How to spot concerns - As a coach you have a
responsibility to keep children safe and also to protect
yourself from safeguarding concerns. To help you we have
put together the following top tips for coaches.
Tennis should always be enjoyable and we want
to ensure that players are aware and protected from
any possible safeguarding issues. To help you we have
put together the following top tips for Players
Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone
at your venue. It is important to protect both players
and coaches against any potential issues. To help you we
have put together the following top tips for venues.
Nothing is more important to the LTA than the safety and wellbeing of those involved in our sport. This campaign is aimed at ensuring everyone in tennis is able to keep children and themselves safe from harm.
We want to encourage people not to be a bystander
– if you have a concern about a child
– SAY SOMETHING IF YOU SEE SOMETHING.
In 2019 it became mandatory for all Level 3-5 coaches operating at LTA registered venues to be LTA Accredited. Building on this progress, to be eligible for 2021-2022 LTA registration, venues must meet the following criteria:
In holding LTA Accreditation, it means coaches will have completed the appropriate safeguarding training, first aid training and undergone Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks if working with children. If working in Scotland they are required to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groupds (PVG) Scheme. This will provide greater clarity to parents and players when selecting a coach. Players that choose an LTA registered venue will know that the activity delivered by a Level 2-5 coach is conducted by an individual who is trained in safeguarding and has the appropriate qualifications, and that Level 1 coaching assistants, tennis activators and tennis leaders are operating in line with LTA deployment guidelines.
The coaching workforce plays a key role in keeping those involved in our sport safe, and are often the front line of tennis delivery. The implementation of safeguarding standards for coaches is therefore a crucial next step following the implementation of the venue standards in 2018.
See link to LTA safeguarding minimum standards for venue registration requirements:
You should know who your venue Welfare officer is and should have received a safeguarding induction at the venue you coach at. You should locate and read the venue safeguarding and Diversity & Inclusion policies (at the venue and their website) and speak to the committee to discuss safeguarding practice and expectations for coaches, players and parents. As a coach you should have clear codes of conduct for players involved in your sessions and be clear on other safeguarding measures such as supervisory ratios, expectation on parents to stay, transportation of children and arrangement of lessons.
See link to safeguarding minimum standards on safeguarding section of LTA website:
This service allows people to use the same DBS check across multiple organisations provided the type of check and role remain the same. This will save you having to ‘renew’ your DBS documentation every 3 years. You must sign up at the point you complete your DBS application.
See link for DBS on LTA safeguarding site:
Yes. All coaches are required to agree with and adhere to the LTA codes of conduct. You should also set clear codes of conduct for those taking part in your sessions. This prevents confusion or complaints from players (or their parents) if they breach these rules and are sanctioned.
Link for coaches code of conduct:
You can ask the coach to confirm they are accredited, but you can also check this yourself online and we would always recommend you do this.
Click here to check if a coach is accredited
An accredited coach will have a DBS check if working with children, safeguarding training, first aid training and insurance.
It’s important to know your Welfare Officer because any safeguarding concerns will be reported to them directly. Details of your venue Welfare Officer will be found in your venue’s safeguarding policy, online and on posters around the venue. They can help you with advice around how the club keeps children safe.
Codes of conduct are really important as they help everyone to understand what types of behaviours are okay and not okay. Venues will have codes of conduct in their safeguarding policy, which you can ask to see a copy of.
Everyone who participates at LTA competitions, whether that is as a player, spectator, coach or official have also signed up to code of conduct.
Social media is a valid form of communication, but it is important that coaches maintain professional boundaries. For that reason, coaches should ensure that they use a business profile to communicate with any children and keep all messages strictly about tennis coaching.
As a parent you should ensure that you are copied into any messages between your child and coach, this can be done for example via ‘whatsapp’ group chats. Please see attached guidance on teen ‘sexting’ for more information
There are 6 Standards for venues
It is vital you keep a list of all the expiry dates for DBS certificates and accreditation of coaches at your venue. If a coach at your venue coaches children without a relevant DBS check they could be breaking the law, and you are failing in your duty of care as a venue. Once a coaches accreditation lapses they are not insured through the LTA and you are breaching the terms of venue registration. It is vital you keep records of these.
You can find out the expiry date of your coaches accreditation by using our find a coach tool on the LTA website.
You could potentially be at risk of de-registration if you fail to comply with the safeguarding standards for venues. All venues are subject to safeguarding support visits by the LTA which can be unannounced.
To ensure your venue is compliant you can use the resources available on the LTA webpages to conduct a self-assessment
You should ensure the one page summary statement is displayed at your venue, if able to, and that a full copy of the policy is available to members who cannot access the online version if required.
We also attach some PDF posters you can use at your venue.
