Girls' Football Safeguarding: What You Must Get Right
Publishing content about a girls' team carries obligations a men's senior side does not. Get consent and image rules right first.
Any club publishing content about a girls' team is publishing content about children. That carries obligations that do not apply to a men's senior side, and getting it wrong is a safeguarding issue, not a marketing one.
This page is not legal advice — your county FA and your club's safeguarding officer are the authority. It is a practical checklist of what clubs routinely get wrong.
The basics
- Consent first — written parental consent for any image or name of a player under 18
- Names and details — full names plus identifying details (school, street, routine) should never be published together
- Team photos — consent for the squad, and a clear process for a parent who withdraws it
- Contact details — never publish a child's contact details, ever
Photos of minors
The safe pattern is group and action shots over individual posed portraits, no full names alongside images unless consent explicitly covers it, and a documented process for removing an image when consent is withdrawn.
Practical rules that keep clubs safe
- Keep a consent register and check it before publishing, every time
- Prefer first names or squad numbers in captions
- Never publish a child's location or routine
- Have the safeguarding officer review any new content format before it goes out
- Automate the check — a template that pulls a name should pull it from the consent register
Quick answers
Can we post the player of the match for a girls' team?
Yes, with consent. Many clubs use first name plus squad number rather than a full name.
What if a parent withdraws consent later?
Remove the image and record the withdrawal. A documented process is what protects the club.
Matchday graphics All girls' & women's pages