Child Safeguarding & Welfare Policy
Every participant is under 15. Everything else follows from that.
1. Purpose & Scope
The IFA Cup 2026 is an under-15 international football tournament hosted in Kolkata by the Indian Football Association and delivered by Madhavan Sports Ventures. Because every player is a minor, the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in every decision the organisers, delegations and venue partners make.
This policy applies to all players, coaches, team officials, volunteers, contractors, medical staff, referees, venue personnel and any adult who comes into contact with participants during the tournament, including travel, accommodation, training and match days.
2. Our Commitments
- A written child protection and safeguarding policy, formally acknowledged by every visiting delegation before arrival.
- Card-based access control at all accommodation and competition venues.
- Supervised, single-campus residence — teams are not dispersed across the city.
- Qualified medical staff present at every training and match session, with hospital tie-ups in place.
- Full co-operation with local police and civic authorities throughout the event.
- A named safeguarding officer with a direct, confidential reporting line available to every participant.
3. Safe Recruitment & Supervision
All staff and volunteers working with participants are appointed through a vetting process appropriate to their role and level of contact with children. Adults are never left in a one-to-one, unobserved situation with a child. Supervision ratios are maintained at accommodation, in transit and at all venues.
Code of Conduct for Adults
Treat every child with respect and dignity, regardless of nationality, ability or background.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.
Avoid unobserved one-to-one contact; keep interactions visible and in open spaces.
Never use physical punishment, humiliation or degrading language.
Do not share private contact details or social media with participants.
Report any concern immediately to the designated safeguarding officer.
4. Accommodation & Access Control
Delegations are housed together on a single supervised campus. Access to residential floors is controlled by individual cards; entry and exit points are staffed and monitored. Visitors are not permitted in residential areas without prior authorisation and supervision. A curfew and nightly headcount are maintained by each delegation's team officials.
5. Medical, Emergency & Risk
Medical personnel are present at all training and match sessions. Each participant must arrive with a completed medical and consent form and details of any pre-existing conditions, allergies or medication. Local hospital tie-ups and an emergency transport plan are in place for every venue.
In any emergency, the child's safety comes first. Trained staff will provide immediate first aid, escalate to medical services and hospital partners as required, and notify the delegation's head of team and the child's parents or guardians without delay.
6. Reporting a Concern
Anyone — participant, official, volunteer or parent — who has a concern about the welfare of a child must report it immediately to the tournament's designated safeguarding officer. Concerns are treated seriously, confidentially and without delay. No one who raises a genuine concern in good faith will be penalised.
- Designated Safeguarding Officer: to be confirmed on the tournament contact sheet issued to each delegation.
- Direct reporting line: a dedicated phone and email channel, monitored throughout the event.
- Escalation: serious concerns are referred to local police and civic authorities in line with Indian law.
7. Data & Privacy
Personal and medical information collected for the tournament is used solely for participant welfare, eligibility and emergency response. It is stored securely, shared only with those who need it for those purposes, and retained no longer than necessary.
8. Governing Documents
This policy is read alongside the tournament's supporting documents, which each delegation receives and acknowledges before travel:
- Safeguarding policy (this document)
- Refund policy
- Risk assessment
- Medical & emergency protocol
- Code of conduct
By registering a team for the IFA Cup 2026, the head of delegation confirms that they have read, understood and will comply with this Child Safeguarding & Welfare Policy and its supporting documents.