Is an enhanced DBS check enough?

It is a baseline, not a guarantee. A DBS check only flags known offences. The other layers — visible policy, a named welfare officer, governing-body affiliation, supervised sessions, and clear parent communication — matter just as much. Ask about all of them.

The coach wants to take my child to extra sessions alone — is that okay?

One-to-one coaching can be legitimate (private tennis lessons, music tuition, etc.) but it should always be in a public or observable space, with parental knowledge, and ideally with a parent able to drop in. Sessions in private homes, locked rooms, or with no other adult on site are a serious red flag.

Who do I report a concern to if it is not a criminal matter yet?

Start with the club's welfare officer in writing. Copy the email to a parent or partner so there is a record. If the club does not act, contact the sport's national governing body and the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU). Keep all messages and notes — a paper trail matters if things escalate.

Plan ahead

Your Child is Joining a Sports Club or New Coach

Safeguarding questions every UK parent should ask before signing their child up to a club, team, or one-to-one coach.

What might be happening

Your child wants to join a football team, dance class, martial arts school, gymnastics club, swimming squad, or take one-to-one lessons with a coach. Most UK clubs are well-run by people who genuinely care about children. A minority — especially smaller private setups, one-to-one coaching, and informal groups — operate with weaker safeguarding. The point of this checklist is not to be suspicious of every coach, but to confirm the basics before you hand over a child to adults you do not know.

How serious is it?

Historical inquiries into UK sport (football, gymnastics, swimming) have shown that abuse in clubs is rare but real, and it thrives where adults have unsupervised access to children, where complaints are not taken seriously, and where parents feel they cannot ask questions. Asking the questions below is not rude — any well-run club expects them and will have answers ready.

What to do first

Step 1

Ask the club directly: "Do all adults have an enhanced DBS check?" Every coach, volunteer, or assistant who has regular contact with children should have a current enhanced DBS through the Disclosure and Barring Service. A good club will not be offended by the question.

Step 2

Ask to see the club's safeguarding policy and the name of the designated welfare officer. Every club affiliated to a UK national governing body (the FA, England Gymnastics, Swim England, British Judo, etc.) must have both. If they cannot produce them, that is a red flag.

Step 3

Check that the club is affiliated to its national governing body. Affiliation usually means the coaches hold a recognised qualification and the club follows the body's safeguarding standards.

Step 4

Visit at least one session before committing. Watch how coaches speak to children, whether changing rooms and toilets are supervised, and whether parents are welcome to stay.

Step 5

Talk to your child about what is and is not normal coaching contact. Spotting in gymnastics, holding pads in martial arts, and demonstrating positions are fine. Massages, private lifts home, private messaging, and sessions with no other adult present are not.

What to say

Phrases that help

"Tell me what happens at training — what the coach is like, what you do, who else is there."
"If a coach ever asks you to keep something secret from me, that is not okay even if they say it is fine."
"You can stop going at any time, for any reason. You do not owe anyone an explanation."

What not to say

✗"The coach knows best — just do what they say." — children need to know they can say no.
✗"You signed up so you have to stick at it." — true for short slumps, not for safeguarding worries.
✗"Do not make a fuss." — fussing is exactly what we want children to do if something is wrong.

Settings to check

•Club WhatsApp or Team app: confirm that coaches do not message children one-to-one — all communication should go through a parent group or a club-approved platform.
•Photos: ask the club's policy on photography and social media. You should be asked to consent before any image of your child is posted.
•If your child uses a club-issued app (TeamSnap, Spond, Heja) check who can message whom and turn off direct messaging from adults to your child.
•Lifts and transport: confirm the club's policy on who can drive children. A coach should not be giving one child a lift home alone.
•Online coaching/video review: any video sessions should include a parent or be recorded with parental consent.

When to escalate

If your child discloses inappropriate touching, sexual conversation, secret messaging, or private contact with a coach, contact the club's welfare officer in writing and also report directly to the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) or the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU, 0116 366 5590). Do not rely on the club alone to investigate. If a criminal offence may have happened, call 101 or 999. For sexual content sent online, also report to CEOP (https://www.ceop.police.uk).

Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: 2026-05-16 · This page is educational guidance, not a substitute for emergency services, safeguarding professionals, or legal advice.

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.