The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) reminds all Regional Football Associations (RFAs) currently conducting their respective RFA Youth Leagues to strictly observe the applicable tournament regulations and match-day requirements, particularly those relating to player welfare, medical preparedness, and emergency response.
The welfare and safety of participating players, especially children and youth athletes, must remain a primary consideration in the planning and conduct of every match. All host RFAs are therefore reminded to ensure that appropriate medical and emergency arrangements are in place and operational before play commences.
Prior to every match, the responsible RFA and tournament officials should confirm the availability and readiness of the required medical personnel or first responders, appropriate first-aid and emergency equipment, and arrangements for the immediate transport of an injured player to an appropriate medical facility when necessary.
Match Commissioners, Local General Coordinators, referees, and other responsible tournament officials should verify the applicable safety and medical arrangements before kick-off and immediately address any deficiency that may affect player welfare.
Existing PFF youth competition regulations similarly assign Match Commissioners responsibility for ensuring that adequate security, medical and emergency protocols are in place and operational, while the Local General Coordinator is tasked to verify that appropriate security and medical provisions are in place in coordination with the Match Commissioner.
RFAs are also reminded that match-day planning should account for circumstances in which an assigned medical responder, ambulance, emergency vehicle, or other essential resource unexpectedly becomes unavailable. Appropriate contingency or backup arrangements should therefore be established in advance so that medical and emergency coverage is not interrupted during the match day.
Where the required safety or medical arrangements are unavailable or become inadequate, the matter should immediately be brought to the attention of the Match Commissioner and responsible tournament officials for appropriate action before the match proceeds or continues.
The Football Development Officer (FDO), in coordination with other RFA officials and tournament staff, oversees the implementation of these measures on every match day. Any security or safety deficiency identified must be reported immediately to the FDO, who ensures that 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 PFF expects RFAs to confirm before every match that the required medical personnel and equipment are in place, and to prepare contingency arrangements so that coverage is not interrupted when a member of the medical team 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.”