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Published May 3, 2016
vol 12(1) - April 2016
This edition of our newsletter features posts about Criminal Records Checks, our Harassment in Sport blog series, what we're watching in 2016, our upcoming webinars, PSO risk management workshops, and more.
Our regular newsletter has brought you important content in the following areas: legal updates, new legislation and case law, governance tips, risk management and values management practices, social media, communications strategies, as well as all kinds of other planning and strategic advice. We published our last newsletter in October 2015.
We typically send our newsletter every three or four months. The content includes summaries and links to material that we have posted on our website - plus updates on current events and other news. You can also join our Facebook page and get immediate updates. If you don't want to receive the newsletter - no problem - just choose to unsubscribe at the bottom of this message.
We partnered with the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) to produce a four-part Harassment in Sport blog series that is being published on each organization's website. Recent major events in Canadian society prompted us to open this discussion and investigate what we've been doing in the past to address harassment in sport, what we're currently doing, and what approaches we should take in the future.
In the first post - Looking Back - we reviewed our 'tipping point' and the initial revelations that began the focus on harassment in sport, followed by the creation of an advocacy committee, reactive and preventative strategies, a resource website for organizations, and major documents and publications addressing harassment in sport.
In the second post - Current State - we reviewed why we lost coordinated momentum, our current fractured (and sometimes successful) approaches to battling harassment, policy development and gaps, and the availability and importance of necessary training.
In the third post - Looking Ahead - we reviewed our best options for the future, interviewed sport stakeholders, challenged our thinking on harassment and why we make excuses for certain types of harassment, and issued a 'call to action'.
We are looking to publish stories and opinions from readers who have witnessed or experienced harassment in sport - both on the field of play and in the board room. We will share our findings in a fourth and final blogpost. Feedback can be sent to safesport@sportlaw.ca.
Rachel Corbett has been involved with harassment in sport for over twenty years - including co-writing one of the first major publications on behalf of CAAWS and, recently, co-writing a document on athlete maltreatment in sport last year for the CCES. In this blogpost, Rachel shared her thoughts on recent Ontario workplace harassment rulings and speculated about the future of such rulings given our new-found attention to these issues.
Every sport organization - from National Sport Organizations to local clubs - has a discussion about screening when they retain coaches and volunteers. What screening tools are needed? How many references should we check? What are the differences in criminal record checks (CRCs)? In this comprehensive blogpost, Kevin defined the typical CRC and why an additional vulnerable sector verification (VSV) may be unnecessary or approached differently depending on the sport organization.
In this blogpost, Dina described how best to cultivate a respectful work environment, how doing so can improve the overall performance of your sport organization, and how respectful work environments can help your organization achieve its strategic goals.
Separating content between governing documents is one of the most difficult challenges for a local sport organization. Most local associations publish a single large document that combines legal requirements, policies, and local rules variations. But these should all be separate. Kevin wrote about what material should be placed in each section and how separating your governing documents into four distinct pillars can clarify member powers and strengthen the operation of your organization.
The SLSG believes that a risk management plan for Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) is a necessity in today’s environment. The plan will help eliminate many of the ‘fires’ or obstacles that prevent organizations from achieving their optimal performance and it can shield them against legal claims, brand damage, and negative perceptions. An effective plan compliments your existing objectives, protects you from harm and raises your standards as a leader in your sport.
The PSO Risk Management Workshop, offered by the SLSG, is a one-day facilitated workshop that is aligned with international standards (ISO 31000:2009) and is specifically tailored to sport organizations at the provincial level. The workshop includes the identification of risks that challenge your organization, an analysis and assessment of your core risks, and treatment solutions to mitigate those risks. The workshop is budget friendly and it will help you establish a viable risk management plan for the future.
To learn more, view our flyer and contact LeeAnn (LLC@sportlaw.ca) or Jason (JER@sportlaw.ca)
Every year we write a blogpost discussing the issues that we will each be paying attention to in the new year. This year, we will be watching the BC Societies Act, respectful work cultures, concussion legislation, risk management audits, and more - discussed in this What We're Watching in 2016 blogpost
Our newsletter is distributed three or four times a year.
