Imagine this. An under-13 player becomes quieter at training. Nothing obvious has happened on the pitch, but a club-related group chat has filled with jokes about body shape and a humiliating clip of the player has been shared.
That example is hypothetical, but the issue behind it is real. Club culture does not stop when training ends.
Ofcom’s new statutory report says most UK children report encountering at least one piece of harmful content online within a four-week period. It found no significant overall change in reported exposure during the first nine months after the children’s online-safety duties took effect. Ofcom has recommended that body-stigma and depression content receive stronger priority status under the Online Safety Act.
That is a recommendation, not yet a change in law, and the report is not about football clubs. But it gives grassroots football a useful prompt.
Take ten minutes this week and check:
The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit advises sports organisations to connect online-safety rules to safeguarding procedures, set clear boundaries for digital communication and give young people a voice. It also says staff should not privately message a young person through encrypted platforms.
If a player raises a concern, listen calmly, avoid blame, record the facts and follow your club’s safeguarding process. Do not investigate a serious concern yourself. If someone may be in immediate danger, use the appropriate safeguarding or emergency route straight away.
This is the sort of practical capability the FMHA Academy helps clubs build through ongoing football-specific training, resources and peer support across safeguarding, mental health and neurodiversity. It complements mandatory safeguarding training rather than replacing it.
Find out more at fmha.academy.
Original sources: Ofcom, Report on content harmful to children, 22 October 2026 · NSPCC CPSU, Online safety and social media in sport
The resources and support provided in The Vault are designed to promote mental wellbeing and provide general guidance on mental health related to grassroots football.
However, the content is not intended to serve as specific mental health advice or replace consultation with a trained professional. If you or someone you know requires personalised mental health support, we strongly encourage you to consult with a licensed mental health professional and/or seek appropriate services in your area.
