Ahead of the new season we‘re once again sharing the results from our consultation with local Young Footballers as we aim to create a positive environment for players and referees in Cumberland.  

In April we consulted with 80 young footballers on the positive and negative impact of football on their wellbeing. 

Cumberland FA in partnership with Cumbria County Council, Workington AFC, Every Life Matters and Kooth held a consultation event with young Cumberland footballers in April 2022. Young footballers from a variety of clubs were invited to attend and took part in some small-sided games on the Workington AFC pitch while indoor workshop activities were undertaken to capture the voice of young players.  A number of young referees were also involved in the event, refereeing and getting involved in the consultation.

The focus of the day was on ‘Health and Wellbeing’ and how football impacts on the wellbeing of participants (both positively and negatively), with information on how to keep safe, both in and outside football.  

During the consultation the young players and referees were asked the following questions and their responses were collated.

1. How does football impact on you positively? 
2. How can football negatively affect you? 
3. How can we help with this as adults?
4. How might we know if a friend is struggling?
5. Why do people not ask for help?
6. Do you know who to go to with a problem at your club (or outside your club)?
7. Advice for anyone having a hard time 

Every Life Matters held a workshop during the day for club’s welfare officers, club volunteers and parents, to educate and inform them on suicide awareness.

THE RESULTS

We collated the responses and found these to be the top 5 responses:

How does football impact on you positively?
1. Gets you fit / healthy
2. Meet new friends
3. Makes me feel proud of myself / to be part of a team
4. Play with my friends
5. Makes me happy

This data clearly shows that ‘winning games’ is not what the children felt was the overriding positive of the game.  (4 out of the 80 children cited ‘winning’ as being a way in which football impacts them positively)

How can football negatively affect you?

Top 5 answers:
1. Pressure (general)
2. Negative shouting from spectators
3. Other players being mean
4. Pressure from side lines
5. Getting hurt 

Mel Sandwith, Cumberland FA’s Designated Safeguarding Officer, commented that “It was evident from all the answers we collated that the overriding negative impact on children was ‘negative shouting and pressure'. The word ‘pressure’ was used a lot as a negative in different forms but when we asked what kind of pressure, the most common response was from ‘the side-lines’ ie spectators.”

Main Behaviour Negatives of Football were identified as: 
1. Negative shouting from spectators
2. Other players being mean
3. Other players having a go at you
4. Coach telling you off for no reason
5. Unsporting behaviour from opponents

How can we help with this as adults?
1. Encouragement and positivity from spectators and coaches
2. Coaches should speak to parents who are shouting (stop parents shouting)
3. Coach sets rules at the start of the game for spectators
4. Remove players from the pitch
5. Coaches should not have favourites
6. Talk to us and help us calm down

The data shows that negative shouting from the side lines is something that children do not want, instead they want encouragement.  They also show that they feel it is the coach’s responsibility to support encouragement from the side-lines.

How might we know if a friend is struggling?
1. They are quiet
2. Not their usual self / acting strange or different
3. They are angry 
4. Might want to be alone / avoiding people
5. Not playing as well as normal

With more than 20 suggestions of how a child may know if their friend it struggling, it is good to see that children recognise changes in a person’s behaviour is a common sign that someone might have a problem. 

Why don't people ask for help?
1. Feel embarrassed / uncomfortable
2. They are scared
3. Don’t want to talk to anyone and keep it to themselves
4. Unsure what happens next
5. Don’t trust people

Do you know who to go to with a problem at your club (or outside your club)?

The children have identified their coach as the person within their club that they would go to for help.  
This highlights the importance of coaches having an in-date DBS check and FA Safeguarding qualification in order to be prepared should a child share a safeguarding concern with them. 
The majority of responses do show that children know to share their problem with a trusted adult.

Advice for anyone having a hard time
1. Tell a trusted adult / person
2. Talk to someone
3. Keep your head up
4. Stay positive
5. Tell them they are not alone

Mel Sandwith, Cumberland FA’s Designated Safeguarding Officer commented on the event: “Essentially, we wanted young people to be able to benefit from this project by being given the opportunity to influence, feel valued and help shape what is ‘their’ game.  The feedback from these sessions was excellent and the children really enjoyed the activities.  
During season 2022/23 we aim to work closely with clubs to help them develop a stronger culture of listening.”  

As the 2022-23 youth season begins this weekend, we want to encourage enjoyment for all participants (players and referees) across the grassroots game so we’re asking clubs and teams to pass on the findings to help create a positive environment FOR ALL in Cumberland. 

After all the grassroots game in Cumberland will only thrive with children enjoying the game and continuing to turn up each week leading to lifelong participation – with veterans and walking football now available to players and match officials of all ages across the county, there is no need to ever retire!

This project has been nominated in the Youth Engagement category at the 2022 County FA Recognition Awards. The awards, which will be announced at Wembley Stadium next month, recognise and endorse the best projects, products and services delivered by County FAs over the past two seasons, while sharing best practice and learnings from around the country.
The Winners of the prestigious Awards will be announced in November.

GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

Everyone involved in football has a part to play to ensure children can play in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Visit TheFA.com for more information for parents and carers.