Safeguarding and policies

Safeguarding policy

The welfare of the child comes first. As a sole coach I am the Designated Safeguarding Lead, with the Isle of Man FA and the Isle of Man Safeguarding Board as escalation points.

Statement

ASG Coaching is committed to keeping every child and young person safe. This policy applies to every session, review and observation, and to how I communicate with families. It follows the principles of the FA's safeguarding children policy and Isle of Man Sport's safeguarding guidance.

Who is responsible

• Designated Safeguarding Lead: Andrew Gosnell, contactable at [email protected].
• I hold a UEFA B licence, current safeguarding training, football first aid and a fully enhanced DBS check, renewed every 3 years.

How sessions are run

• A parent or carer stays at the venue for every session with a player under 16.
• Sessions take place at open, public venues, never in a private home.
• I do not transport players on their own.
• Physical contact is kept to what is needed to demonstrate technique, to imitate a game based scenario or give first aid, and is explained first.
• Before the first session, families complete a short form with medical information and an emergency contact.

Communication

• All arrangements are made with parents or carers by email, Facebook message or, after enrolment, WhatsApp.
• I do not message under-18s directly or connect with them on social media.

Photos and video

• Photos and training footage are only taken with written parental consent.
• Footage is shared only with the family and stored securely. It is never used publicly without separate written consent.

Raising a concern

1. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
2. Otherwise, tell me straight away. I record what was said, when and by whom, and act the same day.
3. I refer concerns to the Isle of Man FA's Designated Safeguarding Officer and, where needed, to the police (01624 631212) or the Isle of Man Safeguarding Board.
4. If your concern is about me, contact the Isle of Man FA's Designated Safeguarding Officer or the police directly.

Concerns are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know to protect a child.

Review

This policy is reviewed every year, or sooner if FA or Isle of Man guidance changes. Last reviewed: November 2026.

Cancellation, weather and refund policy

Give 24 hours' notice and a session is moved, not lost. The same rules apply to every player, whoever funds the place.

Cancelling a session

• Cancel at least 24 hours before the session by email or Facebook message and I will move it to another time or credit it to your block.
• With less than 24 hours' notice, or if you don't attend, the session counts as used.
• If your player is ill or injured, tell me as soon as you can. I will move the session once per block, even with short notice.

If I cancel

• If I have to cancel, you choose: a new time, or a refund for that session.

Weather and pitch conditions

• Sessions run in light rain. I cancel for lightning, high winds, ice, or a pitch the venue has closed.
• I will decide and message you at least 4 hours before the session. A weather cancellation is always moved or credited, never lost.

Late arrival

• Sessions finish at the booked time, so arriving late shortens the session. If I am late, I add the time back or move the session.

Blocks, pathways and refunds

• Single sessions are paid before the session.
• Blocks and Development Pathways are paid in advance and must be used within the time shown on the Pricing page: 2 months for 3 sessions, 4 months for 6, 6 months for 12.
• Unused sessions are not refunded once a block has started. I will extend the time limit for injury, illness or a family emergency.
• If you cancel a block before the first session, you get a full refund.
• Refunds are paid by bank transfer within 7 days.

Funded places

• The same rules apply. A credit from a funded place stays with that player.

Terms and conditions

By booking a session, block, pathway or programme, the parent or carer agrees to these terms.

1. Who these terms are between. ASG Coaching (Andrew Gosnell) and the adult who books. For under-18s, the booking adult must be a parent or carer with authority to act for the player.
2. Booking. Every booking starts with a free consultation. A place is confirmed when I confirm it in writing and payment is received.
3. Prices and payment. Prices are shown on the Pricing page. Single sessions are paid before the session; blocks and Development Pathways are paid in full in advance; the Full Season Programme is paid monthly as agreed in writing. All payments are made by bank transfer, and bank details are sent when your booking is confirmed.
4. Cancellations, weather and refunds. See the cancellation, weather and refund policy.
5. Health and fitness. You confirm your player is fit to take part, tell me about any medical condition or injury before the first session, and tell me of any change. I may pause a session if a player is unwell or at risk of injury.
6. Conduct. Players are expected to listen, try their best and treat others with respect. If behaviour puts anyone at risk, I will stop the session and speak with you. Repeated problems may end the booking, with a refund of unused sessions.
7. Safeguarding. A parent or carer stays at the venue for every session with a player under 16. Full details are in the safeguarding policy.
8. Photos and video. Taken only with your written consent, as set out in the privacy notice.
9. No guaranteed outcomes. Coaching supports your player's development. I do not promise trials, selection, academy places, scholarships or contracts.
10. Risk and liability. Football carries a risk of injury. I hold public liability insurance, and details are available on request. Nothing in these terms limits liability for negligence.
11. Funded places. Extra Time places follow these same terms. Sponsors fund places but have no say in coaching and receive no information about players.
12. Changes. I may update these terms and will tell current families by email at least 30 days before a change applies to them.
13. Law. These terms are governed by the law of the Isle of Man.

Privacy notice

I collect only what I need to coach your player safely, I never share it with sponsors, and you can ask to see or delete it at any time.

Who I am

ASG Coaching (Andrew Gosnell) is the data controller for the information below. Contact: [email protected]. This notice follows Isle of Man data protection law: the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Applied GDPR.

What I collect and why

Medical information is only collected with your consent and is seen only by me.

Who sees it

• I do not sell or share your information. Sponsors never receive any information about players or families.
• Enquiry forms are sent to me by Web3Forms, a form-handling service, on my behalf. The website is hosted by Cloudflare.
• I share information with the police, the Isle of Man FA or safeguarding services only when needed to protect a child.

Your rights

You can ask to see, correct or delete your information, or withdraw consent for photos or medical information, by emailing [email protected]. I will reply within one month. If you are not happy with how I handle your information, you can complain to the Isle of Man Information Commissioner.

Last updated: November 2026.

Complaints procedure

Tell me first and I will acknowledge within 2 working days and give a full written reply within 10. Safeguarding concerns never wait for this process.

1. Talk to me. Most things can be sorted quickly in conversation. Message me by email or Facebook.
2. Put it in writing. If that doesn't resolve it, email [email protected] with what happened, when, and what you would like done. Please raise it within 20 working days.
3. Acknowledgement. I acknowledge your complaint within 2 working days.
4. Response. I look into it and send a written reply within 10 working days, saying what I found and what I will do. If it will take longer, I tell you why and when to expect an answer.
5. If you are still unhappy. You can ask the Isle of Man FA to review it, or seek independent advice from the Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading.

Safeguarding concerns are handled straight away under the safeguarding policy, not through this procedure.

Records. I keep a short record of each complaint and its outcome for 2 years, and use complaints to improve how I work.