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PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE CHANGES... 24.7.02 Following a lengthy consultation period regarding the issue of Public Liability Insurance, the Player to Player element of the policy provided as part of Affiliation will be removed. A huge rise in claims between individuals led to a dramatic increase in the Insurance Premium. The option of increasing affiliation fees to compensate for this rise was rejected by clubs, leaving the Board of Directors with no other alternative but to take this action. Therefore, claims for player to player injuries cannot be made after the renewal date of 24th September 2002 through the Public Liability Insurance provided to clubs by Birmingham County FA. Public Liability Insurance will continue to be provided to all affiliated clubs without the Player to Player element. This facility is only provided by a small number of County FA's with others charging Member Clubs extra for the cover. "We have taken on board the opinions of all those who have been kind enough to contribute to the debate on Public Liability Insurance," said Company Secretary, Mike Pennick. "We understand that clubs are concerned about their operational costs, so The Board's decision reflects our desire to reach a compromise whilst maintaining a basic level of cover for everyone." If you have any queries or comments regarding the changes to the Public Liability Insurance provided as part of your Affiliation, please write to us at: BCFA HQ, Ray Hall Lane, Birmingham. B43 6JF DO YOU CARE? 15.7.02 In a drive to make football safer and more enjoyable for children, The FA is asking for just five minutes of your time. That's how long it takes to fill in an online survey on young people in football, which asks the views of absolutely anyone involved in football - from the Premier League to the park - and you could stand to win an official England World Cup Shirt. "By filling out this survey people will be taking an active step in improving football for children," explains the man in charge of the project, Dr Andy Pitchford of the Leisure and Sport Research Unit at the University of Gloucestershire. "The only way that The FA can tackle problems like bullying, abuse from the touchline, bad coaching and, at the worst end of the scale, child abuse, is by finding out the views and experiences of those involved in the game," says Dr Pitchford. The survey therefore asks your views on everything from child protection and welfare to the treatment of young players. It also asks what you feel should be the priorities for next year. "This is the biggest ever survey of its kind", says Dr Pitchford. "It's something that's never been done, and it gives everyone the chance to help The FA build a better future." "Protecting children who play football is not The FA's goal; it's our duty," insists Tony Pickerin, The FA's Head of Education and Child Protection. The survey is a key part of a hugely ambitious, five-year research project on child protection in football, which is being conducted for the FA by Professor Celia Brackenridge, a world authority on the subject. Professor Brackenridge said: "The F.A. should be applauded for taking this initiative. We can only improve things if we know for sure what and where improvement is required." This research, in turn, forms part of the FA's overall child protection programme, the biggest and most wide-ranging initiative of its kind in the world. So, if you fall into one of the football categories - administrators; coaches, managers or teachers; parents; players; child protection officers; football development officers; medics and sports scientists; volunteers; referees; scouts; agents - then get your mouse over to www.theFA.com, head for the Grassroots section of the site, and click on the "Do you care about youngsters playing football?" icon. Alternatively, go directly to www.surveyshop.com/fa |