Playing safe in sports

Do you have a safeguarding policy?

A reputable organisation should have up-to-date  policies and procedures in place. In case your child has any worries, they should be able to tell you what to do. There should be a code of conduct with guidelines outlining appropriate behaviour for coaches, volunteers as well as children/young people.

Do you have a Welfare Officer?

There should be a Welfare Officer assigned to the club or organisation who will be available to answer any queries you may have. This person will be in charge of policies and handling any issues.

Do you follow safer recruitment procedures?

Every organisation that offers sports programmes/activities must make sure that their hiring procedures, which include references checks, interviews, and the proper police checks for volunteers and employees, are in place.

How do you promote the welfare of children and young people?

Ask the organisation how it supports the welfare of children and young people. This will include things like offering first aid, keeping track of attendance at the start and end of sessions, staff-to-youth ratios, making the proper transportation arrangements if necessary, and listening to and acting upon the opinions of children and young people.

There should be policies in place for how to use social media, text messaging, and appropriate language, for all of their employees and volunteers to abide by.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit has some helpful information regarding the use of photography. To read click here.

• Activities where parents or carers are discouraged from watching the sessions or becoming involved.
• Behaviour or activities that encourage rough play, sexual innuendo or humiliating punishments.
• Individuals who take charge and operate independently to organisational guidelines.
• Individuals who show favouritism or personally reward specific young people.
• Encouragement of inappropriate physical contact.
• Poor communication and negative responses to questions about safeguards for your child.
• A ‘win at all costs’ attitude towards the sport or activity.
• Children who drop out or stop going for no apparent reason.
• Invitations for children to spend time alone with staff or volunteers (or even visit their home).
• Text messages or internet communication direct to young people and does not include parents or carers.

The Children Protection in Sport Unit  has a free 10 minute e-learning course for parents/carers designed to help them understand their role in keeping children safe in sport and who to turn if they have any worries. To access please click here.

StopCE has information, resources and videos specifically for the sports sector to help raise awareness of how abuse can occur through sport. Their campaign is aimed at parents, coaches and children in order to help them understand what to look out for and how to respond to concerns. To view please click here.