Safe Sport
What is Safe Sport?
Safe Sport refers to an environment that prioritizes the physical and psychological well-being of all participants. It involves a committment to providing optimal experiences, while actively preventing and addressing all forms of maltreatment, including abuse, harrassment, neglect, and discrimination. Advancing safe sport is a shared responsibility that requires awareness, education and clear actions for reporting. This page provides resources and guidance to help advance safe sport in Softball Manitoba.
The Protecting Youth in Sports Act
The Protecting Youth in Sports Act enhances protection measures for young athletes in Manitoba’s sport system. All Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), including Softball Manitoba, must adhere to the following requirements:
- Adopt the policies outlined in the Safe Sport Policy Manual.
- Make safe sport information available to parents and young athletes.
- Ensure coaches complete required screening and training.
- Ensure all participants have access to report allegations of maltreatment to an Independent Third Party (ITP).
- Refer any allegations of maltreatment to the ITP if our organization receives such complaints.
- Enforce any disciplinary action determined by the ITP.
Reporting a Maltreatment Complaint
ITP Sport is responsible for overseeing all allegations of maltreatment. If you would like to submit a maltreatment complaint, please submit your complaint to ITP Sport here:
Reporting a maltreatment complaint may seem confusing and overwhelming. The following resources can help you navigate the process:
- How to File a Maltreatment Complaint - Interactive Video
- Maltreatment Complaint Process Flowchart
- Filing a Maltreatment Complaint - Complainant’s & Respondent's Guide
If a maltreatment complaint is submitted to a coach, official, volunteer, or staff member, the complaint must be referred to the ITP.
Reporting Non-maltreatment Complaints
All non-maltreatment complaints go to your Local Sport Organization (if complaint occured during regular season) or Softball Manitoba (if complaint is from a Provincial Program). Please see chart for more detail.
Safe Sport Resources:
- Safe Sport Policy Manual
- Policies outlining behaviour expectations for all sport stakeholders, procedures for handling complaints, appeal procedures, and coach education and screening requirements.
- Coach Screening Policy
- All Softball Manitoba coaches (any individual who is authorized or recognized by an organization to provide instruction and direction to participants in a sport) must complete the necessary coach screening requirements including.
- Safe Sport Tips for Athletes
- Age appropriate tips for athletes under 8, ages 9-12, and 13+, describing expected behaviour, measures for their protection, and steps to take if they experience harm, with the 13+ group also having access to a 20-minute safe sport education online module.
- Safe Sport Handbook for Parents and Guardians
- Information detailing behaviour expectations, different forms of maltreatment, possible indicators that a child experienced maltreatment, and steps to take if a child experienced maltreatment.
- Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders
- This course must be completed within sixty (60) days of being assigned a coaching position. Coaches maintain their Respect in Sport certification status by completing the course every five (5) years.
OTHER RESOURCES
Sport Manitoba Safe Sport Webpage
Sport Manitoba Sport Support Line
SAFE SPORT LINE: 1-833-656-SAFE (7233)
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, harassment, bullying or hazing in sport, and you need someone to talk to, call the safe sport line: 1-833-656-SAFE (7233) or help@safesportline.ca
In Manitoba, it is everyone’s legal obligation to report suspected child abuse. If, in your honest judgment, you believe that a child may not be safe, you are legally required to report it. The experts at the Safe Sport Line can help you make that report.
