DATA PROTECTION & SAFEGUARDING POLICY
1 About this Policy
1.1: This Policy to help clubs, County Football Associations and football leagues deal with data protection matters internally. This should be kept with other club / County Football Association / football league policies and a copy should be given (fore available) to all staff members, volunteers, and others who come into contact with personal data during the course of their involvement with the club / County Football Association / football league.
1.2: One Football Academy Ltd (“we”, “our”, “us”, “One Academy’) handle personal data about current, former, and on occasion prospective players [and their parents or guardians], employees, volunteers, volunteers, committee members, other One Academy members, referees, coaches, managers, contractors, third parties, suppliers, and other individuals that we communicate with.
1.3: In your official capacity with us, you may process personal data on our behalf and we will process personal data about you. We recognise that we treat real personal data in an appropriate and lawful manner, in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR).
1.4: Correct and lawful treatment of this data will maintain confidence in One Academy and protect the rights of players and other individualsuals associated with One Academy. This Policy sets out our data protection responsibilities and highlights the obligations of One Academy.
1.5: We process employee, volunteer, member, referee, coach, managei clate on behalf of One Academy, and this policy will help you to understand how to handle personal data.
1.6: One Academy will be responsible for compliance with this Policy. Any questions ¿bes about this Policy or data protection concerns should should be referred to the Compliance Manager.
1.7: We process employee, volunteer, member, referee, coach, manager, contractor, suppfier, supplier, and third party personal data for administrative and One Academy management purposes. Our purpo-
Sti prine; fyour employment, and our legal basis for processing your personal data in this way is the focus of this next section.contractual relationship we have with you. We will keep this data for twelve (12) months after the end of your official relationship with Super Skills, unless required otherwise by law and/or regulatory requirements. If you do not provide your personal data for this purpose, we will not be able to carry out your role or the obligations of our contract with you.
1.8: All the key definitions under GDPR can be found here.
2. What we need from you
2.1: To assist with our compliance with GDPR we will need you to comply with the terms of this policy. We have set out the key guidance in this section but please do read the full policy carefully.
2.2: Please help us to comply with the data protection principles (set out briefly in section 3 of this policy and in further detail below):
2.2.1: please ensure that you only process data in accordance with our transparent processing as set out in our Privacy notice;
2.2.2: please only process personal data for the purposes for which we have collected it (i.e. if you want to do something different with it then please speak to Harsh Mandavia or Bhairavi Thaker first);
2.2.3: please do not ask for further information about players and/or members and/or staff and/ or volunteers without first checking with Harsh Mandavia or Bhairavi Thaker;
2.2.4: if you are asked to correct an individual’s personal data, please make sure that you can identify that individual and, where you have been able to identify them, make the relevant updates on our records and systems;
2.2.5: please comply with our retention periods listed in our Privacy Notice and make sure that if you still have information which falls outside of those dates, that you delete/destroy it securely;
2.2.6: please treat all personal data as confidential. If it is stored in electronic format then please consider whether the documents themselves should be password protected or whether your personal computer is password protected and whether you can limit the number of people who have access to the information. Please also consider the security levels of any cloud storage provider (and see below). If it is stored in hard copy format then please make sure it is locked away safely and is not kept in a car overnight or disposed of in a public place.
2.2.7: if you are looking at using a new electronic system for the storage of information, please talk to Harsh Mandavia first so that we can decide whether such a system is appropriately secure and complies with GDPR;
2.2.8: if you are planning on sharing personal data with anybody new or with a party outside the FA structure then please speak to Harsh Mandavia before doing so who will be able to check that the correct contractual provisions are in place and that we have a lawful basis to share the information;
2.2.9: if you receive a subject access request (or you think somebody is making a subject access request for access to the information we hold on them) then please tell Harsh Mandavia as soon as possible because we have strict timelines in which to comply;
2.2.10: if you think there has been a data breach (for example you have lost personal data or a personal device which contains personal data or you have been informed that a coach has
done so, or you have sent an email and open copied all contacts in) then please speak to Harsh Mandavia who will be able to help you to respond.
If you have any questions at any time then please just ask Harsh Mandavia. We are here to help.
3. Data protection principles
3.1: Anyone processing personal data must comply with the enforceable principles of data protection.
Personal data must be:
3.1.1: processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner;
3.1.2: collected for only specified, explicit and legitimate purposes;
3.1.3: adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the purpose(s) for which it is
processed;
3.1.4: accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date;
3.1.5: kept in a form which permits identification of individuals for no longer than is necessary for the purpose(s) for which it is processed;
3.1.6: processed in a manner that ensures its security by appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage;
3.2. We are responsible for and must be able to demonstrate compliance with the data protection principles listed above.
4. Fair and lawful processing
4.1. This Policy aims to ensure that our data processing is done fairly and without adversely affecting the rights of the individual.
4.2. Lawful processing means data must be processed on one of the legal bases set out in the GDPR. When special category personal data is being processed, additional conditions must be met.
5.Processing for limited purposes
5.1: Super Skills collects and processes personal data. This is data we receive directly from an individual and data we may receive from other sources.
5.2: We will only process personal data for the purposes of Super Skills as instructed by the board, the committee, the County FA or The FA, or as specifically permitted by the GDPR. We will let individuals know what those purposes are when we first collect the data or as soon as possible thereafter.
6. Consent
6.1: One of the lawful bases on which we may be processing data is the individual’s consent.
6.2: An individual consents to us processing their personal data if they clearly indicate specific and informed agreement, either by a statement or positive action.
6.3: Individuals must be easily able to withdraw their consent at any time and withdrawal must be promptly honoured. Consents will remain effective for the duration of your membership.
1. About this Policy
1.1
This Policy sets out how One Football Academy Ltd manages personal data in line with the requirements of the The Football Association (“The FA”), relevant County Football Associations, and applicable data protection legislation including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
1.2
This Policy forms part of One Football Academy’s wider safeguarding framework and must be read alongside The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy, Codes of Conduct, and Equality and Anti-Discrimination policies.
1.3
This Policy applies to all individuals involved with One Football Academy, including players (and their parents/guardians), staff, volunteers, coaches, referees, committee members, contractors, and third parties.
1.4
One Football Academy processes personal data to ensure the safe, effective, and lawful running of football activities, including safeguarding children and adults at risk.
1.5
Responsibility for data protection compliance rests with One Football Academy. All queries or concerns must be directed to Jayson Mehra, who acts as the Club Welfare Officer and Data Protection Lead in accordance with FA safeguarding guidance.
2. FA Safeguarding Alignment
2.1
One Football Academy recognises that safeguarding and data protection are closely linked. Personal data must be handled appropriately to protect the welfare of children and vulnerable individuals.
2.2
The Club will comply with FA safeguarding requirements, including:
• Safe handling of medical, emergency contact, and safeguarding records
• Confidential storage of DBS related information in line with FA guidance
• Appropriate sharing of safeguarding concerns with authorised bodies such as County FA Welfare Officers, statutory agencies, or The FA where required
2.3
Safeguarding information will only be shared on a need to know basis, ensuring confidentiality while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of individuals.
2.4
All coaches, volunteers, and officials must complete FA-required safeguarding training and understand their responsibilities when handling personal data.
3. What We Need From You
3.1
All individuals handling personal data must comply with this Policy and FA guidance.
3.2
You must:
• 3.2.1 Only process data in line with our Privacy Notice and FA guidance
• 3.2.2 Only use data for its intended purpose (e.g. team selection, safeguarding, communication)
• 3.2.3 Seek approval from Jayson Mehra before collecting additional personal data
• 3.2.4 Ensure personal data is accurate and kept up to date
• 3.2.5 Follow retention rules and securely delete data when no longer needed
• 3.2.6 Keep all personal data secure:
• Password protected systems
• Restricted access
• Secure FA approved systems where applicable (e.g. Whole Game System)
• 3.2.7 Obtain approval before using new systems or apps to store data
• 3.2.8 Not share personal data outside FA structures without authorisation
• 3.2.9 Report Subject Access Requests immediately to Jayson Mehra
• 3.2.10 Report any data breach or safeguarding concern immediately.
4. Data Protection Principles
4.1
In line with UK GDPR and FA expectations, personal data must be:
• Processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently
• Collected for legitimate football and safeguarding purposes
• Adequate, relevant, and limited
• Accurate and up to date
• Retained only as long as necessary
• Securely protected at all times
4.2
One Football Academy Ltd must demonstrate compliance with these principles.
5. Fair and Lawful Processing
5.1
Personal data must be processed on a lawful basis, including:
• Consent (e.g. photography, marketing)
• Contract (e.g. player registration)
• Legal obligation (e.g. safeguarding reporting)
• Legitimate interests (e.g. club administration)
5.2
Special category data (e.g. medical or safeguarding information) will only be processed where legally permitted and necessary for welfare and safety.
6. Processing for Limited Purposes
6.1
One Football Academy collects and processes data for:
• Player registration and team management
• Safeguarding and welfare monitoring
• Communication with members and parents
• Compliance with FA and league requirements
6.2
Individuals will be informed of how their data is used via the Club Privacy Notice.
7. Consent
7.1
Where consent is used, it must be clear, informed, and freely given. This includes the use of a verbal confirmation from a parent to a representative at the academy.
7.2
Consent can be withdrawn at any time and will be actioned promptly.
7.3
Consent is typically required for:
• Use of images/videos
• Marketing communications
• Optional club activities
8. Data Sharing and Safeguarding
8.1
Personal data may be shared with:
• The FA and County Football Associations
• Leagues and competition organisers
• Safeguarding authorities where required
8.2
Safeguarding concerns will always take priority over data protection restrictions where there is a risk of harm.
9. Data Retention
9.1
Personal data will be retained in line with FA guidance and legal requirements.
9.2
Safeguarding records may be retained longer where required to protect individuals or comply with FA/regulatory obligations.
10. Data Breaches
10.1
Any data breach must be reported immediately to Jayson Mehra.
10.2
Serious breaches will be reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and The FA where required.
11. Responsibility and Compliance
11.1
All members of One Football Academy are responsible for protecting personal data.
11.2
Failure to comply with this Policy may result in disciplinary action and/or referral to The FA or relevant authorities.
