PFF urges strict safety checks at youth football matches

The Philippine Football Federation has reminded Regional Football Associations running their youth leagues to strictly enforce tournament safety rules and ensure medical teams, emergency equipment, and transport arrangements are ready before kickoff.

For children and youth athletes, the reminder means organizers must plan for an immediate response to injuries and maintain coverage even when assigned personnel or vehicles become unavailable.

The PFF said player welfare must remain a primary consideration in planning and staging every match, with host RFAs responsible for ensuring medical and emergency arrangements are operational before play begins.

Before each match, RFA and tournament officials should confirm that the required medical personnel or first responders, first-aid supplies, and emergency equipment are available and ready.

They should also ensure arrangements are in place to immediately transport an injured player to an appropriate medical facility when necessary.

Match commissioners, local general coordinators, referees, and other responsible officials should verify safety and medical arrangements before kickoff and immediately address deficiencies affecting player welfare.

Under existing PFF youth competition regulations, match commissioners are responsible for ensuring adequate security, medical, and emergency protocols are in place and operational.

Local general coordinators must verify the security and medical provisions in coordination with the match commissioner.

RFAs should prepare backup arrangements for the unexpected unavailability of a medical responder, ambulance, emergency vehicle, or another essential resource so coverage remains uninterrupted throughout the match day.

If required safety or medical arrangements are absent or become inadequate, officials should immediately refer the matter to the match commissioner and responsible tournament officials for action before play proceeds or continues.

The Football Development Officer (FDO) oversees implementation on every match day in coordination with other RFA officials and tournament staff.

Any security or safety deficiency must be reported immediately to the FDO, who is responsible for ensuring corrective action is taken.

“Every parent who lets a child play in a PFF-sanctioned match is trusting us to keep that child safe,” PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez said.

“Having an emergency response team, a female medic, and an ambulance on site is the minimum.

“When a player goes down, the response must be immediate.”

The federation reiterated that RFAs should check medical personnel and equipment before every match and have contingency arrangements ready if a medical team member becomes unavailable.

“Emergencies happen, and that is exactly why planning matters,” Gutierrez said.

“A backup plan should be in place before kickoff, not after an incident.

“The safety of our athletes comes ahead of any schedule or fixture.”

The PFF assured players, parents, coaches, officials, and the public that it would act proactively on health and safety grievances, complaints, and feedback involving tournaments and matches sanctioned by the federation and its RFAs.

It said concerns would be reviewed fairly, with all parties given an opportunity to be heard.

Where deficiencies are established, the federation said it would require corrective action from the responsible party.

“Athlete safety is a shared responsibility among RFAs, organizers, clubs, coaches, medical personnel, and parents,” Gutierrez said.

“We welcome feedback from the football community and rest assured that PFF will hold every RFA to the same standard.”

Health and safety concerns may be sent to secretariat@pff.org.ph. (PFF)