Coaching children is about far more than developing sporting skills. Coaches also play an important role in creating safe environments where young people feel respected, supported and protected. As part of the mission of ICOACHKIDS—which aims to help children get the most out of sport—understanding how to respond to safeguarding concerns is an essential responsibility for every coach.
While safeguarding policies aim to prevent harm, there may still be moments when a child confides in a coach or when something doesn’t seem quite right. Knowing how to respond in these situations can make a critical difference to a child’s wellbeing.
When a Child Speaks Up
Sometimes a child, another participant, or even a parent may approach a coach to share a concern or allegation. When this happens, the coach’s response matters greatly.
The first and most important step is to stay calm and listen carefully. Children who share concerns are often nervous or unsure about what will happen next. Remaining calm helps create a safe space where they feel heard and supported.
Coaches should also reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking up. Acknowledging their courage and taking their concern seriously can help build trust and reduce fear.
However, it is important to be honest about confidentiality. Coaches should explain that the information cannot always be kept secret, because it may need to be shared with people who can help protect the child.
Listening Without Investigating
Coaches may feel tempted to ask many questions or try to solve the problem immediately. But their role is not to investigate the situation or determine what happened.
Instead, coaches should:
- Ask only simple questions if clarification is needed
- Avoid overwhelming the child with detailed questioning
- Focus on listening and remembering key information
After the conversation, the coach should record what was said as accurately as possible. This information can then be passed to the appropriate safeguarding officer.
Do Not Confront the Alleged Abuser
One of the most important principles in safeguarding is that coaches should never confront the alleged abuser themselves. While it may feel natural to want to intervene directly, doing so could make the situation worse or compromise an official investigation.
Instead, the correct action is to report the concern to the club’s welfare or child protection officer, following the safeguarding procedures in place within the organisation. These individuals are trained to handle such cases and will liaise with parents, authorities and relevant organisations if necessary.
Acting in Emergencies
In rare situations where a child appears to be in immediate danger, emergency services or local authorities may need to be contacted. If this happens, the coach should remain with the child until help arrives.
A Shared Responsibility
Safeguarding children in sport is not the responsibility of one person—it is a collective commitment from coaches, clubs and organisations. By understanding how to respond to concerns, coaches help create environments where children feel safe, valued and confident to participate.
When children trust the adults around them, sport becomes more than just a game. It becomes a place where young people can learn, grow and thrive.
PLEASE NOTE
Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport, while important in every country, fits within a different best practice/legislative framework for each country. Because of this, please check the specific laws, policies and procedures that are applied in your country. Also check the information and advice provided by your sports sector and your sport’s national governing body/federation.
What is included here are GENERAL GUIDELINES. These are primarily based on UNICEF Safeguarding in Sport Guidelines.
Please see - https://www.unicef.org.uk/spor...;
