Child Protection
Principles
Children do not have accounts and do not message adults in the service. All messages are between the coach, the club and the parents. Photos of children are not used in profiles. In South Africa we follow the Children's Act 38 of 2005: the best interests of the child are of paramount importance.
Restrictions for adults
Clubs see only anonymous profiles. Parents' contacts — only after consent. Advertising to children is prohibited.
Report a concern
If you notice an adult behaving unsafely towards a child, write to safeguarding@talent-id.org or use the «Report» button in the service. We respond within 24 hours and restrict access during the review. If a child is in immediate danger, call the South African Police Service on 10111 (or 112 from a mobile phone). Concerns about a child's welfare can be reported to a designated child protection organisation, the provincial Department of Social Development or the police (Children's Act, section 110), and children and adults can call Childline on 116 (toll-free). Concerns in football can also be raised with the safeguarding officer of SAFA or your local football association.
Screening of coaches
In South Africa, the club is responsible for screening coaches, staff and volunteers who work with children — a check against the National Register for Sex Offenders and Part B of the National Child Protection Register, a police clearance certificate, identity verification and references — and for applying SAFA and FIFA Guardians safeguarding standards. A person listed in either register may not work with children. Talent ID does not carry out checks itself, but lets the club record that a check has been done (with its date). Certificates are not uploaded to the service.
Designated person
The Talent ID child protection officer will be appointed before launch; contact details will be published on this page.