Including under-18 players in a sports league brings additional responsibility, but it does not automatically mean a league needs to become highly formal or complicated.
Most leagues that involve juniors evolve their approach over time, adding structure where it is needed and keeping things simple where it is not.
This article explains what managing under-18 players usually involves in practice, and how leagues typically handle it.
Leagues affiliated to a governing body
This article focuses on standalone and independently run leagues.
If your league is affiliated to a sport’s governing body, or operates under an official association, you should also check their safeguarding and youth participation rules.
Governing bodies often have specific requirements around safeguarding, DBS checks, codes of conduct, or junior participation that affiliated leagues are expected to follow.
Many independent leagues are not affiliated and set their own proportionate approach. Both models are common, but the expectations can be different.
When under-18 players are involved
Under-18 players appear in leagues in different ways.
Some leagues are specifically set up for juniors. Others are mainly adult leagues that allow younger players in certain circumstances, such as family teams or mixed-age formats.
The level of responsibility depends on how under-18s are involved, how often they participate, and whether they play alongside adults.
Safeguarding expectations are higher
Leagues that include under-18s are expected to take safeguarding more seriously than adult-only leagues.
Across LeagueRepublic leagues, references to safeguarding and codes of conduct appear far more often in leagues that include terms like junior, youth, or under-18, suggesting that organisers introduce clearer guidance when younger players are involved.
This does not mean every league needs complex policies or formal checks, but it does mean expectations should be clear and documented.
When DBS checks and formal safeguarding are required (UK context)
In the UK, a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a background check used to assess whether someone is suitable to work with children or vulnerable people. Other countries use similar checks under different names.
In the UK, formal safeguarding requirements, such as DBS checks, depend on how under-18 players are involved in the league, not simply on the fact that under-18s are present.
DBS checks are generally required when adults in the league are:
Coaching, training, or supervising under-18s
Responsible for under-18s on a regular or organised basis
Acting in a role of authority over junior players
This is most common in leagues that are specifically set up for juniors, or where organisers or volunteers have direct responsibility for under-18 participants.
DBS checks are not usually required where:
Under-18s only play as part of a team with adult supervision
Parents or guardians remain responsible for their own children
The league does not provide coaching, training, or direct supervision
Organisers are not in regular, unsupervised contact with juniors
In mixed-age or community leagues, under-18 participation often falls into this second category, especially where juniors play alongside family members or within adult teams.
This is why many small leagues involving under-18s focus on clear behaviour rules and responsibility boundaries, rather than formal DBS-based safeguarding structures.
Leagues should always check current guidance if they are unsure, and affiliated leagues should follow their governing body’s requirements, but many grassroots leagues operate responsibly without needing formal DBS checks or safeguarding officers.
Common safeguards leagues introduce
Leagues with under-18 players often introduce some or all of the following:
Clear behaviour expectations for players and adults
Guidance on appropriate conduct during matches
Rules about supervision and responsibility
A named organiser or contact for concerns
These measures are usually simple and proportionate to the league.
Parental responsibility and consent
In many leagues, parents or guardians remain responsible for under-18 players, especially in mixed-age or community leagues.
Some leagues ask for parental consent or confirmation that parents understand how the league operates.
Others rely on team captains to manage this at a team level.
What matters most is clarity about who is responsible, rather than the specific format used.
Mixed-age leagues need extra care
Leagues where under-18s play alongside adults often introduce additional guidance.
This may include behaviour rules, restrictions on changing areas, or limits on contact between adults and juniors outside matches.
These rules are usually introduced to protect everyone involved, not because problems have occurred.
How leagues usually evolve
Very few leagues start with a complete under-18 policy.
Most introduce safeguards gradually, in response to participation, feedback, or experience.
Across LeagueRepublic leagues, the presence of safeguarding documents strongly correlates with junior participation, suggesting that leagues add structure as responsibility increases.
The key takeaway
Managing under-18 players is about being clear, proportionate, and responsible.
Most leagues start simple, introduce guidance where needed, and build structure over time.
If expectations are clear, responsibilities are understood, and concerns can be raised safely, most leagues are meeting their responsibilities in practice.