Basketball England points clubs to safer recruitment guidance aligned with Child Protection in Sport Unit principles: role descriptions, references, identity checks and appropriate induction, including safeguarding training for people working with children. Informal “can you just help tonight?” culture creates risk and confusion.
Digital tools cannot replace DBS or safeguarding courses. They can stop the club from treating every adult in the WhatsApp as staff.
Sources: Basketball England safer recruitment guidance (CPSU aligned); Become a Volunteer.
How Run5 helps: invites and roster roles make it clearer who is on the team and who has staff only tools, so volunteering is structured rather than accidental.