Child protection and the centrality of the body in sports associations: deconstructing violence through pedagogy

Abstract

The Reform of Sport has not only introduced the Safeguarding Officer within sports clubs but has, above all, highlighted the critical nature of “violence and abuse” against minors in the sporting world. Bodies that, as recent research highlights, risk being overstretched, humiliated, at times violated, considered exclusively performance-oriented, and ultimately objectified by coaches and peers. This contribution intends to reflect on available research and data, the meanings and repercussions of such negative practices, and the vital role pedagogy plays in the socio-educational training of sports operators.