Choosing a safe sports club or activity for your child
When it comes to your child’s safety, not all clubs are the same. Look for organisations that prioritise safeguarding and wellbeing - not just performance.
Even if a club is linked to a National Governing Body, it’s important to check they have the right policies and procedures in place. We’ve outlined key things to look for so you can feel confident your child is in safe hands.
The activity should take place in a safe environment with equipment that's regularly checked to ensure it's safe to use.
You can contact a welfare or child protection officer about safeguarding or any other concerns you have.
You should receive a form asking for your consent to the activity, your contact details and any relevant medical information about your child from the club or organisation.
There should be clear procedures and processes for raising complaints and concerns about your child's safety.
This includes vetting and ensuring all staff and volunteers have appropriate references, criminal records checks and the right technical qualifications for the activity.
All staff and volunteers should be trained in safeguarding and child protection. We provide information and online courses if you work with children and young people.
Children and young people should be suitably supervised (based on their age, ability, the activity and venue) by adults who are trained to care for them.
This could be a code of conduct or a code of behaviour. This should outline the boundaries that staff and volunteers should respect when working with children and young people and should address things like discrimination, bullying and social media behaviour.
Don't be afraid to ask questions
Clubs and organisations should welcome your interest and be ready to explain their safeguarding policies and practices.
The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) works with sports organisations to strengthen safeguarding and child protection across the UK. Their resources are designed to help parents and carers understand what good practice looks like and how to play an active role in keeping children safe in sport.
- Explore the CPSU Parent Hubfor expert advice and practical tools.
Other things you can do as a parent or carer
You can sign up for updates about keeping your child safe in sport here.
Encourage your child's sports club to get involved in the annual Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Campaign.
Share our support for sports group resources and sports safeguarding tools with your child's sports club.
More advice for parents and carers
Even if the organisation seems safe, it’s best to keep talking to your child to ensure they’re enjoying their experience. If something’s wrong, it’s important they feel like they can talk to you about it. We have a range of tips and advice for having important conversations with your child.
When choosing a club, group or activity with your child, it’s important to ensure they have clear health and safety procedures in place.
Clubs and organisations will list important sports and safety equipment if it’s needed — particularly for outdoor activities or contact sports like rugby, martial arts or boxing. Read through all the information you receive carefully and ensure your child has everything they need to stay safe, warm and dry.
Children's and young people's mental health should always come first, however important the match, game or event may feel. If they aren’t getting time for rest or recovery this could have an effect on their health and wellbeing.
The NHS has guidelines on how much physical activity children under five and children and young people from five to 18 should be doing.
When your child is travelling or staying somewhere overnight with a club or organisation it’s essential you’re clear on the safeguarding procedures to keep your child safe.
These include:
- consent forms
- emergency contact details
- clear, pre-agreed sleeping arrangements
- your child can contact you if they want to.
You can find more information about overnight stays here and our CPSU has information about overnight stays with sports organisations.
It’s important to put your child first and to trust your instincts. If something’s wrong, you aren’t just helping them by reporting it, you’re helping everyone keep children safer. If there’s something wrong and you’re concerned, follow the organisation’s guidelines for recording and reporting concerns, and speak to their welfare officer.
Staying involved in your child’s sports activities helps keep them safe and means you can support them with whatever they need.
It can help to consider what you want your child to get out of the activity:
- Is this also what they want?
- What do they need from you?
You can help to ensure their experience is positive by taking an interest and being supportive from the sidelines whatever the result.
Our CPSU also has plenty of advice about how to support your child.
Before entering your child into a sports competition, particulalry one where there is a risk of injury or body contact, ask these key questions. These questions will help you to know how and what the organisation is doing to help keep your child safe whilst taking part.
- What rules will the competition follow?
- How safe will my child be?
- How are officials and judges trained?
- Will they wear protective equipment?
- How are children grouped for matches?
If you're not happy with any answer, ask for more information and consider whether your child should enter the competition.
Sir Bradley Wiggins backs Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport
I back the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign which strives to prevent abuse of any kind happening to children in sport. We must make sport safe for children, and make it easier for parents, and indeed all people in sport, to recognise and understand how they themselves can support a safer sports environment.
