Cottingham Rangers Photography & Filming


Cottingham Rangers recognises that parents, players, and clubs often enjoy celebrating and publicising footballing achievements through photography and filming. Recording a child’s involvement throughout the season—whether by photos or video—is widely accepted as part of the enjoyment of the game.

However, the use of photos and film on websites, social media, posters, press releases, or other publications can pose risks if not managed appropriately. The Club supports the responsible taking of photographs and videos but expects everyone involved in football to understand and follow the guidance in this policy.


Potential Risks Associated With Photography

Unfortunately, photography involving children can be misused in ways that are harmful or illegal. Examples include:

  • Taking photos or videos of children while changing
  • Taking photos in toilets or private areas
  • Using cameras at ground level to capture inappropriate images, such as up girls’ skirts
  • Photos or video that may appear innocent or ambiguous but could be used out of context
  • Images or videos that can be copied, edited, or manipulated, potentially to create abusive material
  • Photos or videos shared privately that are then reshared or posted publicly without consent


Identification, Contact or Grooming Risks

A child becomes more vulnerable if a photo or video is linked with personal information (e.g., full name, address, school). This increases the risk of a child being identified, located, contacted, or groomed by someone with harmful intentions.

Risks may arise when:

  • Photos or videos are posted with significant personal details
  • Club or school identification allows someone to build a profile of the child
  • There are legal restrictions on a child’s visibility, such as:
  • Children in local authority care or living with adoptive families
  • Children with restricted contact between separated parents (e.g., domestic abuse cases)
  • Children who are witnesses in criminal proceedings


Person holding a Canon camera, focusing lens, close-up, black and white.
Soccer game on a green field under a clear blue sky. A player in a light blue jersey dribbles the ball.

Guidance

  • It is not illegal to take appropriate photographs or video in a public place, even if someone requests that you stop.
  • No individual has the authority to prevent others from taking photos or filming on public land, including most council-run pitches.
  • If you have serious concerns that someone is acting unlawfully or placing a child at risk when taking photos or filming, you should contact the Police. This should only be done if you genuinely believe a child may be in danger.
  • On private land, the facility or landowner may decide whether photography or filming is allowed. This must be clearly communicated before people access the site. If individuals do not comply, they may be asked to leave.
  • Any concerns about the inappropriate use of photos or video should be reported to the County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer or The FA Safeguarding Team.


Our Policy

Photographs of our players taken by club volunteers, parents, or players may be used by the Club for celebration, communication, and marketing purposes. Images may appear on official club social media channels, printed materials, or electronic documents.

Your Consent

When a member registers with the Club, parents or guardians must review, accept, and sign our Photography Consent Agreement. This consent is recorded in the team register, allowing coaches and team managers to identify any players who have photographic restrictions.

Warning message with an

Consent Statement

At times, the Club may wish to take photos or videos of the team or individual players. We follow The FA’s Photography Guidelines to ensure all images are safe, respectful, and used solely for their intended purpose—celebrating the Club, promoting our activities, and supporting training.
 (See our full policies at: cottinghamrangers.co.uk/policies/)

By providing consent, you agree that appropriately taken images of your child (or yourself, if applicable) may be used by Cottingham Rangers AFC in the public domain, including on the Club website, publications, and official social media channels such as Facebook or X (Twitter).



Revoking Consent

Parents or guardians may revoke photographic consent at any time by informing the Club Safeguarding Officer in writing. Once processed, the change will be communicated to the Team Manager.

From that point forward:

  • Your child will be excluded from all future photography where possible.
  • In rare cases (e.g., unavoidable wide shots), images may still be taken; however, the child’s face will be obscured to ensure they cannot be identified.
  • Any media already published in the public domain cannot be withdrawn, as the Club has no control over external platforms once content is released.
  • The Club will stop using stored images of your child in future marketing or publications. Printed materials already in circulation will not be reprinted.


Photographic Restrictions

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all players, Cottingham Rangers applies the following restrictions:

  • We will not publish photographs with full names of the individuals featured unless we have explicit written consent and parents/carers have been informed of the intended use.
  • We will not publish player profiles that include photos alongside detailed personal information.
  • We will not use any image for a purpose other than the one originally agreed in this policy.
  • We will never allow photography or filming in changing rooms, showers, or toilets. This includes mobile phones with cameras. All mobile phones must be switched off in changing rooms.
  • We will never include advertising or imagery related to alcohol or gambling in any photographs or film footage featuring children.


Good Practice

The following good practices must be followed when photographing Cottingham Rangers members:

  • For away fixtures on private property, photographic consent must be obtained from the opposition manager (site consent), and any restrictions for individual players must be communicated.
  • For home fixtures, the opposition manager should be informed that photography will take place and asked if any of their players have restrictions.
  • Where required, faces may be blurred to prevent individual identification.
  • Copies of any photos should be made available to both team managers.
  • Photography must be free of charge.
  • Photography should focus on the team as a whole, not on a single individual unless consent allows otherwise.


Good Photography

We encourage the following types of photographs, which make excellent and safe images for our social media and club publications:

  • Half-time team talks
  • Goal celebrations
  • Throw-ins
  • Great saves
  • In-game tackles
  • Post-match trophy presentations and match summaries