I don’t normally take my work camera to my kids football games, but I just bought a Nikon D700 and wanted to try it out. OK I had the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 lens on the camera which looks quite big but I wanted to try and get some nice action shots of my children.
I think I’d shot about 5 frames before I was asked to stop by the opposing team coach. “You can’t take pictures of the children playing football, the Football association has rules that ban photography…. it’s not me…it’s the rules” was roughly the way the conversation went. Well it wasn’t the time or place to start having a “discussion” about this, I was sure that he wasn’t right as I seen loads of other parents taking pictures over the weeks, I didn’t know what the guidelines were …. so I stopped. I figured that it was mainly due to the size of the lens…. but I was certainly going to find out what the guide lines were. It turns out that the coach had very little idea about what the guidelines actually are, another classic example of someone who thinks they know best when it comes to spouting rules and regulations about what you can or can’t photograph!
So for all you parents that want to take pictures of your kids playing football here are the guidelines from the official F.A website and I recommend that you make yourself aware of what the guidelines are…. especially if you are a coach.
The guide lines are in PDF form which you can get from here: www.thefa.com/…/PhotographyGuidelines…/PhotographyGuidelines.pdf
From the FA “Respect” pdf:
There has been much talk about who is allowed to take pictures of children (under 18s) playing sport and in particular what parents/carers are permitted to do. The FA would like to assure parents, carers, coaches, spectators, players and local media that we encourage the taking of appropriate images of children in football.
Potential risks
The FA has developed this guidance to help avoid the following:
• The inappropriate use, adaptation or copying of images for use on child abuse websites on the internet (often incorrectly referred to as pornography sites)
• The identification of children when a photograph is accompanied by significant personal information that will assist a third party in identifying the child. This can lead, and has led, to children being ‘groomed’
• The identification and locating of children in inappropriate circumstances which include: (i) where a child has been removed from his/her family for their own safety; (ii) where restrictions on contact with one parent following a parental separation exist e.g. in domestic violence cases; (iii) in situations where a child may be a witness in criminal proceedings; or (iv) other safeguarding children concerns.
It’s important to remember the majority of images taken are appropriate and taken in good faith. If we take the following simple measures we can help to ensure the safety of children in football.
Common sense considerations to ensure everyone’s safety
Do:
1. share The FA’s guidance on taking images with all parents, carers and members when they join the club
2. ensure the club has parental consent to use a player’s image if it is to be used in the public domain e.g. club website or newspaper article. This is essential in relation to point 3 below
3. ensure that any child in your club who is under care proceedings, is protected by ensuring that their image is not placed in the public domain. This can be done by using a Consent Form, so that parents/carers can identify whether this applies to children in their care.
4. focus on the activity rather than the individual
5. ensure all those featured are appropriately dressed (a minimum of vest or shirt and shorts)
6. aim to take pictures which represent the broad range of youngsters participating safely in football e.g. boys and girls, disabled people, ethnic minority communities.
Don’t:
1. publish photographs with the full name(s) of the individual(s) featured unless you have written consent to do so and you have informed the parents as to how the image will be used
2. use player profiles with pictures and detailed personal information on websites
3. use an image for something other than that which it was initially agreed, e.g. published in local press when initially produced for a clubhouse commemorative picture
4. allow images to be recorded in changing rooms, showers or toilets – this includes the use of mobile phones that record images.
If you are concerned about the inappropriate use of images please report this to your CFA Welfare Office ror to The FA Case Manager.
Remember
• It’s not an offence to take appropriate photographs in a public place even if asked not to do so
• No one has the right to decide who can and cannot take images on public land
• If you have serious concerns about a possible child protection issue relating to the recording of images then call the Police. This action should only be taken where you believe that someone may be acting unlawfully or putting a child at risk
• The land or facility owner can decide whether or not photography and or videoing at football activities will be permitted when carried out on private land. However you need to make this known before allowing individuals access to the private property. If they do not comply then you may request that they leave
To report potentially unlawful materials on the internet please contact:
The Internet Watch Foundation
Email: report@iwf.org.uk
Telephone: 01223 237700
