Helping every child enjoy football, develop and feel supported
At Brinsley FC, we want football to be positive, safe and enjoyable for every child. Our club is built around player development, safeguarding, respect, inclusion, teamwork and community pride.
This page explains what our club values mean for parents, spectators and players.
Football should be a place where children can learn, make mistakes, grow in confidence and feel part of a team. Winning matters because children enjoy competing, but it should never come before safety, respect, learning or player confidence.
Parent & Spectator Guide
Parents and spectators play a huge part in creating the right environment for children. A positive touchline helps players feel confident, supported and able to enjoy the game.
At Brinsley FC, we ask parents and spectators to support the whole team, respect decisions, encourage good behaviour and raise any concerns calmly through the right route. The below infographic shows the values and behaviours we expect from each of the parents & spectators:
1. Encourage every child
Please encourage all players, not only your own child.
A kind word from the touchline can make a big difference, especially to children who are still learning, growing in confidence or finding their place in the team.
2. Respect team decisions
Managers and coaches have to make decisions based on the whole team, not just one moment in a match.
Selection and playing time may consider attendance, attitude, effort, safety, development needs and match context.
That does not mean results come before children. It means coaches are trying to balance fairness, safety, learning and development.
3. Let coaches coach
Please avoid coaching from the touchline unless you have been asked to help.
Too many instructions can confuse players and make them anxious. The best support from the sideline is encouragement, not tactical direction.
4. Show respect
Respect is expected towards:
- Players
- Parents
- Referees
- Opponents
- Coaches
- Volunteers
- Specatators
Brinsley FC will not accept aggressive sideline behaviour, referee abuse, intimidation, bullying, discrimination or behaviour that damages the club’s reputation.
5. Raise concerns calmly
If something worries you, please raise it privately and respectfully.
The best route will usually be:
- Team matter: speak to the manager at an appropriate tieme - normally after matches and training
- Player behaviour concern: speak to the team manager or Club Welfare Officer
- Safeguarding concern: speak to the Club Welfare Officer immediately
- Immedidate danger: ring the Police on 999 or 101.
Please avoid emotional disputes in group chats or public criticism online.
6. Use chats and social media well
WhatsApp groups, photos, videos and social media should be used responsibly.
Please do not criticise children, referees, coaches, opponents or other parents online. Concerns should be raised privately through the right route.
7. Protect the club
Everyone connected with Brinsley FC represents the club.
That means respecting:
- Pitches
- Toilets
- Storage areas
- Parking
- Neighbours
- Opposition facilities
- Referees
- Local community spaces
We want Brinsley FC to be seen as a positive part of the local community.
8. Put safeguarding first
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Any concern about a child, adult behaviour, bullying, poor practice or welfare should be taken seriously and passed through the correct route.
See the Safeguarding page on this site for more information of the process.
Parent promise
Player guide
Brinsley FC is a place where players should feel safe, supported and proud to be part of the team.
We want every player to try their best, respect others, support their teammates and enjoy learning the game.
You do not have to be perfect. You just need to listen, work hard, show a good attitude and keep trying.
To understand each of the areas, these are broken down in the below sections.
1. Try your best
Trying your best matters more than being the best player on the pitch.
That means:
- Working hard
- Listening to coaches
- Keeping going
- Being brave
- Trying again after mistakes
- Helping and supporting your team mates
2. Play fairly
Football should be competitive, but it should also be fun, fair and safe.
Players should follow the rules of the game, listen to the referee and avoid unsafe play.
Playing fairly means:
- No cheating
- No dangerous tackles
- No arguing with officials
- No winding people up
- No trying to hurt others
3. Respect everyone
Players are expected to respect:
- Teammates
- Coaches
- Referees
- Opponents
- Parents and spectators
- Volunteers
Respect means listening, using the right language and treating people properly - even when the game is frustrating.
4. Support your teammates
Every player develops at a different speed.
Some players may be confident. Some may be nervous. Some may be new to football. Some may make mistakes.
At Brinsley FC, teammates support each other. We do not laugh at, blame, exclude or put down other players.
Good teammates say:
- "Unlucky"
- "Keep going"
- "You've got this"
- "Well done"
- "Great effort"
5. Learn from mistakes
Mistakes are part of football.
Missing a tackle, losing the ball, missing a chance or making the wrong decision does not make someone a bad player.
The important thing is to listen, learn and try again.
No player should be humilated, labelled or written off for making a mistake.
6. Be a good teammate
Being a good teammate is not just about football ability. It means:
- Sharing the ball
- Helping others
- Listening
- Working hard
- Showing a good attitude
- Being kind
- Celebrating team success
Good teams are built on trust, effort and encouragement.
7. Speak up
If something does not feel right, speak to a trusted adult.
This might be:
- A parent or coach
- Your team coach or assistant coaches
- Your team manager
- The Club Welfare Officer
- Another adult you know and trust
Players should tell a trusted adult if they feel unsafe, worried, bullied or uncomfortable.
8. Represent Brinsley with pride
When you wear the Brinsley FC badge, you represent your club.
That means behaving well:
- At training
- On match days
- At opposition grounds
- Online
- In the local community
We want our players to be known for effort, respect, teamwork and pride.
Player promise
Code of conduct summary
Parents, spectators and players all help create the right environment at Brinsley FC. Parents are asked to encourage every child, respect team decisions, avoid coaching from the touchline, use photos and social media responsibly, and raise any concerns calmly through the correct route. Players are expected to play fairly, listen to coaches and match officials, respect teammates, opponents, referees and volunteers, support others who are still learning, accept that everyone develops at a different pace, and speak to a trusted adult if something does not feel right.