Safeguarding in Combat Sports & Martial Arts: Prevention and Safe Sport Practices

This course is designed for professionals and volunteers involved in Combat Sports & Martial Arts (CS&MA) who contribute to the organisation, supervision and delivery of training and competition environments. It provides practical knowledge and guidance to support safeguarding, participant wellbeing and responsible sport practices within organisations.

• Primary Audience:  Coaches and instructors in combat CS&MA and technical staff involved in training and development of the participants.

• Secondary Audience: Club Managers and administrators, referees and competition officials, medical staff and physiotherapists working within CS&MA, and youth workers and volunteers involved in CS&MA communities.

Core Competencies & Learning Outcomes

By completing this course, participants will strengthen their competencies in the following areas:

• Recognising safeguarding risks: Identify different forms of interpersonal violence in sport and recognise safeguarding risks specific to CS&MA, including unsafe weight-management practices and the signs of brain injuries and concussions.

• Safeguarding principles and responsibilities: Understand key safeguarding principles, including the concept of duty of care, and the responsibilities of sport professionals and organisations in protecting participants.

• Reporting and response mechanisms: Understand how safeguarding concerns can be reported and addressed through appropriate procedures within the organisations.

• Promoting a prevention-oriented sport culture: Support the development of training environments that prioritise participants’ wellbeing, injury prevention and respectful relationships within organisations and teams.

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.