UK Coaching Safeguarding Statement

UK Coaching has the highest regard for the welfare of both participant and coach and considers this an absolute priority.

The UK Coaching Code of Practice for Sports Coaches outlines what constitutes as good coaching practice. In the Code, under the principle of ‘Relationships’, it states that: ‘Coaches must develop a relationship with their participants (and others) based on openness, honesty, mutual trust and respect.' Part a coach’s responsibility is not to engage in behaviour that constitutes any form of abuse; whether that is physical, sexual, neglect, emotional, bullying for children and self neglectself-neglect, modern slavery, domestic abuse, discrimination, organisational, physical, sexual, financial or material, neglect and acts of omission, emotional or psychological for adults. 

Inappropriate behaviour should not be tolerated and the need for coaches to understand and act on their responsibilities is vital to sport, as is the need to promote participation for fun and enjoyment. 

If there is a cause for concern about the behaviour of an adult towards a child, or another adult it must be reported to the person with responsibility for safeguarding in that coaching environment, eg club welfare officer, local authority children’s services, governing body of sport lead welfare officer or the NSPCC directly. If a child or adult is in immediate danger then you should always inform the police.

The vast majority of coaches play a critical role in introducing children and adults to sport and physical activity, resulting in healthy lifestyles for millions of people. They can also act as sentinel reporters, identifying potential cases of abuse and alerting the authorities.

Encouraging people to start in sport and physical activity, improves enjoyment, maintains engagement, improves fitness, develops skills and builds lifelong connections to keeping active. Coaches who abide by our Code will create healthy, positive environments for all participants to thrive in, developing skills and fitness and building lifelong connections to keeping active – whatever their performance level.

Other principles from the Code that coaches must take into account are:

• Rights: Coaches must respect and champion the rights of every individual to participate in sport and physical activity.
• Responsibilities – personal standards: Coaches must demonstrate proper personal behaviour and conduct at all times.
• Responsibilities – professional standards: To maximise the benefits and minimise the risks to participants, coaches must attain an appropriate level of competence through qualifications, and a commitment to ongoing training to ensure safe and correct practice.

Our code of conduct can’t act in isolation and must be incorporated into, or work alongside operational items created by partners such as: governing bodies of sport and employer constitutions; governance documents; coach education and development processes; and be part of the policy and procedure for dealing with allegations and complaints, among other considerations.

It should also be supported by the appropriate coach training and resources, such as UK Coaching courses: Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Safeguarding Adults in Sport & Physical Activity.

For many years, we have worked closely with the NSPCC and Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU)  and Ann Craft Trust to set the right standards and to raise awareness among coaches of how to recognise and respond to matters of safeguarding children and adults at risk. We work with governing bodies of sport to train and educate coaches. Our safeguarding programme of workshops continues to be attended by over 20,000 coaches every year.