PLAY-BY DATES FOR CUP COMPETITIONS

ISFA REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CATAPULT SPORTS

ISFA INTRODUCES NEW SCHEME

ISFA LAUNCH GIRLS FOOTBALL STRATEGY

ISFA WHO'S WHO

Please click to access the appropriate document 

Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures Handbook

Keeping Children Safe (summary document)

Critical Incident Policy

Representative Football Policy Document

Competitions Policy Document

Date Protection Policy

The ISFA Constitution is available to Member Schools upon application to the Chief Executive.

Any school, parent or pupil wishing to make a complaint in relation to a Safeguarding or Child Welfare concern, please click here.

Any school, parent or pupil wishing to make a complaint in relation to any other matter should adopt the following procedure:

1. A parent or pupil should first consult with their school before making any complaint and should ensure that the school is always copied in to any subsequent complaint made.
2. Concerns and complaints should in the first instance be made to the ISFA member of staff responsible for the event or representative team concerned.  This should be made in writing.  Where the complaint is made by a parent/pupil, their school must be copied in.
3. Where the complaint concerns the ISFA member of staff concerned or where the initial complaint is not resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, then further representation should be made to the Chief Executive of ISFA (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).  
4. In the event that there is still no satisfactory resolution, then a final appeal can be made to the Chairman of ISFA by the Head Teacher of the school.  However, please note that such representations to the Chairman may only be made by the Head Teacher.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE:  ISFA will not accept complaints relating to selection decisions for representative teams.  It is a condition of participation in the ISFA Representative programme that schools, players and parents abide by and accept selection decisions without exception. 

ISFA understands and accepts that most parents naturally feel that their son/daughter has a strong claim to selection and that non-selection often causes great disappointment.  However, it is not possible to select everybody and ISFA uses well qualified coaches to make these decisions, which are considered with care.   Learning to deal with any consequent disappointment is part of education.

Where parents (or schools) are unable or unwilling to accept selection decisions, then ISFA will no longer be prepared to consider their players in the future

 Below is the ISFA’s Safeguarding policy and relevant information regarding child welfare.

ISFA’s Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy refers specifically to ISFA-run activities, during which ISFA staff or volunteers are working. These will include:-

• Representative Football.
• ISFA Cup Finals
• ISFA tournaments

If you have a concern about the welfare of a child and/or specific safeguarding concern within a school or grassroots club, they will have their own Safeguarding Children Policies and Procedures which you will need to follow.  They should also have designated staff to assist you.

Safeguarding Children Policy Statement

Every child or young person, defined as any person under the age of 18, who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football. The ISFA recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people involved in ISFA activities by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying.

The ISFA is therefore committed to working to provide a safe environment for all children and young people to participate in the sport to the best of their abilities for as long as they choose to do so.

Key principles

• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration

• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately

• Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents and carers is essential.

The ISFA is committed to working in partnership with the Football Association and therein the Police, Social Care Departments, and Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCB) in accordance with their procedures. This is essential to enable these organisations to carry out their statutory duties to investigate concerns and protect all children and young people.

It is essential that everyone is clear about how to report a concern about the welfare of a child or young person. In summary this means following the guidelines set out in the ISFA Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures.

Reporting Concerns

Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility. If you are worried about a child it is important that you report your concerns - no action is not an option.

If you are worried about a child then you need to report your concerns to ISFA Welfare Officer  Denis Lawrence - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or via phone 07981 322663.

If the child needs immediate medical treatment take them to a hospital or call an ambulance and tell them this is a child protection concern. Then let the ISFA Welfare Officer know what action you have taken.

If at any time you are not able to contact the ISFA Welfare Officer or the matter is very serious then you can either:

Call The FA/NSPCC 24 hour Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 Contact the Police or Children's Services

If you need to report a welfare concern, please contact ISFA's Welfare Officer, Denis Lawrence at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Alternatively, follow the procedures outlined by the FA below:-

FA Procedure - Deadling with Concerns

Useful Links

ISFA Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures Handbook

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

Welcome to the Independent Schools Football Association website.

ISFA is affiliated to the The Football Association and is responsible for developing and promoting the game of football in the independent sector. ISFA Chairman, David Elleray, a former Premier League and FIFA referee, is ISFA’s representative on the FA Council.

To this end, ISFA runs national competitions and runs representative teams aimed at giving boys and girls the opportunity to play at the highest possible level. In addition, coaching courses and INSET days are held in order assist teachers improve their coaching.

With the increasing popularity of the game throughout the country, the amount of football being played in independent schools has increased dramatically over the last 20 years. ISFA aims to nurture this desire to play the game and ensure that the Corinthian values that the game was founded on are still followed in the 21st century.

Schools interested in Membership of ISFA should click here or, for more detailed information, please click the links to the left or at the top of the page.

ISFA is delighted to support the Football Association’s RESPECT Programme, aimed at improving standards of behaviour both on the pitch and from the sidelines