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SPORTIFY FOOTBALL CLUB believes in the health, safety, and wellness of all club participants and in particular the protection of our children, and that everyone involved in soccer has the right to participate in safe and inclusive environments free of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and to enjoy the sport at whatever level or capacity they participate in.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the policy is to provide SPORTIFY FOOTBALL CLUB staff and volunteers direction on the Rule of Two to ensure adult interactions with athletes, coaches and referees protect the health, safety and wellness of all participants.

STANDARDS

  • All interactions and communications between all participants must be open, observable, and justifiable.
  • Interaction, physically or virtually, must include more than one adult present, noting there may be exceptions in emergency situations.
  • In-person interactions between an adult with an individual minor must take place within earshot and in view of other individuals (team officials, players, parents, match officials and/or association officials).
  • E-mail communication must be communicated directly to the parent/guardian of the individual minor with another adult, copied on the communication. If the communication is directly to the individual minor, then the parent/guardian as well as another adult must be copied on the communication.
  • Phone calls and text messaging will not be the chosen form of communication between an adult and an individual minor.
  • Virtual Settings, for example using a virtual meeting platform, at a minimum must include one other adult in attendance and preferably the individual minors’ parents in attendance as well.

The following guidelines are strongly recommended:

Gender Consideration

Consider the gender identity of the participant(s) when selecting the coaches and volunteers who are present. For teams that only have coaches who do not share the same gender identity of some or all the athletes (i.e., for girls’ and women’s teams with male coaches), ask a parent/guardian or other volunteer of the gender identity of the athletes to serve as a regular volunteer or ‘bench parent/support’ with the team.

  • For teams consisting of athletes of just one gender identity, a Person in Authority of the same gender identity should be available to participate or attend every interaction.
  • For teams consisting of athletes of more than one gender identity (e.g., co-ed teams), a Person in Authority of each gender identity should be available to participate or attend every interaction.

Travel

  • A Person in Authority may not be alone in a car with an athlete unless the Person in Authority is the athlete’s parent/ guardian.
  • A Person in Authority may not share a room or be alone in a hotel room with an athlete unless the Person in Authority is the athlete’s parent or guardian.
  • Room or bed checks during overnight stays must be done by two Persons in Authority.

Locker Room / Changing Area / Meeting Room

  • Interactions between a Person in Authority and an individual athlete should not occur in any room where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy such as the locker room, meeting room, washroom, or changing area. A second Person in Authority should be present for all necessary interactions in any such room.
  • The locker room or changing area should be supervised by two Persons in Authority of the same gender identity as the players whenever possible.
  • If a second Person in Authority is not available, the Person in Authority supervising the locker room or changing area should never be alone with an individual athlete.
  • If Persons in Authority are not present in the locker room or changing area, or if they are not permitted to be present, they should still be available outside the locker room or changing area and be able to enter the room or area if required; however, this would not be deemed to be a best practice.

Training / Competition Environment (including before, during, and after practices and games):

  • A Person in Authority should never be alone with an athlete prior to or following a game or practice, unless the Person in Authority is the athlete’s parent or guardian.
    • If the athlete is the first athlete to arrive, the athlete’s parent/guardian should remain until another athlete or Person in Authority arrives. If an athlete drives themselves, the athlete should wait for another athlete to arrive before going to the field.
    • If an athlete would potentially be alone with a Person in Authority following a game or practice, the Person in Authority should ask another Person in Authority (or a parent/guardian of another athlete or another athlete in a senior environment) to stay until all the athletes have been picked up. If an adult is not available, then another athlete should be present to avoid the Person in Authority being alone with a single athlete.
  • Persons in Authority giving instructions, demonstrating skills, or facilitating drills or lessons to an individual athlete should always be doing so within earshot and eyesight of another Person in Authority.

DEFINITION

Minor: “British Columbia, Person under 19 years” – Government of Canada Website

BC SOCCER ALIGNMENT

All SPORTIFY FOOTBALL CLUB policies must align with BC Soccer’s Bylaws, Rules & Regulations, and applicable Policies and procedures.