The Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport calls for all sporting environments to be free from physical, sexual and psychological abuse. Coaches have a responsibility to provide participants with a safe environment.

Like with parents, a coach’s behavior is of paramount importance in the development of your child. All parents have the right to talk to the coach or the coach's employer if they have questions or concerns about interactions with their child.

The club should have a safe recruitment process for hiring staff. Ask about their hiring process, what level of training their coaches have, and whether they have received Safeguarding training to work with children.

For more information visit safesport.coach.ca

A secure sport environment is one where all coaches and sport organization leaders are screened to meet requirements to be involved in sport. Comprehensive background screening should be conducted at regular intervals to ensure that all coaches, volunteers and sport organization leaders meet important requirements to be involved in sport.

Screening includes comprehensive job postings, visible policies and processes, criminal record checks, interviews, and reference checks.

The Safe Sport Initiative and the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) has mandated an enforced Code of Conduct for all Canadian Sporting Organizations.

It should be available for you to read, ideally on their website.

For more information, refer to the SIRC’s safe sport webpage.

The Rule of Two serves to protect minor athletes in potentially vulnerable situations, as well as the quality coaches working in our communities, by ensuring that more than one adult is present.

The goal of the Rule of Two is for organizations to always have two screened and National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) trained or certified coaches with an athlete, especially a minor athlete, when in a potentially vulnerable situation. Vulnerable situations can include closed doors meetings, travel, and remote training environments.

SIRC’s - Creating a Safer Sport Environment with the Rule of Two

In conjunction with the ‘Rule of Two’, sporting organizations are required to have solidified travel guidelines prioritizing the physical and emotional safety of all athletes.

Read here for more information.

Individuals working or volunteering in sport are expected to uphold high standards and model behavior that upholds public confidence and enhances healthy relationships with children and families.

It can be difficult to respond to a situation where you notice a coach and athlete relationship that appears inappropriate. Reporting inappropriate behavior creates accountability so proper action can be taken and expectations can be re-established.

Coaches who have concerns should speak with the coach’s supervisor.

Examples of Appropriate Behavior:

→ Interactions with athletes are goal-oriented

→ Interactions with athletes are outcome focused

→ Supportive language, tone and attitude towards others

→ Model professional physical and emotional boundaries (know the line)

→ Responsive to athlete’s needs and not engaging with the athlete to meet the adult’s needs

→ Engaging with athlete in a manner that would be seen by a reasonable observer as maintaining reasonable boundaries

→ Keeping practices open to observation by parents (transparent interactions)

→ Communication with children (including electronic) is transparent and accountable and tied to job description and professional qualifications

Examples of Inappropriate Behavior:

→ Sexualized attention

→ Humiliating or intimidating children

→ Inappropriate touching of children (e.g., massaging, stroking, caressing, roughhousing, tickling)

→ Confiding or sharing overly personal information with a child (e.g., sharing financial or relationship problems) → Asking children to keep secrets

→ Treating child as an “adult” under guise of maturity

→ Creating an emotional dependency and isolating the athlete from other teammates/ staff/parents (e.g., pitting athlete against other teammates and/or against other athletic team staff)

→ Electronic communication with athletes that is personal and not directly tied to coaching duties

→ Communication that excessive, not tied to work duties or athlete goals

→ Pictures taken with personal devices or in change rooms

→ Giving athlete inappropriate gift

Read here for more information.

Every organization should have a named welfare officer and promote their contact details.

Well-run clubs should be prepared to listen and advise you what to do if you have any concerns. They should have information about local or national services that can also offer advice and support.

You can also call the Canada Sport Helpline at 1-888-837-7678 / 1-888-83SPORT. More information on other helpful organizations can be found at our external resources sections.

Take note of Canada’s Long-Term Development plan (LTD). Children, youth, and adults need to perform activities at the right time and way to develop in sport and activity.

Refer to Sport for Life for more information.

A concussion is a brain injury that cannot be seen on routine X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. It affects the way an athlete may think and remember things, and can cause a variety of symptoms.

Knowing the proper way to check and respond to such situations is critical to an athletes health.

Check Coach.ca’s guidelines for details.