Skip to content
e‑ISSN 2148-905X Open Access · CC BY 4.0
Vol. 13 · Issue 3 · 2026 Sep 15, 2026 Research Article

Evaluation of Child Protection Practices of Sports Federations in Türkiye Within the Framework of International Practices

ST
Seda Nur Turhal Corresponding Avrasya University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Trabzon, Türkiye sedaturhal0@gmail.com Turkey
MS
Mustafa Yasar Sahin Gazi University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye Turkey
OP
Ozgun Parasiz Gazi University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye Turkey
Pages339-364 PublishedSep 15, 2026 LicenseOpen Access
PDF
VOL 13 · ISS 3 · 2026 Sportive Perspective: Journal of Sports and Educational Sciences View issue

Abstract

This study examines child protection practices of national sports federations in Türkiye in comparison with the child safeguarding policies and institutional mechanisms identified in the countries included in the document analysis. A two-stage qualitative research design was adopted. In the first stage, official policy and institutional documents relating to child protection in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands and Türkiye were examined using document analysis. In the second phase, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six federation officials from the Turkish Football, Fencing, Curling, Skiing, Table Tennis, and Orienteering Federations who are responsible for or directly involved in practices related to the protection of children. The documents were analysed using document analysis, while the interview data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings indicate that the level of institutionalisation of child protection practices in sport in Türkiye remains limited compared with international examples. Awareness-raising initiatives within federations are primarily directed towards coaches, whereas measures targeting athletes and other stakeholders remain limited. Furthermore, key safeguarding mechanisms-including independent reporting systems, a safe sport helpline, child protection procedures, safer recruitment policies, and systematic monitoring processes have not yet been institutionalised at the national level. The interview findings highlight the need for a national child protection system supported by standardised policy documents, compulsory training programmes, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and effective monitoring mechanisms. The findings further suggest that establishing a centralised child protection in sport system, coordinated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and aligned with Türkiye's legal, institutional, and cultural context, could contribute to the institutionalisation of child protection practices, the implementation of common safeguarding standards across sports federations, and the development of safer sporting environments.

Keywords

#Child protection in sport #child safeguarding #safeguarding policy #sport governance #sports federations

References

  1. Alexander, K., Stafford, A., & Lewis, R. (2011). The experiences of children participating in organised sport in the UK. NSPCC.
  2. Aydın, H., & Gül, Ö. (2019). Spor alanındaki uluslararası çocuk koruma programlarının Türkiye perspektifinden değerlendirilmesi. Akademik Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 7(89), 558-581. https://doi.org/10.16992/ASOS.14809
  3. Bolter, N. D., Petranek, L. J., & Dorsch, T. E. (2018). Coach, parent, and administrator perspectives on required coaching education in organized youth sport. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 13(3), 362-372. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954117735718
  4. Brackenridge, C. H. (2001). Spoilsports: Understanding and preventing sexual exploitation in sport. Routledge.
  5. Brackenridge, C. H., Kay, T., & Rhind, D. (Eds.). (2012). Sport, children's rights and violence prevention: A source book on global issues and local programmes. Brunel University Press.
  6. Canada Soccer. (2020). Canada Soccer guide to safety. https://www.canadasoccer.com/
  7. Child Protection in Sport Unit. (2018). Standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport. https://sport.nspcc.org.uk/resource-library/tools/standards-for-safeguarding-and-protecting-children-in-sport/
  8. David, P. (2005). Human rights in youth sport. Routledge.
  9. Deutscher Fußball-Bund. (2023). Richtlinien im Umgang mit Kindern und Jugendlichen. https://assets.dfb.de/uploads/000/289/704/original_2023_Richtlinien_im_Umgang_mit_Kindern_und_Jugendlichen.pdf
  10. Dinçer, N. (2019). Spor ve kriz yönetimi. Ilkım, M. & Karataş, Ö. (Ed.), Sporda yeni akademik çalışmalar. (s. 111-130), Akademisyen kitabevi.
  11. Evans, B., Adler, A., MacDonald, D., & Côté, J. (2016). Bullying victimization and perpetration among adolescent sport teammates. Pediatric Exercise Science, 28(2), 296-303. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2015-0088
  12. Gilbert, P. (2009). Introducing compassion-focused therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15(3), 199-208. https://doi.org/10.1192/APT.BP.107.005264
  13. Güler, K., & Tatar, Ç. (2021). Yetişkinlerde bilişsel esneklik ile başa çıkma tarzları arasındaki ilişki. Atlas Journal, 7(43), 2112-2126. https://doi.org/10.31568/atlas.738
  14. Gündüz, N., Sunay, H., & Koz, M. (2007). Türkiye’de elit kadın sporcularda cinsel taciz olayları. The Sport Journal, 10(2), 1-11.
  15. Güven, Ö., & Öncü, E. (2006). Beden eğitimi ve spora katılımda aile faktörü. Journal of Social Policy Studies, 3(10), 81-90.
  16. Hornor, G. (2011). Emotional maltreatment. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 26(6), 436-442.
  17. International Olympic Committee (IOC). (2005). IOC consensus statement adopted on training the elite child athlete. https://olympics.com/ioc/news/consensus-statement-adopted-on-training-the-elite-child-athlete
  18. International Olympic Committee (IOC).. (2007). IOC adopts consensus statement on sexual harassment and abuse in sport. https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-adopts-consensus-statement-on-sexual-harassment-and-abuse-in-sport
  19. International Olympic Committee (IOC).. (2009). The IOC consensus statement on periodic health evaluation of elite athletes. https://olympics.com/ioc/news/the-ioc-consensus-statement-on-periodic-health-evaluation-of-elite-athletes
  20. International Olympic Committee (IOC).. (2017). Safeguarding athletes from harassment and abuse in sport: IOC toolkit for International Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs). https://cms.olympic.si/api/media/file/IOC%20Safeguarding%20Athletes%20from%20Harassment%20and%20Abuse%20in%20Sport.pdf
  21. Kelly, E. M. (2013). The Jerry Sandusky effect: Child abuse reporting laws should no longer be “don't ask, don't tell.” University of Pittsburgh Law Review, 75(2), 209-233. https://doi.org/10.5195/lawreview.2013.305
  22. Kerr, G. A., & Stirling, A. E. (2008). Child protection in sport: Implications of an athlete-centered philosophy. Quest, 60(2), 307-323. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2008.10483583
  23. Kerr, G., Stirling, A., & MacPherson, E. (2014). A critical examination of child protection initiatives in sport contexts. Social Sciences, 3(4), 742-757. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci3040742
  24. Küçük, V., Arman, A. R., & Bozkurt, S. (2016). Sporcu ailelerinin sporda çocuk koruma hakkında farkındalık düzeyleri. Marmara Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 1(2), 71-82.
  25. Lincoln, Y.S. & Guba, E.G. (1985) Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE, Thousand Oaks, 289-331.
  26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(85)90062-8
  27. Masters, J., & Veselinovic, M. (2018, February 20). Barry Bennell: 31 years in jail for soccer’s ‘devil incarnate.’ CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/19/sport/barry-bennell-sexual-abuse-sentenced-intl
  28. Mathews, B., Pacella, R., Dunne, M. P., Simunovic, M., & Marston, C. (2020). Improving measurement of child abuse and neglect: A systematic review and analysis of national prevalence studies. PLOS ONE, 15(1), e0227884, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227884
  29. Morris, S. (2019, June 12). Bob Higgins jailed for 24 years for abusing young footballers. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society
  30. Mountjoy, M., Brackenridge, C., Arrington, M., Blauwet, C., Carska-Sheppard, A., Fasting, K., Kirby, S., Leahy, T., Marks, S., Martin, K., Starr, K., Tiivas, A., & Budgett, R. (2016). International Olympic Committee consensus statement: Harassment and abuse (non-accidental violence) in sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(17), 1019-1029. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096121
  31. Mountjoy, M., Rhind, D. J. A., Tiivas, A., & Leglise, M. (2015). Safeguarding the child athlete in sport: A review, a framework and recommendations for the IOC youth athlete development model. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(13), 883-886. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094619
  32. Noble, J., & Vermillion, M. (2014). Youth sport administrators' perceptions and knowledge of organizational policies on child maltreatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 38, 52-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.01.011
  33. Otyakmaz, M. B. (2018). Futbolda çocuk koruma uygulamalarına yönelik nitel bir araştırma. Yüksek lisans tezi. İstanbul Üniversitesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Eğitim Bilimleri Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul.
  34. Parasız, Ö. (2019). Olimpik hareket ve sporda çocuk koruma: Olimpizmin temel ilkeleri çerçevesinde bir değerlendirme. In K. Georgiadis (Ed.), Olympic studies: 26th International Seminar on Olympic Studies for Postgraduate Students (ss. 214-222). International Olympic Academy.
  35. Parasız, Ö., Şahin, M. Y., & Çelik, A. (2015). Sporda çocuk koruma programı uygulamaları: İngiltere örneği. International Journal of Science Culture and Sport, 3, 641-653. https://doi.org/10.14486/IJSCS329
  36. Parent, S., & Demers, G. (2011). Sexual abuse in sport: A model to prevent and protect athletes. Child Abuse Review, 20(2), 120-133. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.1135
  37. Rhind, D. J. A., & Owusu-Sekyere, F. (2017). International safeguards for children in sport: Developing and embedding a safeguarding culture. Routledge.
  38. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. (2017). Final report. https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/final-report
  39. Rulofs, B. (2015). Child protection in German sport. In M. Lang & M. Hartill (Eds.), Safeguarding, child protection and abuse in sport: International perspectives in research, policy and practice (pp. 49-57). Routledge.
  40. Schipper-van Veldhoven, N., Vertommen, T., & Vloet, L. (2015). (Sexual) intimidation in sports: The Netherlands. In M. Lang & M. Hartill (Eds.), Safeguarding, child protection and abuse in sport: International perspectives in research, policy and practice (pp. 40-48). Routledge.
  41. Shannon, C. S. (2013). Bullying in recreation and sport settings: Exploring risk factors, prevention efforts, and intervention strategies. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 31(1), 15-33.
  42. Smith, L. R., and Pegoraro, A. (2020). Media framing of Larry Nassar and the USA gymnastics child sex abuse scandal. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 29(4), 373-392.
  43. Stoltenborgh, M., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Alink, L. R. A. (2013). Cultural-geographical differences in the occurrence of child physical abuse? A meta-analysis of global prevalence. International Journal of Psychology, 48(2), 81-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2012.697165
  44. Taylor, T. (2018). Off balance. Sports Illustrated, 128(3), 64-67.
  45. The Football Association. (1997). Child protection policy. https://www.thefa.com/
  46. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gençlik ve Spor Bakanlığı. (2022). Antrenör eğitimi yönetmeliği. Resmî Gazete. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/
  47. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu. (2023). Futbolda sporcu esenliği ve çocuk koruma talimatı. https://www.tff.org/
  48. Turner, M., & McCrory, P. (2004). Child protection in sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 38(2), 106-107. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2004.012096
  49. U.S. Center for SafeSport. (2022). Minor athlete abuse prevention policies. https://maapp.uscenterforsafesport.org/resource/2022-minor-athlete-abuse-prevention-policies
  50. U.S. Center for SafeSport. (2023, June 5). SafeSport code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement. https://uscenterforsafesport.org/response-and-resolution/safesport-code/
  51. UNICEF. (2010). Protecting children from violence in sport: A review with a focus on industrialized countries. UNICEF. http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/violence_in_sport.pdf
  52. United Nations. (1989). Convention on the rights of the child. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child
  53. USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Policy (2019, 10 Oct.). USA Gymnastics releases 2019 USA gymnastics safe sport policy. https://usagym.org/usa-gymnastics-releases-2019-usa-gymnastics-safe-sport-policy/
  54. Vertommen, T., Schipper-van Veldhoven, N., Wouters, K., Kampen, J. K., Brackenridge, C. H., Rhind, D. J. A., Neels, K., & Van Den Eede, F. (2016). Interpersonal violence against children in sport in the Netherlands and Belgium. Child Abuse & Neglect, 51, 223-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.10.006
  55. Volleyball Canada. (2020). Abuse policy. https://volleyball.ca/
  56. WHO. (1999). Child protection in sport policy. Sport and Child & Youth Development Thematic Working Group: Definition of child abuse.
  57. Yetim, A. (2000). Sporun sosyal görünümü. Gazi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 5(1), 63-72.
  58. Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2016). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık.

License

CCBY 4.0
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

This work is openly licensed — share and adapt freely with attribution to the authors and the journal. View license terms ↗

Copyright (c) 2026 Sportif Bakış: Spor ve Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi

§ 06 — Related

Similar articles in this journal

Related peer-reviewed studies published in this journal.
View all issues