EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, EVERY TIME.
Dinnington Town Football Club, are proud to support Play Safe Weekend, an important initiative dedicated to promoting safeguarding across all levels of the game.
Football unites us, inspires us, and brings joy to millions, but it must also be a sport that protects everyone involved.
That’s why we are fully committed to ensuring football remains a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
What is Play Safe?
Play Safe is an annual campaign launched by The FA, designed to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding in football.
Every season, clubs and associations across England come together to promote a culture of safety within the game.
The goal is simple: make football safe, fun, and inclusive for everyone, regardless of their role — whether as players, coaches, spectators, or referees.
The message of Play Safe is universal — Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time — emphasising that safeguarding is not a one-time effort but an ongoing responsibility we all share.
Why is Play Safe Important?
Football should bring people together, foster positivity, and build a sense of community.
However, negative behavior or abuse can quickly shatter that love for the game.
Safeguarding helps prevent such incidents, ensuring football remains a welcoming environment for everyone.
Play Safe Weekend is a reminder that safeguarding is essential. It encourages everyone in the football community to be mindful, to watch, listen, talk, and act when necessary.
By focusing on safeguarding, we can protect players, coaches, and fans from harm and ensure football is the inclusive and safe space it should always be.
Play Safe Weekend – 28th/29th September 2024
This year’s Play Safe Weekend will take place on 28th and 29th September 2024.
This special weekend serves as both a celebration of our collective dedication to safeguarding and a reminder of our responsibility to each other.
For Play Safe 2024, we’re asking everyone involved in football to understand their role in safeguarding.
Whether you are a coach, player, parent, or spectator, everyone has a part to play in ensuring the safety of those involved in the game.
At Dinnington Town Football Club, we will mark this important weekend in several ways:
Special Play Safe Captain’s Armbands: Our teams will wear captain’s armbands carrying the Play Safe message, highlighting the importance of safeguarding on the pitch.
Play Safe Pin Badges: Managers and staff will wear Play Safe pin badges to show their support and encourage conversations about safeguarding.
Safeguarding Awareness
Did you know that The FA offers a free Safeguarding Awareness for Parents & Carers course? Why don't you play your role in Safeguarding your team? You can access the free course here.
Safeguarding at Dinnington Town Football Club
At Dinnington Town Football Club, we take safeguarding seriously every day of the year.
All our managers and coaches are required to complete safeguarding training, regardless of the age group they manage. They must renew and pass this course every two years.
As a club, we also go beyond the mandatory FA Accreditation criteria, which requires only one coach per team to have a safeguarding qualification.
We ensure that every person coaching your child holds a valid safeguarding qualification, along with a valid DBS check, first aid qualification, and football certification — all paid for by the club.
Additionally, every committee member at Dinnington Town is required to complete extra safeguarding training.
We also have a dedicated Club Safeguarding Officer, Louisa Turner.
If you ever have concerns about safeguarding, no matter how big or small, your first point of contact should be a team manager or Commitee Lead. Alternatively, you can speak directly to Louisa, who is always available to listen and take necessary action. You can reach her by dropping into the club or via email at hello@DinningtonTown.co.uk.
As we approach Play Safe Weekend, we invite everyone so players, coaches, families, and fans to come together and reinforce the message of safeguarding in football.
By working together, we can ensure that the game remains safe, enjoyable, and fun for everyone involved.
Let’s make football a game where everyone feels safe.
Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time.