Bengeo Tigers FC is a grass-roots, FA Charter Standard Community Club, providing football coaching for children in Hertford and the surrounding areas. The club currently has a large number of registered players, with ages ranging from 4 to 18 years of age. As a club, the health, safety and welfare of every child that participates in football at Bengeo Tigers are our first and most important priority. This is closely followed by our commitment to providing a happy and inclusive environment for children to learn and develop their football skills under the tutelage of experienced coaches, who are FA qualified and have the appropriate CRB child safety checks and emergency aid qualifications. OUR COMMITMENT
It is an absolute commitment of the club that no child is ever excluded from playing football for reasons of gender, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sexual orientation or perceived ability as a footballer. We strongly believe that football is a game to be played and enjoyed by everyone, and our success is measured not by the trophies we win, but by the number of children who choose to play for and remain at Bengeo Tigers throughout their childhood. This is notwithstanding children whose natural progression may take them to higher levels of the game. Players who fall into this category can expect the full support and freedom from the club to pursue their ambitions, safe in the knowledge that they will be welcomed back at Bengeo Tigers should they wish to return. OUR ETHOS
To deliver this, it is important that the club has a strong, distinctive ethos that is shared and adhered to by its coaches, its volunteers, its players and the players parents or carers. This ethos can be summarized as follows:
• The health, safety and welfare of every child that participates in football at Bengeo Tigers is our first and most important priority
• We are committed to providing a happy and inclusive environment for children to learn and develop their football skills
• It is an absolute commitment of the club that no child is ever excluded from playing football for reasons of gender, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sexual orientation or perceived ability as a footballer. We strongly believe that football is a game to be played and enjoyed by everyone.
• We commit to ensuring equal opportunities for any child playing football at the club. This includes a commitment that every child will get the maximum amount of game time that the club and its coaches can possibly offer, based on our coaches assessment of the development needs of the child.
• Children can expect to be asked to play in different areas of the pitch in order to maximize their learning experience.
• Football is a game that want children to ‘play’. We want all players to have touches of the ball and have the freedom to explore, express themselves and be creative. It is vital that children are allowed to enjoy their football and not be negatively criticized for mistakes. Children by their very nature can be inconsistent and random in their actions, so it should not be a surprise when mistakes are made, particularly when learning new skills
• The clubs codes of conduct for officials, coaches, players and parents are not negotiable. They underpin everything we do. (see http://www.bengeotigers.org.uk/parents/)

• It is our view winning games is a product of good development. Good development isn’t always a product of winning. As a result, we place the learning aspect of the game above winning at all times and expect all officials, coaches, players and parents to accept this.
• We recognize that children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. No child will ever be made to feel inferior or superior to his or her peers during their initial development. This includes the formal segregation of young children based on ability. We believe this practice is at odds with the inclusive nature of the club and can potentially have an adverse effect on the development of children who develop later than others.
• Although we are NOT an academy, we are committed to providing the highest level of coaching that our volunteers can offer. We commit to continual improvement in our coaching methods to ensure your child receives the best learning experience we can possibly provide. Our ethos is clear and underpins our mission: to be a safe, happy, open and inclusive football club that strives to provide the best overall football experience for your child.
