Sport Manitoba believes in being proactive in ensuring sport in our province is safe and enjoyable so that all our participants remain Active for Life.
The Sport Manitoba Clinic offers prevention and treatment services including a sport medicine physician, chiropractic services, physical therapy, massage therapy, nutrition, and sport psychology. The Clinic also offers Functional Movement Screens, which are a valuable tool to help reduce the risk of sport related injuries. The screen identifies physical imbalances, limitations, and weaknesses, as well as establishes a functional baseline to mark progress.
We have a concussion program designed to inform the sports community about the key issues related to concussion, whether it is on the field, ice or court.
Community sport needs to address the issue of child safety, specifically as it pertains to harassment and abuse. Coaches and parents/guardians need to work together to help keep our kids safe. Parents play a critical role in protecting children. Understanding child sexual abuse and implementing strategies to prevent it, can help you build safe environments for your child and other children in the community. The following are suggestions to help protect children from abuse.
1. Respect in Sport Certified
Coaches help us keep kids safe through a simple and convenient online training course for coaches and sport leaders called Respect in Sport. It is designed as a tool to assist coaches in identifying and dealing with abuse, neglect, harassment, and bullying in sport. As a parent, ask if your coach has their Respect in Sport certificate. As a coach, encourage the adults around you to take this simple online course. Hockey Manitoba requires parents to take the the parent version of Respect in Sport.
2. Coach Trainng
Canada has a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) that offers a course called Make Ethical Decisions (MED). This course helps coaches identify the legal, ethical, and moral implications of difficult situations that present themselves in the world of team and individual sport. NCCP also has a Commit to Kids for Coaches online training that addresses the importance of understanding boundaries, sexual misconduct and reporting of inappropriate behaviour. As a parent, ask if your coach has taken MED or Commit to Kids. As a coach, encourage the adults around you to take these courses.
3. Screening Process
Parents and coaches should look to get involved with organizations or activities that have screening policies. Good screening processes can include volunteer interviews, reference checks, criminal record checks and child abuse registry checks. If your organization/activity doesn't have a screening process, Sport Manitoba can help. Contact our Paul Robson Resource Centre.
4. Rule of Two
The Rule of Two serves to protect minor athletes in potentially vulnerable situations by ensuring that more than one adult is present. Vulnerable situations can include closed doors meetings, travel, and training environments. As a parent, try to avoid situations that place your child alone with a coach or volunteer, particularly behind closed doors. As a coach, you need to ensure there is at least one other person, preferably another adult, with you and your athlete. Leave the door open or meet in public areas. Encourage organizations to create and implement policies and procedures that limit the instances where these situations are possible.
The same rule applies to online communication. Parents can ask to be copied on email or text message communication and coaches do not need to talk to their athletes in chat rooms or via social media direct messaging.
5. Trust Your Gut
Listen when your instinct softly whispers that something might not be right. Don't ignore it. In fact, turn the volume up and tune in. Ask questions, and most importantly, get help.
6. Safe Sport Line
As a coach or a parent, you might encounter a situation in sport with bullying or harassment that you are uncertain about how to address. Talk to someone who can help. For support, consultation, referral, or resources please call toll free 1-833-656-SAFE. For any suspected incidents of abuse, harassment, bullying and hazing call this number immediately. A trained Support Line staff person will be available to assist with questions or concerns.
Sport Manitoba has teamed up with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to share their Commit to Kids resources. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a national charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children. Material includes information on the coach-athlete relationship, guidelines for interactions between adults and athletes, as well as how to report inappropriate behaviour and child sexual abuse.