Safeguarding & minors policy

1. Commitment

1.1KBN is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every athlete, and especially of children and young people under 18. The Executive Statute (Art. 17) prohibits publicity or commercial use of minors without written parental consent and provides for counselling support for young athletes.

1.2This policy covers how the platform handles minors. It sits alongside the safeguarding rules of each national branch and the law of the country where an activity takes place, which apply where they are stricter. A designated KBN safeguarding lead is [to be confirmed].

2. Registration of athletes under 18

2.1An application for an athlete under 18 must include the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, uploaded in the dedicated "parental consent" slot. The registration wizard will not let the application proceed without it.

2.2The consenting adult is the point of contact for the application and may exercise the athlete's data-protection rights on their behalf, taking account of the young person's own views as they mature.

3. What is published

3.1The public profile of an athlete under 18 shows only name, country and division. Portrait, age, physical statistics, club and coach are not published. Results and rankings appear as sporting information.

3.2Photographs and video of minors are not used for publicity or commercial purposes without written parental consent (see Photography & media consent).

4. Online spaces

4.1KBN Social is for adults aged 18 and over. Sign-up asks for a date of birth and refuses anyone under 18 without keeping their details. Reports of suspected under-18 members are prioritised and such accounts are removed.

4.2Fan accounts require a minimum age of 16.

4.3Adults must not use any part of the Service to contact a minor in a way that is inappropriate, and must never ask a minor for images, personal contact details or private meetings.

5. Competition

5.1Minors compete only in age-appropriate categories under the technical rules of the discipline, with full protective equipment (Statute Art. 5.1) and medical supervision. Branch heads of refereeing are responsible for compliance at sanctioned events.

6. Female athletes

6.1The Statute requires at least one women's weight category at official KBN events, a safe and hygienic environment for female participants, and a Women's Advisory Committee to safeguard their rights and wellbeing. Concerns can be raised through the route below.

7. Reporting a concern

7.1If a child or adult is in immediate danger, contact the local emergency services first (999 in the UK).

7.2Anyone with a safeguarding concern may write to holdingkbn@gmail.com with the subject "Safeguarding". Concerns are handled confidentially by the responsible KBN committee and referred to the competent authorities where required. On KBN Social you can also report a profile, post or message from its ⋯ menu.

7.3Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith is a disciplinary offence under the Code of conduct & disciplinary rules.