“Turning around an oil tanker”: Recommendations for a safeguarding program in football

Despite increasing awareness and reports of wrongdoing in sports such as professional football there remains a lack of safeguarding education targeted at adults to address this behavior. Thus, there is a need to develop safeguarding education programs based on the experiential knowledge of adults in football. The present study explored knowledge users' recommendations, as a means to co-produce a safeguarding education program to address maltreatment in football. Guided by a social constructivist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 safeguarding and welfare personnel (nine who identified as females and ten as males) who work within British clubs and organizations ranging from English Premier League (EPL) through to the English Northern Premier League Division One. The participants’ roles ranged from Chief Executive Officer; Vice Chairman; General Counsel; Club Development Officer; Head of Safeguarding; Designated Safeguarding Officer; Safeguarding Case Officer; Academy Safeguarding Manager; Head of Education and Welfare; Player Care and Welfare Officer; Head of Education and Player Care, and Coach. Through a reflexive thematic analysis, knowledge users discussed shaping safeguarding education in professional football, and the best way to deliver safeguarding education. Knowledge users highlighted the need for safeguarding programs to be designed and delivered at individual, club, and systemic levels to be effective. Furthermore, these programs need to be underpinned by a cultural intervention to safeguarding education in professional football. From a research perspective, the present findings emphasize the value of collaborating with underrepresented groups to create meaningful change in safeguarding in sport. Lastly, the present study provides the foundation for future research to evaluate the effectiveness of a safeguarding education program in football in practice.

What is it about?

The study explored the development of a safeguarding education program in professional football, leveraging the experiential knowledge of adults in the field. It involved semi-structured interviews with 19 safeguarding and welfare personnel from various roles within British football clubs and organisations, ranging from the English Premier League to the English Northern Premier League Division One. The research applied a social constructivist approach and used reflexive thematic analysis to gather and analyse participant insights. The findings emphasised the need for safeguarding programs to operate on individual, club, and systemic levels, supported by cultural interventions. The study highlighted the importance of integrating these programs into the broader organisational culture to effectively address maltreatment in football. Additionally, the study utilised an ecological systems model to frame its findings, suggesting a comprehensive approach to designing and delivering safeguarding education. This research lays the groundwork for future evaluations of safeguarding education program effectiveness in the sport.

Why is it important?

This study is important as it addresses a critical gap in safeguarding education within professional football, specifically targeting adults to combat maltreatment and wrongdoing. By leveraging the experiential knowledge of football personnel, the research co-produced an effective safeguarding education program that operates at individual, club, and systemic levels. The study is significant because it emphasizes the need for a cultural intervention in football, promoting a holistic approach to safeguarding education. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on developing and implementing effective safeguarding measures in sports, ultimately aiming to protect participants from various forms of abuse and maltreatment.

Key Takeaways:

1. Comprehensive Safeguarding Programs: The research underscores the necessity of designing safeguarding programs that integrate individual, club, and systemic components to effectively address maltreatment in football.

2. Cultural Intervention: The study highlights the importance of cultural intervention within safeguarding education, suggesting that addressing the culture of safeguarding in football is vital for the program's success.

3. Collaborative Development: The findings emphasise the value of involving underrepresented groups in the development of safeguarding education programs to ensure the initiatives are inclusive and address the specific challenges faced by these groups.