Children’s charity NSPCC has renamed its sports and safeguarding service amid an increase in reports of incidents in sporting settings.

Its Child Protection In Sport unit is to be called NSPCC Sport after the charity recorded a 10% increase in children’s sports related concerns between 2024/25 and 2025/26.

It is hoped the move will help expand the reach of the service among sports clubs.

During 2025/26 the charity received 683 contacts from adults, including parents and sports professionals, with safeguarding concerns in sports settings.

The most common concern mentioned was sexual abuse and exploitation, followed by emotional abuse and physical abuse.

Concerns focused on the conduct of sports professionals, parents and how clubs “lacked robust safeguarding procedures” said the charity.

One parent told the charity: “My 14-year-old daughter has told me about a dance teacher at her school who has been engaging in relationships with other pupils that I believe are inappropriate.

“Apparently, this teacher communicates with some of the girls over text and meets up with them outside of class.”

Another anonymous contact said: “I wanted to raise a concern about the director of a sports club. I’ve heard them say awful things about the children, some of which were openly discriminatory.

“The way they run the club is so chaotic that I don’t think they have any policies in place. I’m afraid of what they might do if they knew I’d spoken up so I’d like to remain anonymous.”

The NSPCC’s sports unit was launched 25 years ago and works in partnership with the Premier League, the Football Association, UK Sport and the Sport Councils of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“NSPCC Sport has been supporting organisations for 25 years, helping them to understand how to prioritise children and young peoples’ welfare, as well as guiding them on how to implement robust safeguarding procedures,” said the charity’s professional learning services director Christian McMullen.

“However, these new figures highlight that there is still work to be done within sports settings and NSPCC Sport hopes to reach even more organisations to help them create a safe and supportive environment for young people.

“No child should feel intimidated, scared or worried when taking part in sports, and any adult who has concerns should reach out to the NSPCC for support.”

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