SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding is not a box to tick. It is the ongoing, active work of creating environments where everyone — children, young people, and adults — can move, learn, and grow free from harm. ADAPT holds safeguarding as a non-negotiable standard across our entire global community.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding means protecting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. It covers recognising signs of abuse, neglect, emotional harm, and exploitation; understanding the boundaries of your role and the power you hold as a coach; knowing how to respond if a concern is raised and how to report it properly; and creating environments where participants feel safe, respected, and heard.
Safeguarding extends beyond the session. It encompasses how you communicate with participants and their families, how you manage photography and social media, how you handle one-to-one contact, and how your organisation recruits and supervises staff and volunteers.
Your responsibilities as an ADAPT-certified coach
Maintain current safeguarding training
All ADAPT-certified coaches working with children, young people, or adults at risk must hold a recognised safeguarding qualification appropriate to their country of practice. Training should be renewed in line with national guidance — typically every three years.
Understand your legal obligations
Safeguarding law and reporting duties vary by country. As a working coach, you are responsible for knowing and complying with the legislation that applies where you practise. In the UK this includes the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and the Care Act 2014. In the USA it includes the SafeSport Authorization Act. In Canada, Australia, and other territories, equivalent national and state/provincial frameworks apply.
Know how to respond to a disclosure
If a participant discloses abuse or harm — directly or indirectly — your role is to listen calmly, not to investigate. Record what was said accurately and as soon as possible. Report it to your organisation's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or, in the absence of one, to the relevant statutory authority without delay.
Maintain clear professional boundaries
Parkour coaching can be physical. This makes boundaries all the more important. Coaches must not engage in unnecessary physical contact, private or unsupervised communication with minors, or any behaviour that could be construed as grooming or forming inappropriate relationships.
Operate safely online and on social media
Photography and filming of participants requires consent. Coaches must not share images of minors on personal social media without explicit parental permission. Official coaching channels must comply with your organisation's photography and communications policy.
Report concerns — including about other adults
Safeguarding obligations apply even when the person of concern is another coach, a volunteer, or a colleague. If you witness or become aware of behaviour that may harm a participant, you have a duty to report it. Doing nothing is not an option.
Undergo appropriate background checks
In the UK, this means a current DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check at the appropriate level. Equivalent checks are required in all countries where ADAPT courses are delivered — including a Background Check (USA), a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (Canada), and a Working with Children Check (Australia).
Organisational responsibilities
Organisations delivering parkour coaching under the ADAPT framework — including training providers, clubs, gyms, schools, and community groups — are required to meet the following standards:
Appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Every organisation working with children or adults at risk must have a named DSL who is trained to an appropriate level, clearly identifiable to staff, coaches, and participants, and empowered to act on safeguarding concerns.
Have a written safeguarding policy
Your policy must be reviewed at least annually, reflect current legislation for your jurisdiction, and be available to all coaches, volunteers, and participants' families on request.
Implement safer recruitment procedures
All coaches and volunteers working with children or adults at risk must be subject to appropriate vetting before appointment. References should be sought and verified. Background checks must be current and fit for purpose.
Maintain a safeguarding record
All concerns, disclosures, and actions taken must be recorded in writing and stored securely. Records must be retained in line with your country's data protection legislation.
Provide a clear reporting pathway
Coaches, volunteers, participants, and families must know how to raise a safeguarding concern and who to contact. This should be communicated actively — not just contained in a policy document.
ADAPT's standards and expectations
ADAPT Qualifications operates a global framework. Our standards reflect best practice across all territories where our qualifications are recognised, and are reviewed regularly to remain consistent with international standards for safe sport.
Valid certification required
All candidates must hold a current, country-appropriate safeguarding certificate to gain or renew ADAPT qualifications involving work with children or vulnerable adults.
Host organisations must comply
All course hosts must demonstrate compliance with local safeguarding legislation and maintain a named Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Certification can be withdrawn
Coaches subject to a safeguarding investigation by a statutory authority may have their ADAPT certification suspended or withdrawn pending its outcome.
Standards reviewed regularly
ADAPT reviews and updates its safeguarding framework in line with evolving international best practice and in coordination with national governing bodies.
Approved safeguarding training
The correct level of training depends on your role, the participants you work with, and the country in which you operate. The following organisations offer recognised, high-quality safeguarding training suitable for parkour coaches at all levels.
NSPCC — Child Protection in Sport and Physical Activity
Foundation-level online course for coaches and sport practitioners. Widely recognised by UK governing bodies. Developed by the UK's leading child protection charity.
learning.nspcc.org.uk →UK Coaching — Safeguarding and Protecting Children
Developed in partnership with the NSPCC and Ann Craft Trust. Online classroom format. Renewal recommended every three years. One of the most widely used qualifications for sport coaches in the UK.
ukcoaching.org →UK Coaching — Safeguarding Adults in Physical Activity and Sport
For coaches working with adults who have care and support needs. Developed in partnership with the Ann Craft Trust.
ukcoaching.org →CPSU — Specialist Safeguarding Training and Events
The Child Protection in Sport Unit offers specialist training for Designated Safeguarding Leads, event staff, and organisations, including bespoke consultancy services.
thecpsu.org.uk →U.S. Center for SafeSport — SafeSport Trained
The standard abuse-prevention qualification for coaches in the US Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Covers grooming, power and trust, and mandatory reporting obligations under US law.
safesport.org →Coaching Association of Canada — Responsible Coaching Movement
The safe sport framework within Canada's National Coaching Certification Program. Covers the Rule of Two, Speak Out, and mandatory Background Screening obligations for coaches.
coach.ca →Sport Integrity Australia — Safeguarding Children and Young People
Free eLearning modules for coaches and sport organisations, including the Safeguarding Children and Young People Induction course.
sportintegrity.gov.au →Open University / UNICEF — Safeguarding in Sport Series
Free multi-module course available in multiple languages. Originally developed with FIFA and adapted for a general sport audience. Endorsed by World Athletics, World Rugby, Commonwealth Games Federation, and multiple international federations.
open.edu/openlearncreate →World Athletics — Safeguarding e-Learning
Free 90-minute certificated course available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic, and Russian. Open to coaches in any sport or country.
worldathletics.org →Reporting a concern
If you become aware of a safeguarding concern in connection with an ADAPT course, coach, or event, please report it to us directly. If the concern relates to an immediate risk of harm, contact the emergency services without delay — do not wait.
A note on culture
Safeguarding is most effective when it is woven into the culture of an organisation — not treated as a compliance exercise. The parkour community has a long-standing tradition of care for its members: of looking out for each other, of passing on knowledge responsibly, and of creating environments built on trust and mutual respect. ADAPT's standards exist to formalise and protect that tradition. We expect every qualified coach and every partner organisation to take these responsibilities seriously — because the strength of this community depends on the safety of everyone within it.