Appropriate/Inappropriate Conduct between Adults/Adolescence and Children
Junior Champions is determined to provide a positive experience for everyone. Therefore, the purpose of these guidelines is to create an understanding of expectations for adults interacting with the children in sport, as well as a sense of safety for those who need to bring forward any concerns of misconduct towards children.
THE COACH AND ATHLETE RELATIONSHIP
Generally, coaches are in a position of trust, and it’s through professional boundaries that this foundation of trust between coaches and athletes is built. If boundaries are broken, the pillar of the relationship crumbles.
The coach and athlete relationship are also characterized by a power imbalance in favour of the coach. Athletes are taught to respect and listen to their coaches, and they are dependent upon the coach’s knowledge and training to further develop their skills.
Both trust and power can be used to breach the coach-athlete relationship, and often this happens through boundary violations, which occur when the adult places their needs above the needs of the child and gains personally or professionally at the child’s expense.
The responsibility is always with the adult to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with children.
AGE OF PROTECTION IN CANADA
The age of protection (also called the age of consent) is the age at which a young person can legally consent to sexual activity. The age of protection in Canada is generally 16 years old, but the Criminal Code increases that age to 18 in the context of certain relationships. If the child is:
APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
Individuals working or volunteering in sport and expected to model behaviour that upholds public confidence and enhances healthy relationships with children and families.
EXAMPLES OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
• Respectful language, tone and attitude towards others.
• Respectful of personal physical and emotional boundaries.
• Responding to children to meet the child’s needs and not the adult’s needs.
• Engaging with children in a manner that would be seen by a reasonable observer as maintaining reasonable boundaries.
• Keeping practices open to observation by parents.
• Communication with children (including electronic) is transparent and accountable and tied to job description and professional qualifications.
EXAMPLES OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
• Disrespectful language.
• Humiliating or intimidating children.
• Inappropriate touching of children (i.e. massaging, stroking, caressing, roughhousing, tickling).
• Confiding or sharing overly personal information with a child.
• Telling children to keep secrets.
• Electronic communication with children that is personal and not directly tied to coaching duties.
• Communication that is sexual or flirtatious.
• Pictures taken with personal devices or in change rooms.
STANDARD OF MEASURE FOR MAINTAINING APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES
All interactions and activities with children should be (including electronic communication):
• Transparent/Clear
• Accountable
• Tied to coaching/volunteering duties
• In response to meeting the child’s need
• Reflect a duty of care and protection
PARENTS AND COACHES
If you notice a coach and athlete relationship that appears inappropriate, it can be difficult to respond to that situation, but you still must report it. Reporting inappropriate behaviour creates accountability so proper action can be taken and expectations can be re-established. Parents or coaches who have concerns should speak with the president or technical director of Junior Champions.
Parents and coaches should also have regular age-appropriate conversations with children about personal safety and boundary-breaking behaviour. Some topics to talk with children about are the qualities of healthy relationships, importance of personal boundaries, and how to get help/where to bring concerns.
THE COACH AND ATHLETE RELATIONSHIP
Generally, coaches are in a position of trust, and it’s through professional boundaries that this foundation of trust between coaches and athletes is built. If boundaries are broken, the pillar of the relationship crumbles.
The coach and athlete relationship are also characterized by a power imbalance in favour of the coach. Athletes are taught to respect and listen to their coaches, and they are dependent upon the coach’s knowledge and training to further develop their skills.
Both trust and power can be used to breach the coach-athlete relationship, and often this happens through boundary violations, which occur when the adult places their needs above the needs of the child and gains personally or professionally at the child’s expense.
The responsibility is always with the adult to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with children.
AGE OF PROTECTION IN CANADA
The age of protection (also called the age of consent) is the age at which a young person can legally consent to sexual activity. The age of protection in Canada is generally 16 years old, but the Criminal Code increases that age to 18 in the context of certain relationships. If the child is:
- Under 12 years old no person can engage in sexual activity with the child under any circumstance.
- 12 or 13 years old the age difference must be LESS THAN 2 years AND the relative positions of the parties must be such that a child is able to give consent.*
- 14 or 15 years old the age difference must be LESS THAN 5 years AND the relative positions of the parties must be such that a child is able to give consent. *
- 16 or 17 years old the relative positions of the parties must be such that child is able to give consent. *
APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
Individuals working or volunteering in sport and expected to model behaviour that upholds public confidence and enhances healthy relationships with children and families.
EXAMPLES OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
• Respectful language, tone and attitude towards others.
• Respectful of personal physical and emotional boundaries.
• Responding to children to meet the child’s needs and not the adult’s needs.
• Engaging with children in a manner that would be seen by a reasonable observer as maintaining reasonable boundaries.
• Keeping practices open to observation by parents.
• Communication with children (including electronic) is transparent and accountable and tied to job description and professional qualifications.
EXAMPLES OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
• Disrespectful language.
• Humiliating or intimidating children.
• Inappropriate touching of children (i.e. massaging, stroking, caressing, roughhousing, tickling).
• Confiding or sharing overly personal information with a child.
• Telling children to keep secrets.
• Electronic communication with children that is personal and not directly tied to coaching duties.
• Communication that is sexual or flirtatious.
• Pictures taken with personal devices or in change rooms.
STANDARD OF MEASURE FOR MAINTAINING APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES
All interactions and activities with children should be (including electronic communication):
• Transparent/Clear
• Accountable
• Tied to coaching/volunteering duties
• In response to meeting the child’s need
• Reflect a duty of care and protection
PARENTS AND COACHES
If you notice a coach and athlete relationship that appears inappropriate, it can be difficult to respond to that situation, but you still must report it. Reporting inappropriate behaviour creates accountability so proper action can be taken and expectations can be re-established. Parents or coaches who have concerns should speak with the president or technical director of Junior Champions.
Parents and coaches should also have regular age-appropriate conversations with children about personal safety and boundary-breaking behaviour. Some topics to talk with children about are the qualities of healthy relationships, importance of personal boundaries, and how to get help/where to bring concerns.