These Standards provide a framework for all those involved in sport to help them create a safe sporting environment for children and young people and protect them from harm.
The Standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport (PDF) also seek to provide a benchmark to help those involved in sport make informed decisions, and to promote good practice and challenge poor practice.
Author: NSPCC Sport
Published: 2002, revised 2018
At the time of publication of this edition of the Standards in 2018, NSPCC Sport was known as the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU). Contact information and visual imagery have been updated in 2026
but otherwise the contents of this document remain unchanged.
The 2018 update brings the document in line with changes in legislation, government guidance and safeguarding practice. It also includes some changes in light of evaluation and the application of the standards by a significant number of sports bodies and county sports partnerships.
The 10 standards
- Policy and procedures for responding to concerns
- Operating systems
- Prevention
- Codes of ethics and conduct
- Equity
- Communication
- Education and training
- Access to advice and support
- Implementation and monitoring
- Influencing
Assessing your organisation
We have developed an interactive online self-assessment tool that will take you step by step through standards 1-9. simple questions will help you assess which elements of the standards your organisation still needs to work on.
Download the standards (PDF)