap with football (a pretty chuffin' big gap if you ask me - mum to football devoted 6 year old).

So for some time now the school dads have run Saturday morning football at the Village Rec. It is mostly children from our school who attend and the parents invariably leave little Johnny for the 2 hours it lasts.

My worry is that is my dh and his school dad pals liable if little Johnny wanders off and gets lost, or falls over and gets injured? What do we do to ensure we are covered? - I don't want a child be become hurt and his parents pursue damages against us!

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How organised is it?

Is it just a group of families getting together for some fun or something more formal?

A whole raft of issues here, especially if children are being left "unsupervised" with your dh. My ds used to attend something very similar at that age, and we were absolutely not allowed to leave him (unless you made arrangements with another parent who was staying to watch, for example) for precisely that reason.

Their coach made it plain that he could not be expected to take that responsibility - what if someone didn't collect their child, or someone had to be taken to hospital, for example.

Is there a local football club you can affiliate to, so you can take advantage of their insurance, maybe? And then become a "feeder" for their team when the boys reach 7/8.

CRB checks also come into it if you are regularly responsible for children who aren't yours......

But it would be a shame if bureaucracy got in the way of small boys playing football. As I said, my ds started in exactly this way; he now plays for two teams in the local U11 leagues.

That's the problem - it is in between. Many parents leave their children there and go off. It is only 3 or 4 of the dads who stay and run it. My dh is by default in charge (how did that happen!) - he is the one who has to put a sign up at school mid week if the Saturday session has been cancelled for instance. Also participants pay 50p each week towards the cost of replacement balls etc

Affiliation idea sounds interesting

I do think there could be potential liability issues if the parents aren't staying with the kids.

Paying subs of 50 p could have implications as well

I think you should get professional advice

disclaimer - I know nothing - I am just guessing

By professional advice - just any high street solicitor do you think?

not just any high st solicitor- they will just have to spend extra time looking it all up, it's probably not a run-of-the-mill query.

try googling for a firm that says 'clubs and associations' law

or possibly sports law??

Thanks - I will. That will hopefully pull up some possibilities

our Saturday footie is not insured and parents aren't allowed to leave their kids - this is the simplest option

Yes - I think that is the other option. Simple from a liability point of view - might encounter some initial resistance from parents however who are used to 'dump and go'...but am thinking, so be it. Just need to convince dh there is a problem (head in sand)

some info here which may be of interest regarding children's football

Would the FA give some guidance? They support community football etc.

Of course the FA - good idea, thanks

You definitely need to look at safeguarding/child protection and liability insurance.

just to add the safeguarding stuff isn't just about CRB checks etc, but have you got first aid cover, what minimum ratio of adults/kids you have, getting parental consent before photos are taken etc, etc.

Ds (6) plays rugby. I thought how fab, lots of boys from school so I could dump and run and share supervision with other parents. In reality I have to spend every single sodding Sunday winter's morning on the touch line as the club requires a parent to attend for children of that age. This is a professional rugby club fully affliated etc etc.

If I were your dh I would insist on the same.

This is proving very helpful - yes, I think we must

Contact the FA they are fantastic with this kind of thing.

We were in this position a number of years ago and decided to go the FA route and I even became and under 10 coach myself {proud emoticon}
It's the only way.