Coach offering lifts to matches – helpful or something clubs should formalise?

I’d formalise it. A coach offering a lift can be completely well-intentioned, but transport with children should sit inside the club’s safeguarding and travel arrangements rather than depend on an informal WhatsApp message. The FA’s travel guidance asks clubs to think about transport, permissions, supervision and the needs of each child. I would avoid routinely creating one adult/one child journeys where there is another workable option. If lifts are needed regularly, agree who is transporting whom, make sure parents know the arrangement and check whatever club requirements apply around drivers, insurance and permissions. The important point is consistency. If a club is happy for adults to transport players, it should be able to explain the rules to every team rather than leaving individual coaches to decide what feels okay. Helpful transport can stay helpful when the boundaries are clear.