As we prepare our teams and players for the football season, Park Regis Junior FC would like to remind parents and carers about the importance of providing a suitable player registration photograph.
It might seem like a small part of the registration process, but the photograph has an important purpose.
Why do we need a player photograph?
Player photographs are used as part of the football registration process and help match officials identify players.
This means the photograph needs to provide a clear and recognisable image of the player.
It isn’t intended to be a family photograph, holiday snap, action shot or social-media profile picture. The important thing is that somebody looking at the photograph can easily recognise the player.
The easiest way to think about it is:
Passport-style photograph – clear, simple and recognisable.
What makes a good player registration photograph?
Please make sure your child’s photograph is:
- A clear head-and-shoulders photograph
- Taken reasonably close up – not a full-body photograph from a distance
- Preferably taken against a plain, light background
- Clear, well-lit and in focus
- Recent enough to be a good representation of the player
- Free from filters or other effects
A photograph taken on a normal smartphone is absolutely fine. You don’t need a professional photograph – just make sure we can clearly see the player’s face.
Please avoid…
Before submitting the photograph, please check that the player is not wearing:
- Sunglasses
- Hats
- Hoods
- Face coverings or anything else obscuring their face
And, yes, please make sure the children are appropriately clothed!
We know that sounds obvious, but registration photographs need to be suitable for their intended purpose.
It isn’t a picture for The Gram!
We appreciate that children and young people are used to photographs being taken for social media, where filters, unusual angles and creative poses are commonplace.
A registration photograph is different.
It isn’t a profile picture for The Gram – it needs to clearly show who the player is!
There is no need for filters, effects, football poses or photographs taken from halfway across the garden.
A straightforward photograph looking towards the camera is usually perfect.
What happens if the photograph isn’t suitable?
If a photograph is unclear or doesn’t meet the basic requirements, it may need to be rejected and a replacement requested.
That creates additional work for parents, team managers and club volunteers and can potentially hold up the player’s registration.
Taking an extra minute to check the photograph before submitting it can therefore save everyone time.
A quick check before submitting
Ask yourself:
“If someone who had never met my child before looked at this photograph, could they easily identify them?”
If the answer is yes, you’re probably good to go.
Thank you to all our parents and carers for helping us keep player registrations accurate and straightforward.
Park Regis Junior Football Club
Helping children enjoy football in a safe, positive and well-organised environment.
