{"id":19510,"date":"2021-09-29T09:30:41","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T08:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=19510"},"modified":"2024-05-10T12:54:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T11:54:45","slug":"safeguarding-children-in-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/safeguarding-children-in-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Safeguarding Children in Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Participating in sports should be a positive experience, and children have the right to feel safe when they take part. Regrettably, this is not always the case. The surfacing of historical allegations of child sex abuse in children\u2019s football<\/a>, with more than twenty former footballers coming forward, has reiterated the prevalence of abuse in sports settings and the importance of safeguarding of children and young people in sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will discuss the types of abuse that might occur in sports settings, the legal responsibilities of sports leaders, and how you could help to safeguard children in your sports club.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What Are the Types of Abuse in a Sports Setting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many different types of abuse that children might experience \u2013 they may experience only one type, or more than one at the same time. Abusers may be family members, family friends, other young people, caregivers, volunteers, or sports coaches \u2013 both male and female.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abuse which they may encounter in a sports setting in particular includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emotional abuse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is the \u201cpersistent maltreatment of a child so as to cause severe and enduring adverse effects on the child\u2019s emotional development\u201d. It might take the form of repeated criticism, sarcasm, name-calling, racism, sexism, or verbal abuse based on sexual orientation. A child might feel ignored or excluded, or pressured to perform to unrealistically high expectations, or be given excessive punishments.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Physical abuse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is when someone deliberately hurts or harms a child, including hitting, shaking, throwing, or burning them. In sport, physical abuse might occur if they are given intense training beyond the capacity of their immature growing body, if they are required to participate when injured, if sanctions used by coaches involve inflicting pain, or if they are encouraged to use drugs or harmful substances to enhance their performance or delay puberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexual abuse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is really going on. It includes rape, sexual assault, or getting a child to watch sexual activity (including online pornography). Paul Stewart, who worked with us on our Safeguarding in Sport course, was the victim of sexual abuse \u2013 he was \u201ctold that I had to do these things if I wanted to be a footballer. I only ever wanted to be a footballer as a child. He [the coach] was threatening that he would kill my parents and my two brothers if I ever spoke out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Grooming<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is where somebody builds an emotional connection with a child and gains their trust, usually for the purpose of sexual abuse and exploitation<\/a>, or criminal exploitation and county lines<\/a>. Groomers in sport settings may offer children with advice and understanding, tell them they\u2019re special or destined for great things, or give them extra one-to-one coaching in order to make it easier to exploit them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neglect<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is where a child\u2019s basic physical or psychological needs are not met. In sport, it might include a coach failing to ensure children are safe, exposing them to undue cold, heat, or extreme weather conditions without adequate clothing or hydration, exposing them to unnecessary risk of injury by ignoring safe practice guidelines, failing to ensure the use of safety equipment, or requiring young people to participate when injured or unwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peer-on-peer abuse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This might include bullying or harmful sexual behaviour directed towards a child by their peers. Harmful sexual behaviour is behaviour which is developmentally inappropriate, abusive, and sometimes violent, such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Abuse can take place across any type of sport<\/strong>, as has become apparent in recent years, with a number of athletes speaking out about their experiences. You can find out more about the signs that abuse is occurring in our article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also worth noting that poor practice<\/strong> in sports settings could lead to an environment which is conducive to more serious abuse, and so needs to be challenged. Poor practice is behaviour of staff or volunteers that falls below the required standard set out in your organisation\u2019s code of conduct, such as turning up drunk, smoking and swearing in front of children, and favouring or picking on a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Free Safeguarding in Sport Course<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Our Safeguarding in Sport Course<\/a> will provide you with practical tools and knowledge to use in your sports club or organisation, helping you to ensure your commitment to excellence in safeguarding. We are very pleased to be able to offer this course for free to all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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