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

Summary/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.

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