Many of you are joining us — and grassroots Sunday league football — for the very first time. That's exciting, and we want you to feel fully prepared, not just for match days, but for the whole season ahead in the Tandridge Youth League.

Here's a simple, honest guide to what being a grassroots football parent involves.

What Registration Actually Means:
When you register your child, we handle the formal side on your behalf — affiliating your child with the league and The FA, arranging insurance cover, and completing safeguarding checks on all our coaches. You don't need to do anything with the league or The FA directly. Your job is simply to complete our registration form, pay your subscription, and get your child to training and matches. We'll guide you through every step.

Match Day Mornings:
Games are typically played on Sunday mornings, home or away against other Tandridge League clubs. A few things to expect:

• Arrive early. Coaches will confirm an arrival time ahead of kick-off for warm-ups and team talks — usually 30–45 minutes before the game.
• Correct kit. Full kit, shin pads, and appropriate footwear for the pitch type.
• Spectators stay pitch-side. Parents support from the touchline, not the field of play — this is part of The FA's Respect programme, which we follow closely.
• Results aren't everything. At this age, development, effort, and enjoyment come first. [*]You'll see us prioritise game time and experience over the scoreline.

Training in All Weathers
Football doesn't stop for a bit of rain or cold — and neither do we, within reason. Training will go ahead in most weather conditions, so please send your child prepared with layers, waterproofs, and suitable boots.

That said, player safety always comes first. If conditions become unsafe (waterlogged or frozen pitches, lightning, extreme cold), we'll postpone or cancel and let you know as early as possible via Pitchero. Please keep notifications turned on so you never miss an update.

Away Games and Travel
As part of the Tandridge Youth League, we'll play clubs across the local area, so some travel is involved. Fixtures and venues are shared in good time so you can plan ahead. Car-sharing with other families is common in grassroots football — it's a great way to build community, and coaches can help connect parents who'd like to share lifts.

Not Every Experience Will Be Perfect — and That's Why We Have Policies
We'd love to tell you every match, every referee decision, and every touchline moment will be pleasant. Realistically, grassroots football sometimes brings frustration — a tough result, a decision you disagree with, tension with another parent or team. This is normal, and it's exactly why Future Footballers has clear policies in place.

Our full policy suite — covering behaviour, safeguarding, complaints, and more — is available on our website at any time. If something doesn't feel right, you'll always know where to turn and who to speak to, starting with your child's Lead Coach.

Why We Ask You to Sign the Code of Conduct
Every parent and player is asked to sign our Code of Conduct. It's not a formality — it sets out what you can expect from us, and what we ask of you in return: encouragement over instruction, respect for referees and opponents, and trust in the development process. It exists to keep the touchline a positive place for every child, not just your own.

Our Values, In Practice
Everything above ties back to what we stand for: Respect, Hard Work, Commitment, and Love. Forward. Together. Future.

Thank you for trusting us with your child's football journey. If you have any questions at all, reach out to your Lead Coach or email us at admin@futurefootballers.org — we're always happy to help.