7.6 How safeguarding concerns can be reported

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An illustration of four officials. Referee, coach, umpire, team official. Each one is inside a circle. The four circles are joined together by lines which end in a drawing of a pencil.

Having a well-publicised system for reporting abuse is one of the essential parts of preparing for any competition.

When it is an international competition, there are even more considerations – such as making sure those taking part and the local organisers understand the system, reporting is available in different languages, and there are different ways for concerns to be shared. Offering the chance to report in more than one language, and identifying people who can act as translators can be challenging and will need resources.

The important thing is to think about different scenarios ahead of time, and work with those taking part in the event and local organisations, to create something that works.

There are some key aspects to consider about reporting processes at competitions.

Details about how to share a concern – in person, by phone, by email or online – should be easily accessible. Avenues for reporting concerns should include:

  • Contacting local authorities and child/adult protection services directly if a concern is urgent or if someone is in imminent danger. This contact information must be clearly communicated and accessible to everyone.
  • Approaching any member of the competition safeguarding staff or security team, who should know how to manage the concern.
  • Speaking to the on-site Safeguarding Officers. Contact information and how they can be located must be clearly communicated to everyone.
  • Contacting the competition organiser using their reporting tools, for example, an online safeguarding reporting mechanism, or completing simple reporting forms.

Part of the competition safeguarding plan should address how information about reporting safeguarding concerns can be shared with everyone.

Activity: Identify how to promote information about reporting to different stakeholders

Think about the following competition stakeholder groups and list the different opportunities organisers could use to communicate information about reporting.

Stakeholder groupWays to share information on concern reporting
Athletes
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Spectators
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Match officials
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Entourage members, for example, physios, doctors, chaperones, caddies, etc.
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Venue or course staff such as caterers, ground staff and volunteers
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Stakeholder groupWays to share information on concern reporting
Athletes
  • Competition safeguarding website.
  • Competition registration process.
  • Athletes’ competition induction.
  • Athletes section on competition website.
  • Team induction.
  • In public or private spaces, for example, posters in hotels, changing rooms or on the back of toilet doors.
  • Flyers handed out at appropriate places and in welcome packs.
Spectators
  • Include on competition website.
  • Competition ticketing process.
  • Signage and announcements at match venues.
  • In competition-related activities, for example, legacy activities.
  • In public spaces, with posters on the back of toilet doors, for example.
Match officials
  • Competition registration process.
  • Pre-competition information.
  • Officials’ competition induction and guidance.
  • Officials’ locker rooms.
Entourage members, for example, physios, doctors, chaperones, caddies, etc.
  • Competition safeguarding website.
  • Competition registration process.
  • Team induction.
  • In public spaces, with posters on the back of toilet doors, for example.
Venue or course staff such as caterers, ground staff and volunteers
  • Pre-competition induction.
  • Posters in offices and volunteer spaces.

You need to be imaginative when identifying ways to promote the competition reporting process – and to apply what you know about each stakeholder group in order to communicate to them effectively.

Communication

Communication in a range of languages (including sign language) and using visual images is more likely to be effective – for example, you can use QR codes to link to online information that can be translated.

Now let’s think about what responding to concerns looks like for an international competition.

7.5 An athlete’s competition experience

7.7 Responding to concerns