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Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures
We Make Footballers — Safeguarding Children
We Make Footballers acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care. We are committed to providing a safe environment for all members. A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club soccer activity. We align our standards with US child protection laws and best practices, including those set out by the US Center for SafeSport and relevant state child welfare regulations.
The key principles of our Child Welfare Policy are:
- The child's welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.
- All children have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith, or belief.
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- Working in partnership with other organizations, children, and their parents or guardians is essential.
Every child who participates in soccer should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. We recognize that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our programs.
Responsible & Safer Recruitment
Each We Make Footballers academy is an independently owned and operated franchise. We mandate that all franchise owners follow strict, responsible recruitment guidelines for all staff and volunteers. Franchisees are required to:
- Clearly specify each role and the tasks it involves.
- Request valid identification documents from all applicants.
- Conduct a minimum of two interviews (one face-to-face and one practical/field-based) before appointing them.
- Follow up with a minimum of two references before making any appointment.
- Require and verify a full background check through an accredited US provider for all staff, coaches, and volunteers before they come into contact with young people, in line with federal and state regulations.
All coaching staff must also hold the relevant coaching qualifications and up-to-date First Aid and Safeguarding certifications.
Reporting Concerns
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. If you are worried about a child, taking no action is not an option.
- Immediate Danger: If a child needs immediate medical attention or is in immediate physical danger, call 911 first, then notify the local Franchise Owner.
- Suspected Abuse: If the concern involves possible child abuse, contact local law enforcement or your state's Child Protective Services (CPS) immediately.
- Policy Violations/Poor Practice: If you have a concern regarding poor practice or a violation of our policies, report it to the local Franchise Owner immediately.
- Corporate Escalation: If you are unable to reach the local franchise owner, if the matter is not being handled appropriately locally, or if the issue involves the franchise owner themselves, email our national team directly at info@wemakefootballers.com.
Anti-Bullying
We acknowledge bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable within our programs. If bullying occurs, all players and parents should feel confident that incidents will be dealt with promptly by local management. You can read our full Anti-Bullying Policy at wemakefootballers.us/policies/anti-bullying.
Whistleblowing
We Make Footballers supports a clear whistleblowing policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about an adult in a position of trust within our programs can report this by:
- Contacting us directly at info@wemakefootballers.com.
- Calling the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453.
- Contacting local law enforcement or Child Protective Services.
Further Information
Last updated: April 23, 2026
