What is AccessNI, and do I need a check to coach?

AccessNI is Northern Ireland's criminal record checking service. Under Irish FA safeguarding policy, every volunteer doing regulated activity with children must complete an Enhanced Disclosure check before acting in an official role in affiliated football. That includes coaches and managers. The check is made against the barred list if the work is unsupervised.

How it works:

1. The club gives you an AccessNI application form, and you complete the online registration for an Enhanced Disclosure.
2. You return the form to the club's Designated Child Safeguarding Officer (DCSO) or chairperson with three forms of ID. If needed, you also send a self-declaration of any cautions or convictions to the Irish FA Safeguarding Team.
3. The DCSO or chair sends the application to the Irish FA Safeguarding Team at Windsor Park, which processes it with AccessNI.
4. If anything is disclosed, the Irish FA risk-assesses it case by case. The outcome is suitable, unsuitable or suitable subject to additional measures. A conviction doesn't automatically rule you out, but sexual offences and offences against children may.

Vetting checks should be renewed every 3 years.