Combat sports involve physical contact, travel, weight management and close relationships between coaches and athletes. That makes safeguarding essential. This guide sets out the basics; follow your country's laws and statutory guidance, which take precedence.
A written policy
Your policy should cover:
- Who it protects: children (under 18) and adults at risk.
- Codes of conduct for coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes.
- Recruitment and background checks for people working with children.
- Safe practices in training, travel and competition.
- How to recognise and report concerns.
- How concerns are handled, recorded and referred.
A welfare officer
Name a trained welfare officer (or safeguarding lead) at every club and at federation level. Publish how to contact them.
Safe practice with minors
- Two adults present, or visible, rather than one-to-one situations.
- Parents welcome to watch training where appropriate.
- Changing arrangements that respect privacy.
- Age-appropriate sparring with strict control.
- No pressure to cut weight.
- Consent from parents for competition, travel and photography.
Competition
At KBN, an athlete under 18 needs written consent from a parent or legal guardian to apply for the ranking, and minors compete only in age-appropriate categories under the discipline's technical rules with medical supervision. Branch heads of refereeing are responsible for compliance at sanctioned events.
Publication and data
KBN limits the public profile of an athlete under 18 to name, country and division. Portrait, age, physical statistics, club and coach are not published. Clubs should apply the same caution on their own websites and social media.
Safeguarding & minors policy →
Reporting concerns
- If a child is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services.
- Otherwise report to your welfare officer and, as required by law, to the relevant authorities.
- Concerns involving KBN can be sent to holdingkbn@gmail.com marked "Safeguarding"; they are handled by the Women's and Youth Committee and referred to the competent authorities where required.
- Record what was reported, when and to whom.
Adults at risk
Safeguarding also applies to adults who may be at risk, for example because of disability or coercive relationships. Treat concerns seriously and follow the same principles.
A club checklist
- Written safeguarding policy, reviewed yearly.
- Named, trained welfare officer, with contact details displayed.
- Background checks for coaches and volunteers where the law provides.
- Codes of conduct signed by coaches, athletes and parents.
- Consent forms for competition, travel and photography.
- Incident and concern records stored securely.
Photography and social media
Get parental consent before publishing photos of under-18s, avoid identifying details, and follow the same caution as KBN: minors' public profiles show only name, country and division.
Myths and facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Safeguarding is only for large clubs | Every club working with children needs it |
| Coaches know best about minors' weight | Children should compete at natural weight |
| Reporting a concern is disloyal | Reporting protects athletes and the sport |
| Publishing minors' photos is harmless | Get consent and limit identifying details |
Recognising concerns
Concerns can come from what a child says, from changes in behaviour, from unexplained injuries, or from what adults do: inappropriate messaging, favouritism, pressure to cut weight, excessive physical punishment, or attempts to be alone with a child. Anyone can raise a concern; you do not need proof.
Handling a disclosure
If a young athlete tells you something worrying:
- Listen calmly and take it seriously.
- Do not promise to keep it secret.
- Do not investigate or question in detail.
- Write down what was said, in their words, with the date and time.
- Report to your welfare officer or the authorities without delay.
Travel and events
Plan supervision ratios, rooming arrangements and communication rules for trips. Parents should know the itinerary and contacts. At competitions, a named adult should be responsible for each young athlete at all times.
Online safeguarding
Coaches should communicate with young athletes through group channels that include parents or other adults, not private one-to-one messages. Clubs should agree rules for social media, photos and messaging, and explain them to athletes and parents.
Frequently asked questions
QDoes every club need a welfare officer?
It is strongly recommended, and often required by national sports bodies, especially where children train.
QWhat does KBN publish about minors?
Only name, country and division, as sporting information.
QWho handles safeguarding reports sent to KBN?
The Women's and Youth Committee under the Statute, referring to authorities where required.
QCan a coach consent for a minor to compete?
No. Consent must come from a parent or legal guardian.
Figures in this article are computed from the KBN register at the time of reading. View, like and share counters on this demo site are sample values.