Building Ever‐Safer Cultures in Football: Learner Experiences of the English Football Association's Safeguarding Children Training

ABSTRACT The England Football Association's (The FA) Safeguarding Strategy outlines steps to build an ever‐safer culture at every level of football. Critical to this is the safeguarding children training The FA provides to people working or volunteering in football. Safeguarding training is part of a safety management system that is influential in creating a safeguarding culture in sport. Hence, evaluation is needed to ascertain if the training is serving its purpose and contributing to building the ever‐safe culture in football. The aim of this study was to evaluate learners' perspectives who completed this safeguarding training and its impact on broader safeguarding culture. Data were collected through a survey ( n = 1573) and semistructured interviews ( n = 20) based on Kirkpatrick's Model of Training Evaluation. On average, learners were satisfied with online delivery where learners gained confidence and knowledge retention. However, additional factors beyond training contributed to learners' confidence and the application of safeguarding within their role (e.g., football and work experience), showing how safeguarding culture is a multifaceted collaboration where safeguarding training is an important component. Recommendations are provided to optimise and promote continued safeguarding learning and creating ever‐safer football.