Improving Safety in Professional Football: Expert Suggestions

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.

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Photo by Mario Klassen on Unsplash

Photo by Mario Klassen on Unsplash

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.

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