22/09/2026
WHAT IS CHILD SAFEGUARDING IN SPORTS?
Every child has the right to play, learn, compete, and develop in a safe and supportive environment.
Child safeguarding in sports is the responsibility of everyone, coaches, officials, administrators, volunteers, parents, and fellow athletes. It is not only about responding when something goes wrong. It is about preventing harm before it happens and creating a culture where children feel safe, respected, heard, and valued.
Safeguarding includes protecting young athletes from:
• Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
• Bullying, harassment, and discrimination
• Neglect and unsafe training practices
• Grooming, manipulation, and exploitation
• Inappropriate adult-child relationships and communication
• Online abuse and misuse of photos or social media
• Pressure, intimidation, and abuse of authority
Good safeguarding also means maintaining professional boundaries, providing age-appropriate training, communicating honestly with young athletes and their parents, and never using promises of scholarships, selection, professional contracts, or sporting opportunities to manipulate a child.
Coaches should inspire dreams without guaranteeing outcomes they cannot control.
When concerns arise, there must be a clear and confidential process for reporting, responding, and referring cases to the appropriate child-protection authorities such as Sports Coordinators, School Guidance Counselor or Safeguarding Officer.
In the Philippines, child safeguarding is supported by laws and policies such as RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act), RA 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act), RA 11930 (Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act), and the DepEd Child Protection Policy for school-based sports.
🏅 Winning is important. Developing athletes is important. But the safety, dignity, rights, and well-being of every child must always come first.
For more details, please refer to: https://assets.the-afc.com/Child_Safeguarding/AFC-Child-Safeguarding-and-Protection-Policy-2026.pdf?fbclid=IwVERDUAUeAKtwZG9mBWZkaWQWUO1qyUHnik9ljVakmfXGDFbdweildGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6C05bbAaYnb0k7XrIRK1HmjPavnHuVVrZaJOMuiM4l5TKS4h3YrIq2pHwEVg_aem_E0XJglVoSFKKWv5MtUV5SQ
