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Is It Safeguarding?

Updated: 01/06/2026

British Fencing is committed to creating environments free from harassment and abuse.  To help us do this it is necessary to focus resources on concerns that are genuine safeguarding concerns.

Here is a non exhaustive list of items which normally would not on their own fall under a safeguarding concern. Whilst we understand that when a matter involves a child and where decisions have a negative impact on them, some people will default to safeguarding as the primary route to raise concerns.

  1. GBR Selection – the majority of selections are based on athletes making a published performance standard. Discretionary selection does happen in restricted circumstances.  There are appeal procedures available.
  2. Seeding, ranking and draws – these are done by a formula and rules (see BF Ranking policies, FIE rules). Complaints can be made where there is evidence that the rules were not followed. Where this could be a safeguarding concern is where coaches and parents are placing repeated and significant psychological pressure on children linked to achieving a ranking or seeding.
  3. Referee decisions – there are rules around how and when these can be disputed (these cannot be disputed after the event)
  4. Field of play and access to athletes whilst they are competing – these are often in line with the FIE rules of the sport. Event welfare officers should be contacted in advance if a fencer has additional medical and care needs (eg based on disability).
  5. Winning or fencing within the rules of fencing – for example using the passivity rules, fencing with absence of blade, repeated beating on the blade. Whilst people might be frustrated by different tactics and styles these are allowed.
  6. Crying – people, especially young people do get upset at times when fencing, especially when they lose in important competitions. On its own, someone crying is not something we expect to be raised as a safeguarding concern. There are factors around crying that may make it a concern eg if they are being shouted at, threatened, ostracised by another person, they are being physically comforted by a person who is not connected to them, they have disappeared into toilets/run from the venue, there is a potential personal safety threat, the crying  is prolonged/uncontrolled.
  7. Personal Grievances – please see Disciplinary and Grievance Note
  8. Fencing in accordance with BF Policies – Please note that if you are in a competition and you believe there is a safeguarding concern at the event you are expected to raise it at the time with the event welfare officer. It is resource intensive for BF to investigate centrally after the event is over and delay action being taken.
  9. Being removed from a WhatsApp/Social Media group – this one off act in itself is not a safeguarding concern. If you have been removed from a group run by a club or organisation please contact the group owner to confirm the reasons first.  If you subsequently believe the removal is linked to a safeguarding concern, please contact the club or organisation welfare officer in the first instance. It this act relates to social groups involving fencers and is part of a pattern or concern around social exclusion please contact your club welfare officer for support.

Last updated 1 Jun 2026