Coach's Guide to Gymnastics SA Coach Education and Safeguarding All Ages 2026

From the GSA Safe Sport (Safeguarding) briefing (November 2025):

• Minimum requirements to register as a coach with GSA: the required safeguarding training (Open University or FIG) and a valid police clearance certificate, in addition to the relevant coaching qualification.
• GSA suggests applying for the criminal record check through PostNet or a similar service.
• Under-18 coaches: although a criminal record check can be done from age 12 in South Africa, GSA only applies it to coaches 18 and older. Coaches under 18 must always coach under the direct supervision of an adult.
• Coaches in regular contact (more than once a month) with children or vulnerable people should also have Child Protection Register and Sexual Offences Register checks, and clubs keep these records.

GSA requires coaches to be vetted under the Children's Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act (GSA Safe Sport briefing, November 2025).

National Child Protection Register (Part B) check:

• Use the Department of Social Development forms on the GSA website: Form 29 for an employer applying for all its staff, or Form 30 for an individual applying for themselves.
• Submit to your provincial Department of Social Development with a certified copy of your ID.
• Results take about 21 working days. GSA suggests using a professional vetting company to speed this up.
• Foreign nationals can't get a South African Child Protection Register check, and must instead get a criminal record check from every country they have lived in for more than 6 months.

National Register for Sex Offenders check:

• Apply in person at your local Department of Justice office using form J738, with a copy of your SAPS AFIS (Afiswitch) check or SAPS 69 report and an originally certified copy of your ID.
• Applying through an appropriately registered vetting organisation is also recommended.

From the GSA Safe Sport (Safeguarding) briefing (November 2025), affiliated clubs must:

• Vet every coach and other person (staff or volunteer) in regular contact, defined as more than once a month, with children, young people, people with mental or physical disabilities and other vulnerable adults.
• Require prospective coaches and full-time staff to submit a clear criminal record check (SAPS AFIS/Afiswitch check or SAPS clearance).
• Because the Child Protection Register check takes time, obtain an affidavit (signed before a commissioner of oaths or police) that the person has never been convicted of a sexual offence against a child or vulnerable adult, and that their name is not in Part B of the National Child Protection Register as unsuitable to work with children. GSA provides a template.
• Get two references for each employee, on the official GSA Employee Referee Form.
• Appoint a registered, trained Safe Sport Officer/Coordinator, have their own safeguarding policy, and make sure everyone knows how to raise concerns.

From the GSA Safe Sport (Safeguarding) briefing (updated 26 November 2025):

• A signed copy of the club's own Safe Sport (Safeguarding) policy (required for affiliation; GSA provides a model policy).
• Records of the safeguarding certificates, police clearance certificates and first aid certificates of every coach, administrator and volunteer in regular contact with young people, people with disabilities and other vulnerable adults.
• Once the club's registration for the year is confirmed, GSA creates a Google Drive folder for the club. The club creates a subfolder for each coach and staff member and uploads all their documents and certificates. Provinces, districts and GSA can access these when checking eligibility for courses and competitions.
• Coaching qualification certificates appear on each person's profile on the GSA Management System once courses are completed.

Responsibility for vetting rests with the individual, but clubs must support staff through it and monitor and maintain their vetting. The briefing warns that clubs are legally vulnerable until fully compliant, and that breaching GSA policies can lead to punitive measures.

Every GSA-affiliated club must appoint a competent Safe Sport Officer/Coordinator (GSA Safe Sport briefing, November 2025). This person:

• must be registered with GSA and have completed the prescribed basic Safe Sport (Safeguarding) training (GSA's Course 3, Effective Safeguarding, is the course for safeguarding officers);
• is responsible for the club providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment, particularly for children and vulnerable people;
• is the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns;
• promotes and monitors compliance with Safe Sport policies and procedures.

The club must also adopt the GSA Safe Sport policy and procedures, have its own safeguarding policy (a condition of affiliation), and communicate them to staff, gymnasts, parents, carers and volunteers. The briefing notes that the Children's Act (Act 38 of 2005) makes the duty of care paramount when dealing with children and vulnerable people.

Gymnastics SA's SafeSport page gives two routes:

• Childline: 0800 055 555.
• Report to Gymnastics SA Safeguarding, using the GSA safeguarding report form available on the GSA website.

Within your club, the Safe Sport Officer/Coordinator is the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns (GSA Safe Sport briefing, November 2025). Clubs must make sure staff, gymnasts, parents, carers and volunteers know how to raise concerns within the club or with GSA. GSA also publishes template forms for recording a safeguarding incident.