PULSE Safeguarding Matters


Over the past few years, there have been several high profile cases of child abuse perpetrated by coaches and other trusted adults in sport. These represent the most serious forms of abuse and are, thankfully, few and far between.


What is less obvious, however, are the children who are victims of the emotional abuse resulting from poor coaching practice. These coaches are often unaware of the distress they are causing and their behaviour stems from a lack of understanding of the needs of children and young people, rather than from any deliberate intent to do harm.


It is all too common, in the sporting world, to come across coaches who are very negative in their feedback to youngsters, who sometimes get caught up in the drive to win and forget that they are there to nurture and support young, developing players, both physically and emotionally. Children themselves, often don’t recognise this behaviour for what it is and see their coaches as role models, blaming themselves for their coach’s behaviours. The impact of this can be significant, with many children choosing to drop


out of sport altogether following a bad coaching experience. The effects on self-esteem, confidence and mental health can be more difficult to measure, but they are undoubtedly concerning.


In schools, we work hard to foster positive attitudes towards physical activity and healthy lifestyles. We want them to enjoy all that sport has to offer, make the most of the opportunities that community sports clubs can provide and start them on a lifelong journey of physical activity. To help them on their way, we can teach them about how to keep themselves safe in a club environment and recognise when a coach’s behaviour or practices are inappropriate. A child who is able to identify when things are not right is a child who can speak out to protect themselves and others.


To support schools in sharing this important message with their pupils, Bianca Logronio (Safeguarding Lead at Kent Sport) has been working in partnership with Sharon Denney (PE Consultant at Blueprint Consultancy), to design the Speak Out in Sport Assembly pack. Using humour and drawing on guidance from the NSPCC and UK Coaching, Speak Out in Sport


teaches children what they should expect from a good coach and what they should do if things go wrong.


The Speak Out in Sport Assembly pack will be FREE to schools from term 6 and includes an assembly plan, information leaflets for children and parents, optional follow-up activities for the classroom and best practice guidance for schools on the use of coaches. After the May half term break, you will be able to visit the Blueprint


Consultancy or Kent Sport websites to download a copy of the pack. On the Blueprint Consultancy website you can also sign up for their termly updates on all things PE, and they will let you know exactly when the materials are available to download.


Download your free assembly pack and help your pupils Speak Out in Sport by visiting: blueprintconsultancy.co.uk or www.kentsport.org/safe


The Kent & Medway School Sports Magazine 15


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