The minimum legal requirement

Every player must be registered with your football association (FA, SFA, FAW, or IFA depending on region) before they can play in official matches. Registration:

  • Covers insurance in case of injury
  • Verifies eligibility (age, residency)
  • Protects you legally if something goes wrong

An unregistered player in a match is a disciplinary violation. Don't do it.

Duty of care (you have legal responsibility)

As a coach, you have a "duty of care" to every player. This means:

  • You must take reasonable steps to prevent injury (proper equipment, safe surfaces, appropriate activity level)
  • You must have a first-aid response plan
  • You must supervise properly (you can't be absent or negligent)
  • You must keep records (injuries, incidents, complaints)

If a player is injured and claims you were negligent, these records protect you.

What you need (minimum)

  • Player registration list (name, DOB, parent contact, medical info)
  • Emergency contact form signed by parent/guardian
  • Consent to photograph/video (if you use images)
  • Safeguarding declaration (you've disclosed any relevant history)
  • DBS check (criminal background clearance — required in most regions for adults working with children)
  • Injury log (document any incident, however minor)
  • First aid kit + basic first aid knowledge

Safeguarding

You must:

  • Never be alone with a player (always with another adult or in open setting)
  • Maintain appropriate boundaries (no favoritism, no private communication outside of official channels)
  • Report any concerns immediately to your club safeguarding officer
  • Understand that a child can disclose abuse to you — know how to respond (listen, don't investigate, report immediately)

Insurance

Your club insurance (via registration) covers player injuries. But it typically doesn't cover:

  • Your own injuries (get your own personal insurance)
  • Negligence claims (if you're genuinely negligent, insurance may not pay)
  • Abuse/misconduct (different insurance or legal consequences)

What to keep

Store these for at least 6 years:

  • Registration forms
  • Consent forms
  • Injury reports
  • Incident logs
  • Attendance records
  • Complaint letters or communications

This is boring admin, but it's your legal protection.