Safe coaching
Safeguarding responsibilities for coaches working across Irish padel.
Safeguarding helps coaches create safe, respectful, inclusive, and age-appropriate padel environments, especially where sessions involve children, young people, or vulnerable people.
Safe practice, welfare, and reporting routes.
Safeguarding is part of everyday coaching practice. Coaches need clear expectations around supervision, communication, boundaries, and what to do if a concern arises.
Who it is for
Coaches, assistants, clubs, programme organisers, and adults involved in junior or vulnerable-player activity.
What it supports
A shared expectation around boundaries, supervision, communication, reporting, and respectful behaviour.
Where to check
PFI can confirm the current safeguarding expectations, training route, reporting route, and related child welfare guidance.
What safeguarding means for coaches
Children First and Sport Ireland safeguarding guidance both emphasise safe environments, clear responsibilities, appropriate reporting, and welfare-focused practice for children and young people. Coaches should also follow current PFI safeguarding guidance as it is updated.
Coach safeguarding responsibilities
- Safeguarding training expectations
- Garda vetting links and role suitability
- Communication and supervision guidance
- Reporting route for concerns
- Links to PFI safeguarding guidance
Safeguarding belongs in everyday coaching
A safeguarding culture is built through ordinary coaching decisions: how sessions are supervised, how coaches communicate, and how concerns are reported.
Safe session conduct
Plan supervision, boundaries, group management, photography, travel, and communication in ways that protect children and young people.
Shared expectations
Assistants, clubs, organisers, parents, and coaches should understand the same behaviour and reporting expectations.
When concerns arise
Use the approved reporting route where a safeguarding concern, disclosure, or incident arises.
Useful links and next steps
Use these links to check the source route, move to the next relevant coaching page, or contact Padel Federation Ireland.