It is a legal requirement for all football organisations to ensure that the health and safety of their players and anyone else involved in football is protected as far as is reasonably practicable.

This is a legal obligation and must be followed in line with the Health and Safety at Work (General) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1987. It is also a mandatory requirement of affiliation to the Guernsey FA that each club has in place both Public Liability and Personal Accident insurance policies.

All too often football health and safety focuses completely on the players. However, the referees, coaches and spectators are all at risk from injuries or illnesses and your organisation must ensure you have made allowances for them as well as the players.

Some of the potential risks for playing football and being involved in football are as follows:

• Cuts, grazes and bruises
• Spraining an ankle, tearing ligaments and breaking bones
• Head injuries such as concussion
• Over using muscles
• Heat stroke, dehydration and sunburn.

It is the responsibility of each club to have completed appropriate risk assessments for facilities being used, and also activities being undertaken, by individuals on behalf of the club.

Specific guidelines have been prepared for the following areas:

• Goalpost Safety
• Pitch Line Marking
• Concussion