Safe Sport Starts with Trust: What Children Expect from Coaches and Teammates
Bullying, humiliation and fear of speaking up are important aspects of safety in sport. The European project 360° Safe Play puts children's voices at the centre of creating safer sporting environments.
When adults discuss safety in children’s sport, they often focus on equipment, facilities and injury prevention. Children, however, emphasise something equally important: respectful teammates, supportive coaches and the freedom to make mistakes without fear of humiliation.
These messages emerged during a workshop with 21 children, organised on 13 September 2026 by the Bulgarian Sports Federation for Children and Youth at Risk as part of the European project 360° Safe Play, funded by the EU’s CERV-DAPHNE programme.
Through discussions, drawings and interactive activities, participants shared what makes them feel safe, respected and included in sport.
Safety Goes Beyond Physical Protection
International research highlights the importance of emotional safety. The European CASES study (2021), involving over 10,000 respondents from six countries, found that 33.9% had experienced humiliation in sport during childhood, while 20.9% reported verbal aggression.
During the workshop, children described their ideal coach as patient, supportive and respectful – someone who encourages improvement rather than punishing mistakes.
Participants also identified online bullying as a concern, demonstrating that negative experiences within teams can extend into social media and group chats. According to WHO/Europe (2024), approximately one in six adolescents has experienced cyberbullying, although this finding is not specific to sport.
Another important challenge was speaking up when something felt wrong. Children most often identified trusted teachers and coaches as people they would approach for help, highlighting that trust is built through behaviour, not simply through authority.
Friendship and Belonging Matter
For the participants, sport was about more than competition and achievement. They particularly valued friendships, mutual respect and shared experiences, including travelling together to competitions.
This reflects the wider social importance of sport. According to the Special Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity (September 2026), 86% of Europeans consider physical activity important for building a sense of community.
The children’s responses highlight the need for sporting environments where everyone feels welcome, supported and valued.
Listening to Children, Creating Safer Sport
At the end of the workshop, children anonymously suggested improvements, including more respectful communication and an end to negative labels such as “bad” or “incapable”.
Some participants preferred drawing rather than writing, demonstrating the importance of offering different ways for children to express their opinions. Although the workshop was not a representative study, it provided valuable insights into children’s experiences and expectations.
The 360° Safe Play project aims to develop practical safeguarding tools for sports clubs and organisations, focusing on preventing, identifying and reporting violence and abuse. The children’s feedback, together with contributions from coaches and parents, will help shape these tools.
The workshop’s central message was simple: safe sport means being able to make mistakes, ask for help and be heard – without fear of humiliation or exclusion from the team.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
