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Safeguarding Policy

Last updated: 03/06/26

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and supportive coaching environment for all athletes.

This Safeguarding Policy applies to all coaching sessions, Sprints Group memberships, private coaching, small group coaching, sports massage, team sessions, workshops, events, communications, and related activities delivered by ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance.

This policy applies to:

  • Children and young people under 18

  • Adults at risk

  • Parents and guardians

  • Coaches

  • Assistants

  • Volunteers

  • Contractors

  • Visitors

  • Any person involved in ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance activities

1. Safeguarding Statement

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance believes that every athlete has the right to participate in sport and physical activity in a safe, positive, and respectful environment.

We aim to:

  • Promote athlete welfare and wellbeing

  • Protect children, young people, and adults at risk from harm

  • Create a coaching environment built on respect, safety, and trust

  • Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns

  • Maintain appropriate boundaries between coaches, athletes, and families

  • Follow relevant safeguarding guidance and good practice in sport

Sport NI recognises the duty to protect children and young people in sport by promoting safe environments that protect them from harm.

2. Principles

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance is guided by the following principles:

  • The welfare of the athlete is paramount.

  • All athletes should be treated with dignity and respect.

  • Everyone has the right to take part without abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination, or neglect.

  • Concerns should be taken seriously and responded to appropriately.

  • Parents and guardians should be involved appropriately when working with under-18s.

  • Coaching should be delivered with clear professional boundaries.

  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

3. Code of Conduct

All athletes, parents, guardians, coaches, assistants, and visitors are expected to:

  • Treat others with respect

  • Use appropriate language

  • Follow coaching and facility instructions

  • Respect personal boundaries

  • Report concerns promptly

  • Avoid bullying, harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or abusive behaviour

  • Avoid behaviour that places themselves or others at risk

  • Support a positive training environment

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance reserves the right to remove anyone from a session, activity, or service if their behaviour is unsafe, inappropriate, disruptive, or harmful.

4. Coach Conduct and Professional Boundaries

Coaches and anyone supporting ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance activities should:

  • Maintain professional boundaries with athletes

  • Use appropriate language and behaviour

  • Avoid unnecessary physical contact

  • Explain and gain consent before any physical contact used for coaching, positioning, demonstration, or sports massage

  • Avoid being alone with an under-18 athlete where reasonably possible

  • Work in open, observable environments where possible

  • Avoid private or inappropriate communication with under-18 athletes

  • Treat all athletes fairly and consistently

  • Respect confidentiality, unless there is a safeguarding or safety concern

  • Report concerns appropriately

5. Working with Under-18s

For athletes under 18:

  • Parent or guardian consent may be required before participation.

  • Emergency contact details must be provided.

  • Health screening and waiver forms should be completed or approved by a parent/guardian.

  • Parents/guardians should be informed of session arrangements.

  • Direct communication with under-18s should be limited and appropriate.

  • Where possible, communication should include a parent/guardian or be through approved channels.

  • One-to-one situations should be avoided where reasonably possible or managed in open, observable environments.

6. Communication with Under-18s

Communication with athletes under 18 should be professional, relevant, and limited to coaching, scheduling, or safety matters.

Where possible:

  • Communication should go through parents/guardians.

  • Group messages should include parents/guardians where appropriate.

  • Private messages to under-18s should be avoided unless necessary and appropriate.

  • Messages should not be sent late at night unless urgent.

  • Social media communication with under-18s should remain professional and should not involve personal, inappropriate, or unnecessary conversation.

7. Photography and Video

Photos and videos may be used for coaching feedback, technical analysis, education, website content, social media, or promotional purposes only where appropriate consent has been obtained.

Consent should be separate for:

  • Coaching analysis

  • Marketing/social media use

For athletes under 18, parent or guardian consent is required for marketing or promotional use.

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance will aim to:

  • Use images respectfully and appropriately

  • Avoid publishing unnecessary personal details alongside images of children

  • Store images securely where possible

  • Remove images where consent is withdrawn, where reasonably possible

  • Avoid using images that could be embarrassing, exploitative, or inappropriate

CPSU guidance states that sports organisations using photos or videos of children should have clear photography and filming policies, consent procedures, safe storage, and data protection processes.

8. Sports Massage and Physical Contact

Where sports massage or coaching-related physical contact is used:

  • The purpose should be explained clearly.

  • Consent should be obtained before contact.

  • The athlete has the right to refuse or stop at any time.

  • For under-18s, parent/guardian consent may be required.

  • Treatment should be appropriate, professional, and within the agreed service.

  • Appropriate privacy and dignity should be maintained.

  • A parent/guardian may be present where appropriate.

Sports massage will not be provided where it is considered unsuitable or unsafe.

9. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

  • Physical abuse

  • Emotional abuse

  • Sexual abuse

  • Neglect

  • Bullying or cyberbullying

  • Harassment or discrimination

  • Inappropriate behaviour by an adult or peer

  • Unsafe coaching practice

  • Poor professional boundaries

  • Concerning communication

  • Concerns raised by an athlete, parent, guardian, or third party

Concerns should always be taken seriously.

10. Reporting a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern, contact ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance as soon as possible.

Contact:
Email: michael@athleticspeedandperformance.com
Phone: 07892 860547

When reporting a concern, include:

  • What happened

  • Who was involved

  • When and where it happened

  • Any witnesses

  • Any immediate safety concerns

  • What action has already been taken

If a child, young person, or adult at risk is in immediate danger, call emergency services on 999.

Where appropriate, safeguarding concerns may be referred to relevant authorities, governing bodies, social care, police, or safeguarding organisations.

11. Responding to Concerns

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance will aim to:

  • Listen carefully and take concerns seriously

  • Respond calmly and appropriately

  • Record relevant details as soon as possible

  • Maintain confidentiality where possible

  • Share information only where necessary for safeguarding, safety, legal, or professional reasons

  • Take appropriate action to protect the person at risk

  • Seek advice from appropriate safeguarding bodies where needed

12. Confidentiality and Record Keeping

Safeguarding information will be treated carefully and shared only where necessary.

Records may include:

  • Date and time of concern

  • People involved

  • What was said or observed

  • Actions taken

  • Referrals made

  • Follow-up actions

Safeguarding records will be stored securely and handled in line with the Privacy Policy.

13. Safer Recruitment, Training, and Checks

Where coaches, assistants, volunteers, or contractors are used, ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance will aim to ensure that they are suitable for their role.

This may include:

  • Relevant coaching qualifications

  • Safeguarding training

  • Appropriate AccessNI checks where required

  • Clear role expectations

  • Agreement to follow this Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct

AccessNI checks and safeguarding training are commonly used in Northern Ireland sport as part of safer recruitment and child protection practice.

14. Online Safety and Social Media

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance expects online communication to remain professional, respectful, and appropriate.

This includes:

  • Website communication

  • Email

  • Text messages

  • WhatsApp

  • Instagram

  • Facebook

  • TikTok

  • Other social media or messaging platforms

Inappropriate online behaviour, harassment, bullying, grooming, abuse, or sharing of inappropriate content will not be tolerated.

15. Review of This Policy

This Safeguarding Policy may be reviewed and updated as needed.

The latest version will be available on the website.

16. Contact

For safeguarding questions or concerns, contact:

ASAP Athletic Speed & Performance
Email: michael@athleticspeedandperformance.com
Phone: 07892 860547

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

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