Safe Sport Implementation Strategy

Background

In the wake of the #MeToo movement and following a number of allegations and convictions in the sport community, Minister of Sport Kirsty Duncan called upon the Canadian sport community in 2019 to take action immediately. As she stated, “The safety and security of athletes, coaches and officials is our top priority. We must all play a role in protecting our young people and our athletes.

In an effort to elevate sport and support the Minister and the FPT Ministers’ Red Deer Declaration, there have been several frameworks and concepts that have emerged to help structure sport to be more inclusive, welcoming and safe for all. In the meantime, organizations at all levels are struggling with where to start and how to put safe sport to action. Organizations are looking for support to implement safe sport and want to do it strategically using a process that is practical and reasonable.

 

What is the SLSG’s Safe Sport Implementation Strategy?

The SLSG’s Safe Sport Implementation Strategy (SSIS) allows any organization to establish a reasonable and practical roadmap to create a safe and thriving sport environment. It is an opportunity for an organization to establish its commitment to safe sport and be accountable to its values and its participants. This is done through the collaborative creation of a holistic strategy involving a 4-step process:  Analysis, Development, Implementation and Measurement.

 

How does the SLSG’s Safe Sport Implementation Strategy Work?

There are 4 steps to the process as outlined below. The process can be entered by an organization at any step depending on its objectives and desired goals:

• Analysis
• Development
• Implementation
• Measurement

 

1. Analysis – This step sets the foundation of the methodology to be used by identifying the safe sport needs and goals of the organization. As part of the process, current safe sport practices within an organization are reviewed to identify strengths and gaps. This includes conducting the SLSG Reality Check which will establish a baseline of evidence that will be used to compare behavioural change in Step 4 (Measurement).
2. Development – SLSG works in collaboration with the organization and its stakeholders to establish a practical SSIS using findings from Step 1 (Analysis), best practices, and a safe sport framework menu. Once the direction and priorities have been set, SLSG identifies the necessary policies (Safe Sport Policy Suite), systems (SSIS Framework including recommended training, resources) and processes (SSIS Guide) to be developed in order to implement priorities.
3. Implementation – This step focuses on the customized implementation of the organization’s SSIS to ensure everyone is set up for success. This includes consultations with the organization and support based on their comfort level with their SSIS Guide.
4.  Measurement – This step provides the evidence that your SSIS is working. Comparing baseline evidence from Step 1 (Analysis) to evidence gathered in this step will provide the accountability to the strategy and metrics for continuous improvement. This step includes engaging a sampling of stakeholders to measure the effectiveness of your SSIS and a Report of Findings for continuous improvement.

 

Benefits of the SLSG’s Safe Sport Implementation Strategy

Organization – Aspiration	SLSG – Solution
Simple and easy road map for a values-based approach to safe and thriving sport	4-step Safe Sport Implementation Strategy that analyzes, develops and implements a custom system that results in measurement and continuous improvement
Evidence for organizations to help them realistically and effectively ensure safe sport is understood and implemented on the field of play	Baseline analysis to identify gaps in stakeholders’ current safe sport system (policies, training, processes, engagement etc)
Proactive rather than reactive measures for organizations to mitigate risk and provide participants with knowledge and support for their safe sport experience	Direct engagement with participants through surveys/interviews about their emotional/physical safety while participating in sport
Collaborative and transparent implementation process for each organization and its stakeholders to deliver an accountable safe sport experience	Development and implementation of a collaborative, evidence-based system designed to meet each organization’s goals in ensuring safe sport
Updated criteria to align with each organization’s values and safe sport goals	Evaluation model to provide minimum criteria for organizations to measure safe sport
Peace of mind and validation that an organization is creating safe and thriving sport environments for its participants	A customized Safe Sport Implementation Strategy established by organizations that can be shared with their stakeholders

 

Outcomes and Impact

• A customized, collaborative implementation strategy to achieve safe and thriving sport
• Evidence that athlete safety is a top priority
• Enhanced evidence-based criteria for funding models

 

Next Steps

 

For more information, contact LJ Bartle [email protected]