Player names in Youth Football

The FA appreciates that some players/clubs wish to emulate their football idols by having their own / player’s names on the backs of the team shirts. However, it is important that you recognise that the placing of names on the back of U18 players shirts makes a player instantly identifiable. As such this allows anyone to be able to identify an individual within that team. 

This therefore provides a potential opportunity for anyone who is intent on developing an unhealthy relationship, 'grooming' a child or young person, to identify a player and make contact easier. They may use this knowledge of a player’s name to strike up conversations and begin to develop a rapport, leading to them developing a relationship with a young person previously unknown to them. 

It should be noted that in circumstances where clubs are well run and supported by parents/carers it is unlikely that having the name on shirts will make a great difference to the safety of their youngster, however those who do seek to ‘groom’ children are very clever and the more information that they can collect about an individual the easier it is for them to establish a rapport and begin their process. 

There are no FA rules which say that names may not be out on the back of U18's shirts but we recommend that individuals make their decisions having consulted with both players and parents/carers. If a club decides that this is something that they wish to do, then The FA's guidance and advice is that the club should inform the parents/carers and players, of the potential risks involved. 

Having made them aware of these risks, each parent/carer and player can make an informed decision as to whether they are happy or not for the club to proceed with displaying names on shirts. The FA recommends that written consent is obtained by the club from every player and their parent/carer to ensure that they have had the opportunity to make an informed decision.