New figures from the NSPCC show a 10% rise in child protection concerns linked to sport. In 2025–26, the charity’s Helpline handled nearly 700 contacts from adults worried about a child’s safety in a sporting setting, up from the previous year.
What the figures tell us
Sexual abuse and exploitation were the most common concerns raised, accounting for almost a fifth of contacts, with emotional and physical abuse also featuring heavily. Adults contacting the Helpline weren’t only worried about the conduct of coaches and other sports professionals. Across the sector, common concerns included:
- The behaviour of other parents on the sidelines
- Clubs lacking clear, up-to-date child protection procedures
- Parents unsure how or where to raise a concern
- Inconsistent safeguarding training across staff and volunteers
That last point matters most. A lot of harm in sport isn’t the result of malicious intent from a governing body, it’s the result of gaps: no clear reporting line, no one trained to recognise warning signs, no consistent process for vetting volunteers or responding to a disclosure.
Safeguarding is everyone’s job
The uncomfortable truth in these numbers is that concern doesn’t only sit with the small minority who cause harm. It sits with everyone around a child, coaches, volunteers, club officials and parents, who may not know what to look for, what to do with a concern, or how their own behaviour on the touchline affects a child’s wellbeing.
That’s why safeguarding in sport has to be about more than a single tick-box module. It’s as much about how coaches manage pressure, how clubs handle difficult parents, and whether every child is treated fairly regardless of background, as it is about recognising abuse itself.
At Me Learning, our Safeguarding Children in Sport course covers the fundamentals: recognising types of abuse, spotting warning signs, and knowing what to do if you suspect a child is at risk. But safeguarding culture in sport is broader than any one course.
We also offer training on mental health awareness in sport, addressing angry parents in sport, and unconscious bias in sport, because a genuinely safe environment depends on how coaches manage pressure, how clubs handle difficult adults on the sidelines, and whether every child, regardless of background, is treated fairly.
This rise is a reason for every club and organisation to ask honestly whether their people and procedures are equipped for what they might encounter. The NSPCC’s message is clear: no child should feel intimidated, scared or worried while playing the sport they love.
If that’s something you’re working through, we’re happy to help: enquiries@melearning.co.uk
Learn more about our learning solutions in the sports sector.
