Coach perceptions of child safeguarding policy in New Zealand's youth sport sector

The current study surveyed 237 coaches in New Zealand on their perceptions of child safeguarding (CSG) discourse, resources, and policy in sport; and the changes in pedagogy they deemed necessary in response. Data indicates that, despite a reasonable level of awareness and uptake of CSG policy in the sector, concurrent trends require attention. Specifically, this relates to the potential adoption of defensive pedagogies as a result of unproblematic misinterpretations of CSG policy. We conclude with the suggestion that "critical" coach development learning contexts and experiences are needed to encourage coaches to discuss the application of CSG procedures in sport specific settings with experts; whilst also considering appropriate pedagogies dependant on athlete age, gender, and competitive levels. Importantly, actors in these spaces must consider whether (mis)interpretations of CSG are leading to the uptake of defensive pedagogies that may be unhelpful and detrimental to the development of children through sport.