Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct to Protect Children

Battlefords Youth Soccer has established expectations for behavior and provides a framework for addressing any violations. Implementing a Code of Conduct can help to create a safe and positive environment for children to participate in sports. This includes clear rules against bullying, harassment, and abuse, as well as guidelines for appropriate behavior and communication. It is important for all adults involved in youth sports, including coaches, volunteers, and parents, to understand and adhere to the Code of Conduct. By doing so, we can help to ensure that children can enjoy sports in a healthy and supportive environment.

 Guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate conduct between adults, adolescents and children:

1. All individuals should be treated with respect and kindness, regardless of their age
2. Physical contact that could be seen as threatening, aggressive, or inappropriate such as hitting, pushing or touching without consent is to be avoided
3. Language that could be seen as offensive, hurtful or discriminatory such as name calling, using derogatory terms should not be used
4. Personal boundaries should be respected and individuals should avoid invading someone else’s personal space or asking intrusive questions
5. The power dynamic between adults and children should be acknowledged and not exploited. Adults should not use their position of authority to take advantage of or manipulate a child
6. Avoiding favoritism- 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.
7. Authority figures (coaches, team personnel) must refrain from inappropriate communication. Unnecessary communication with a child or his/her family outside of a work/ coach or volunteer context, regardless of who initiated the exchange, is to be avoided. This includes personal phone calls, electronic communications (email, text message, instant message, online chats, social networking (including “friending”), etc.),  personal letters and excessive communications online or offline

Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated to protect children involved in any activities or programs delivered by Battlefords Youth Soccer.

Witnessing Inappropriate Conduct:

If you witness illegal inappropriate conduct, you should immediately report it to a coach or team personnel and RCMP. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible about what was witnessed, including the date, time and location of the incident. It is important to remember that inappropriate conduct should never be tolerated and it is everyone's responsibility to speak up and take action when they witness it. By reporting misconduct, you are helping to create a safe and respectful environment for our youth.

• All employees/volunteers/coaches and board members must report suspected child sexual abuse, inappropriate behaviour or incidents that they are made aware of whether the behaviour or incidents was personally witness or not.

Where to report: 

1. All allegations or suspicions of potentially illegal behaviour (for example, child sexual abuse) that an employee/volunteer witnesses first-hand, must be promptly reported to police (306-446-1720) and/or child welfare (306-446-7705) . 
2. To ensure the protection of all children in our care, all allegations or suspicions of potentially illegal behavior that an employee/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. 
3. All allegations or suspicions of inappropriate behavior, that an employee/volunteer/parent/guardian learns of or witnesses first-hand, must be reported to your head coach, board member or president.

RCMP-306-446-1720

Child Welfare- 306-446-7705

BYSI Executive Director Kelly Villeneuve by emailing bysiexecdir@sasktel.net

Any BYSI Board member

Any Head Coach for BYSI

Follow up on Reporting: 

When an allegation or suspicion of potentially illegal behavior is reported, police and/or a child welfare agency will be notified. Battlefords Youth Soccer will follow up internally as appropriate. When an allegation or suspicion of inappropriate behavior is made, Battlefords Youth Soccer 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 behavior, if: 

1. a) multiple behaviors were reported 
2. b) inappropriate behavior is recurring
3. c) the reported behavior is of serious concern Battlefords Youth Soccer may refer the matter to a child welfare agency or police.