Zekeya Hall, Andrew Edwards, Yunelsis Rodriguez-Baez and Dane Ritchie Participates in FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma
On 28 January 2021, FIFA announced the launch of the first ever global safeguarding in sport educational programme, designed to strengthen and build safeguarding capacity. The programme was made available to all 211 Member Associations and anyone working or volunteering in grassroots or professional sport.
In line with FIFA’s long-term commitment to professionalize and embed child and adult safeguarding standards across the game, the FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma is a landmark step in sport and provides the 211 FIFA member associations with a dedicated, interactive educational resource to develop safeguarding best practice.
Commenting on the new programme, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “As part of my and FIFA’s absolute commitment and determination to kick harassment and abuse out of sport, the launch of today’s FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma is another critical step in supporting our 211 member associations to place safeguarding best practice at the heart of football and to help professionalize the role of safeguarding officers in sport”. “Anyone who plays football, or indeed any sport, is entitled to enjoy it in a safe and supportive environment that, first and foremost, protects their well-being, especially where children are concerned. This is the objective of the FIFA Guardians Programme. Today, football is taking another important step in delivering on this objective, as well as on FIFA’s pledge to embed safeguarding measures across our game.”
The FIFA Guardian’s Safeguarding in Sports Diploma is a series of five online courses, including 72 hours of learning, and participants will also benefit from additional support which includes a series of programme-wide webinars delivered on specific themes, online discussion forums lead by experts, feedback on assessment tasks for each course, and participation in FIFA Guardians residential safeguarding workshops.
Selected to participate in the programme, on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association are Zekeya Hall (TCIFA Executive Assistant to the President and General Secretary), Andrew Edwards (TCIFA Technical Director), Yunelsis Rodriguez-Baez (TCIFA Director of Women’s Football) and Dane Ritchie (TCIFA Coach and Refereeing Instructor). The participants have since embarked on course 1 of the programme.