Jennie Smith has been a Criminal Barrister since 2003, specialising in abuse cases (At the Bar, Jennie is known as Jennie Birch). Following 10 years at the Crown Prosecution Service as a RASSO (Rape and Sexual Offences) Specialist Prosecutor, Jennie established Safeguarding Today Ltd, a safeguarding training and advisory consultancy.
Jennie has more recently been working with Sporting National Governing Bodies to improve their safeguarding standards, leading the project to implement consistent training for the 72 EFL Clubs. Following the Sheldon Review, Jennie is now contracted by both Premier League and EFL Clubs at Senior Level in the role of Independent Advisor/Critical Friend. Jennie also sits as a Safeguarding Panel Member at Sport Resolutions, and Independent Sport Dispute Resolution service.
Working within professional sport gives Jennie an insight into the norms and cultures that have been created in the sporting environment, and the enormity of the task to implement a safeguarding culture the sector.
Jennie Smith speaks about her experiences in professional sport. For the last six years Jennie has been working closely with the Safeguarding Team at the English Football League, the Rugby Football League, other NGB's, and within Professional ESports. Her presentation includes:
This talk explores the application of a children’s rights-based approach (CRBA) to regulatory activities in sport. There is a clear need to investigate and develop methodologies that can assist sports governing bodies in putting children's rights into practice to embed and mainstream the rights in the sport industry in order to improve safeguarding. From this perspective, protection is considered to be a right and the CRBA aims to tackle safeguarding challenges through a better regulatory design and outputs in the industry.
Speaker: Dr Dikaia Chatziefstathiou
Understanding the landscape: Safeguarding in sport
Safeguarding in sport is important for fostering a secure and inclusive environment where athletes can thrive physically, mentally and emotionally. A robust safeguarding framework establishes trust, promotes fair play, and contributes to the overall positive development of athletes, fostering a culture where everyone can enjoy the benefits of sports in a safe and nurturing setting.
Exploring child-first coaching
In the sport safeguarding discipline, child-first coaching has become a pivotal paradigm shift. Recognising children as active participants with unique perspectives, desires, and vulnerabilities is foundational to creating a coaching environment that truly prioritises their well-being. By actively involving children in decision-making processes, understanding their individual needs, and valuing their voices, coaching becomes not only a means of skill development but a vehicle for empowerment and personal growth. This approach not only safeguards against potential harm but fosters a positive sporting experience, where children not only feel protected but also actively engaged and heard in their sporting journey.
The session
In 2023, Dr. Dikaia Chatziefstathiou and Dr Laura Gubby undertook a small-scale preliminary investigation to examine how a ‘traditional’ football club understands coaching, and the potential for the adoption of child-first coaching ideas. Participants included 20 children from 8-15 years old, and three coaches between 35-48 years old - all based in a South-East England football club.
In this session, Dr Chatziefstathiou will present their research project, and what their findings suggest about the potential of child-first coaching in sports. The session will unveil compelling insights into how traditional coaching experiences may impact players' acceptance of autonomous play and discuss the broader implications of child-first principles for coaching dynamics.
