1. Who this applies to
This policy applies to MatchCam account holders, testers, clubs, coaches, referees, observers and organisations. It supplements—and does not replace—the safeguarding, filming and disciplinary rules of the relevant club, competition, venue, school, County FA or governing body.
2. Before recording
- Identify the responsible organisation and adult overseeing the recording.
- Define the purpose, such as coaching, analysis or referee development.
- Confirm authority, permissions and applicable competition, venue, privacy and copyright rules.
- For youth football, follow club safeguarding procedures and identify anyone who must not be filmed or named.
- Choose the least intrusive camera position and restrict access to the smallest appropriate audience.
3. Matchday checklist
- Communicate a clear filming notice where appropriate.
- Test camera angle, storage, power and browser permissions.
- Use Do Not Disturb and avoid calls or screen locking on the recorder device.
- Keep the recorder and tagger access physically secure.
- Record only what is necessary and stop promptly.
- Download and verify required footage, then remove unnecessary copies.
4. Children and vulnerable participants
A child’s best interests take priority over convenience, statistics or promotional value. An authorised adult must operate the account. Where someone must not be filmed or identified, the club must use an effective arrangement—which may mean repositioning or pausing the camera, omitting identifying information, restricting access or not recording.
Do not publish a child’s full name with precise location, school, contact information or routine unless specifically justified and authorised. Youth content recorded for analysis must not automatically be repurposed for advertising, public social media or AI training.
5. Sharing and social publishing
Check the content, player details, match time, caption and selected account before publishing. Share only what is necessary and do not expose a protected participant. A permission to record for analysis does not automatically provide permission for public social-media publication.
Keep private review links confidential. Reports and footage must not be used to shame, harass or target a player, referee or participant.
6. Concerns and incidents
- Make affected content private and revoke exposed access.
- Do not circulate it further; preserve necessary evidence securely.
- Notify the responsible club or organisation safeguarding lead.
- Contact MatchCam at privacy@matchcam.co.uk.
- If anyone is at immediate risk, contact the police or appropriate emergency/statutory service.
MatchCam may restrict content or suspend an account where reasonably necessary to address unlawful activity, safeguarding risk or serious misuse.
7. Contact
MatchCam provides the platform but is not the club’s safeguarding lead or an emergency reporting service. Platform-related concerns can be sent to privacy@matchcam.co.uk.