English FA safeguarding campaign reinforces importance of listening to young footballers

Providing a safe and enjoyable environment for everybody to enjoy the game is crucial, and in England, the Football Association’s (FA) safeguarding campaign Play Safe aims to improve standards by focusing on the importance of listening to children via their involvement in football.

The campaign has set out to give young people more of a voice through the theme 'Small Talk Is Bigger Than You Think', which the FA describes as "a call to action for every adult in football to create open conversations, ask questions, and actively listen to children".

A cornerstone of the approach was the 2025 Play Safe Weekend – an FA-led initiative, endorsed by the UK charity The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). The weekend, held in September, aimed to unite all levels of English football to ensure that safeguarding is not only taken seriously, but is recognised as a key pillar of the game.

Supported by the Premier League, English Football League, Barclays Women’s Super League and WSL2, the men’s and women’s National Leagues, and across the grassroots game, the event was a chance to set out to share a range of safeguarding resources that have been made available by the FA.

"Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility," said Sue Ravenlaw, the FA’s Head of Safeguarding. "This year’s campaign is all about encouraging adults in football to actively listen to children — to notice the small things, ask questions, and create a safe space for open conversations."

'Eyes on the Ball'

To help raise awareness of the campaign, the FA produced 'Eyes on the Ball', a video starring former Premier League defender Anton Ferdinand and grassroots coach Sian Fitzpatrick. The video begins as a seemingly standard podcast recording. However, everything is not as it seems, with subtle changes bringing a whole new meaning to the show and revealing how these seemingly small and insignificant details can go unnoticed.

Beyond the video, the initiative has introduced a host of ways clubs can get involved, from simply raising awareness by discussing Play Safe with members of the team, to displaying the campaign’s banners, and logos on youth kits. Grassroots youth clubs entered into a free prize draw, and there were also Play Safe Player Mascot Packs available for men’s and women’s National League clubs over the Play Safe weekend.

A new Bib Voting activity has also been introduced, giving young people a way to express themselves non-verbally. It marks the first in a series of Play Safe Activity Cards that coaches can use for their players in age-groups between 5-11 and 12-15, giving them new ways to foster open dialogue with young people.

"Listening to young people and having regular, open conversations is an essential part of safeguarding," said Rachael Barker, Head of the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) at the NSPCC.

"Whether you’re a coach, a parent, or anyone involved in a child’s sporting journey, your role truly matters. Take the time to talk, to really listen, and to act on what children and young people share with you."