Child Protection is an essential consideration for all sports clubs and organisations with young people.

Most Sports Governing Bodies will be able to give you guidance on the recommended approach to safeguarding young people in their sport, and many now support Criminal Records Bureau ("CRB") checks for all staff and volunteers working with young people in their sport.

You can find a link to your Governing Body from the UK Sport website.

It is essential that sports coaches, leaders and officials adopt good practice when dealing with children and young people and ensure that their safety is paramount. It is good practice for coaches, leaders and officials to check and challenge their practice to ensure that they are operating in the most effective way.

What you should ask yourself and expect to be asked:

• Do you have appropriate up to date qualifications?
• Do you have access to the most up to date training and do you take responsibility for your continuous professional development?
• Do you have valid Insurance cover?

• Do you know your participants?
• Are you working in a safe environment and using appropriate equipment.
• Are you working within recommended coach/player ratios?
• Are your activities appropriate for the age and skill level of participants?
• What are your coaching outcomes and have you planned effectively?
• Do you know what to do in case of an incident, accident allegation or disclosure?

Do you know if the club/environment within which you are working has the following in place?

• A Child Protection Policy
• A Coaches Code of Conduct
• A Health and Safety Policy
• Risk Assessment templates
• An Equity Policy

The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) is a partnership between the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Sport England, SportScotland, Sports Council for Northern Ireland and the Sports Council for Wales. The Unit was founded in 2001 to co-ordinate and support sports organisations implementation of the 2000 National Action Plan for Child Protection in Sport.

The CPSU’s mission is to safeguard the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 and to promote their well being. The CPSU plays an important part in the NSPCC’s long term strategy for ending child abuse by helping sports and other organisations to:

• Recognise their responsibility to protect children and young people left in their care.
• Develop strategies and standards to protect children and young people.
• Identify and respond to adults who are a threat to children and young people.
• Develop child protection knowledge and skills among all staff and volunteers.

The National Standards promoted by the CPSU provide a benchmark of good practice for all sports organisations to work towards. Their implementation by an organisation helps to raise awareness among staff and volunteers and minimise avoidable risks. When the Standards are fully implemented, it is likely to increase confidence among parents and carers about their children’s safety.

The CPSU website contains some very useful and up to date legislation on the protection of children and young people in sport. The website contains details of Child Protection Officers or Lead Contacts for most Governing Bodies of Sport.