Under‑18 Coaches
Introduction
Young fencers can gain valuable experience by taking part in coaching and other leadership activities within their club. Scottish Fencing encourages clubs to provide opportunities for junior members to develop skills not only in coaching, but also in refereeing, armoury, and DT (Directoire Technique).
Disclosure Checks for Under‑18 Coaches
Coaches Aged 16–17
Anyone under the age of 18 who is coaching children or young people must have a completed Disclosure Check before they begin the role.
Disclosure checks can be completed for individuals aged 16 and above.
The same PVG application process used for adult coaches applies to under‑18 applicants.
Under‑18 coaches may then continue to work towards any additional coaching qualifications required for their role.
Coaches Under the Age of 16
For coaches aged under 16, a self‑declaration form may be completed instead of a Disclosure Check. Contact safeguarding@scottish-fencing.com if your club needs one.
Position of Trust
Legal Responsibilities
All coaches—regardless of age—are considered by law to be in a Position of Trust. This carries important legal and safeguarding responsibilities.
For this reason, Scottish Fencing strongly recommends that coaches under 18 do not lead or coach classes involving their peers or fencers of a similar age.
Why This Matters
A young person aged under 18 may legally consent to a relationship with another person aged 16 or 17. However, if one person is a pupil and the other a coach this relationship is considered unlawful as the coach is in a Position of Trust.
Consent is not recognised in these circumstances because of the power imbalance and the responsibility placed upon a coach.
The law recognises that individuals in Positions of Trust hold significant influence, and therefore protects young people aged 16 and 17 from potential exploitation—even when they are otherwise at the age of consent.
This applies regardless of sexual orientation.
Recommended Practice
To reduce risks and ensure safeguarding best practice, Scottish Fencing recommends that under‑18 coaches:
Coach younger fencers rather than their peers
Avoid coaching environments where they may have authority over individuals of the same age or similar age
Receive appropriate supervision and support from qualified adult coaches
This approach enables young people to gain coaching experience safely while protecting both the young coach and the participants they work with.
