(OTTAWA – April 20, 2017) The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) have launched a Responsible Coaching campaign targeting parents and coaches of youth enrolled in organized sport with enhanced ways to strengthen safety and ethical values in sport. The campaign builds on the Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM), which was launched in 2016.
Currently, the RCM calls on sport organizations to adopt policies and processes in three key areas of their coaching practices:
• the Rule of Two;
• background screening; and
• respect and ethics training.
The social marketing campaign invites parents to consider 3 steps to Responsible Coaching and encourages them to play a more active role in their child’s sport activities by empowering them with tools to ask a coach if their organization has taken the RCM pledge and adopted the policies.
The CAC and CCES believe involving parents more directly in their child’s athletic career will make Canada’s sport system a safer, more secure, and rewarding experience for athletes, coaches, and the organizations who represent them.
Key facts:
- The RCM was launched by the Coaching Association of Canada in coordination with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Its goals are to strengthen policies and processes for the health, safety, and well-being of athletes and coaches – both on and off the field of play.
- The RCM is a multi-phase system-wide movement that has the potential to affect all organizations in Canada’s sport system. It encourages implementation of realistic change based on the individual state of readiness of participating organizations.
- To date, more than 50 national, provincial and territorial, club, and community level organizations have signed the pledge to adopt and adhere to the RCM policies and practices.
Quotes:
“Sport should be one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences for every child who participates in it. The 3 steps to Responsible Coaching aligns naturally with our belief that ensuring the safety and well-being of children and their coaches, and strengthening Canada’s sport system, is a shared responsibility. We encourage parents to get involved in making sport a safer place for their children and those who coach them.”
Lorraine Lafrenière, Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada
“Good sport can make a significant contribution to the development of youth and to Canadian society in general. We welcome the support of parents in the work to make sport safer and more fun for everyone involved.”
Paul Melia, President and CEO, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport
For more information on the Responsible Coaching Movement, to take the pledge, or to learn more about the different tools available to adhere to ethical coaching practices, please visit www.coach.ca/ResponsibleCoaching.
About the Responsible Coaching Movement
The Responsible Coaching Movement is a multi-phase system-wide movement, coordinated by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, which has the potential to affect all sport organizations and coaches. Resulting from extensive ongoing consultation with the Canadian Sport Community, the RCM encourages the commitment and implementation of supportive policies to ensure the safety and protection of athletes and coaches, both on and off the field of play. For more information, visit www.coach.ca/ResponsibleCoaching.
About the Coaching Association of Canada
The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, such as the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches. For more information, visit www.coach.ca or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is an independent, national, not-for profit organization with a responsibility to administer the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone. For more information, please visit www.cces.ca.
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For more information or media availability, please contact:
Michel Hachey
Manager, Communications
Coaching Association of Canada
mhachey@coach.ca
