This Child Protection Code of Conduct is a component of the Commit to Kids: Sport Edition– a supplementary resource of the Commit to Kids™ child sexual abuse prevention program endorsed by ELITE SOCCER ACADEMY and its governing bodies.
The objective of developing and implementing such a Code of Conduct is to help increase the safety of the children in the care of the academy and its staff and it is intended to set forth a set of guidelines for everyone interacting with children, assist individuals in identifying concerning behaviour, and clearly define the appropriate steps to take when potential risk to children is anticipated.
The safety, rights and well-being of children we serve are at the core of our daily programs. We nurture supportive relationships with children while balancing and encouraging appropriate boundaries.
ELITE SOCCER ACADEMY is committed to ensuring all children are protected and safe.
A Code of Conduct is an important part of creating safe environments for children, and the intent of this Code of Conduct is to guide our staff, volunteers and members overall in developing healthy relationships with the children involved in sport programs delivered by our organization and to model appropriate boundaries for children.
Treat all children with respect and dignity
Establish, respect, and maintain appropriate boundaries with all children and families involved in activities or programs
Sports are an emotionally-driven activity that where excitement and frustration may cross paths from time to time. Self-reflect on your own behaviour towards children, and pay close attention to the behaviour of your peers to ensure that behaviour is appropriate and respectful, and will be perceived as such by others.
Interactions and activities with children should always be in spirit of the sport and be known to/approved by the parents.
Our duties should always remain to develop the child’s skills in the sport program
Always consider the child’s reaction to any activities, conversations, behaviour or other interactions.
If at any time you are in doubt about the appropriateness of your own behaviour or the behaviour of others, you should self-reflect and/or discuss it with a qualified staff member.
Examples of unacceptable behaviour toward a child: • embarrassing • shaming • blaming • humiliating • putting them down
In the event a child requires help such as dealing with injury, staff, volunteers and parents must not engage in any sort of physical contact with a child that may make the child or a reasonable observer feel uncomfortable, or that may be seen by a reasonable observer to be violating reasonable boundaries. Instead, wait for the parent(s) of the child and/or medical assistance for further direction.
Coaches, staff and parents shall NOT engage in any communication with a child within or outside of duties with the child, that may make the child uncomfortable or that may be seen by a reasonable observer to be violating reasonable boundaries.
Where risk may be identified, Coaches, Staff and Parents may request an investigation into allegations or suspicions of potentially illegal or inappropriate behaviour. Such request may be directed in confidence to the academy director in written form.
Inappropriate Communication. Communication with a child or his/her family outside of the context of duties for the organization, regardless of who initiated the exchange.
Personal phone calls not tied to duties with the child
Electronic communications (email, text message, instant message, online chats, social networking including “friending”, etc.) not tied to duties with the child
Personal letters not tied to duties with the child
Excessive communications (online or offline)
Inappropriate Contact. Spending unauthorized time with a child outside of designated duties with the organization.
Favouritism. Singling out a child or certain children and providing special privileges and attention. (for example, paying a lot of attention to, giving or sending personalized gifts, or allowing privileges that are excessive, unwarranted or inappropriate.)
Taking Personal Photos/Videos. Using a personal cell phone, camera or video to take pictures of a child, or allowing any other person to do so, as well as uploading or copying any pictures you may have taken of a child to the Internet or any personal storage device. Pictures taken as part of your job duties are acceptable, however, the pictures are to remain with the organization and not be used by you in a personal capacity. Inappropriate behaviour also includes:
Telling sexual jokes to a child, or making comments to a child that are or is in any way suggestive, explicit or personal.
Showing a child material that is sexual in nature, including, signs, cartoons, graphic novels, calendars, literature, photographs, screen savers, or displaying such material in plain view of a child, or making such material available to a child
Intimidating or threatening a child
Making fun of a child Inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated, especially as it relates to the well-being of the children involved in activities or programs delivered by the sport organization. Whether or not a particular behavior or action constitutes inappropriate behaviour will be a matter determined by the organization having regard to all of the circumstances, including past behaviour, and allegations or suspicions related to such behaviour.
Personal phone calls not tied to duties with the child
Electronic communications (email, text message, instant message, online chats, social networking including “friending”, etc.) not tied to duties with the child
Personal letters not tied to duties with the child
Excessive communications (online or offline)
All staff and volunteers must report suspected child sexual abuse, inappropriate behaviour or incidents that they become aware of, whether the behaviour or incidents were personally witnessed or not.
Where to report:
All allegations or suspicions of potentially illegal behaviour (for example, child sexual abuse) that a staff/volunteer witnesses first-hand, must be promptly reported to police and/or child welfare.
To ensure the protection of all children in our care, all allegations or suspicions of potentially illegal behaviour that a staff/volunteer learns of must also be promptly reported to police and/or child welfare. Police and/or child welfare will make the determination as to whether the allegation or suspicion requires further investigation.
All allegations or suspicions of inappropriate behaviour (see above examples), that a staff/volunteer learns of or witnesses first-hand, must be reported to the designate for the sport organization.
Keep in mind that you may learn of potentially illegal or inappropriate behaviour through the child or some other third party, or you may witness it first-hand.
Examples of the type behaviour you may learn of or witness and that you must report as set out above includes:
Potentially Illegal behaviour by a Staff/Volunteer of the organization
Potential Illegal behaviour by a third party, such as a Parent, Teacher, Babysitter, Coach If you are not sure whether the issue you have witnessed or heard about involves potentially illegal behaviour or inappropriate behaviour, discuss the issue with the designated person within your organization who will support you through the process.
Remember: You have an independent duty to report all suspicions of potentially illegal behaviour directly to police and/or child welfare.
FOLLOW UP ON REPORTING
When an allegation or suspicion of potentially illegal behaviour is reported, police and/or a child welfare agency will be notified. The sport organization will follow up internally as appropriate. When an allegation or suspicion of inappropriate behaviour is made, the sport organization will follow up on the matter to gather information about what happened and determine what, if any, formal or other disciplinary action is required.
In the case of inappropriate behaviour, if: a) Multiple behaviours were reported, and/or Inappropriate behaviour is recurring
The reported behaviour is of serious concern the organization may refer the matter to a child welfare agency or police.
