Adopted 03-26-2025

 ABUSE POLICY
Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc.

Definitions

  1. The following terms have these meanings in this policy:
    1. Abuse – Maltreatment as defined below;
    2. Boundary Transgressions – as defined in the UCCMS (Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport), namely interactions or communications that breach objectively reasonable boundaries of an individual and are inconsistent with duties/responsibilities of the Participant (s.5.7);
    3. Child/Children - a Minor as defined in the UCCMS, namely an individual under the age of 19).
    4. Independent Third Party – an independent person or organization that has no professional or personal ties to Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. ;
    5. Individuals - Registered Participants (Participants as defined in the UCCMS), and for greater certainty includes all individuals employed by, or engaged in activities with, Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. including, but not limited to, athletes, coaches, volunteers, managers, administrators, committee members, health care workers, Directors and

Officers of Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc ; parents/guardians, and spectators at events;

  1. Maltreatment – as defined in the UCCMS, namely a volitional act or omission described in sections 5.2 – 5.6 of the UCCMS (1) that results in harm or has the potential for physical or psychological harm and includes Psychological Maltreatment (s. 5.2), Physical Maltreatment

(s.5.3), Neglect (s.5.4), Sexual Maltreatment (s.5.5), and Grooming (s.5.6);

  1. Persons in Authority – any person who holds a position of authority over a Vulnerable individual pursuant to the role assigned to them. Persons in Authority include, but are not limited to, coaches, managers, trainers, referees, staff, and administrators; further a Power Imbalance (as defined below) exists in any interaction between a Person in Authority and a Vulnerable

Individual; 

  1. Power imbalance – as defined in the UCCMS; it is presumed to exist where a participant has authority or control over another person and is in a position to confer, grant or deny a benefit or advancement, or is responsible for the physical or psychological well-being of a person;
  2. Prohibited Behaviour – as defined in the UCCMS, namely any conduct described in section 5 of the UCCMS, including Maltreatment (s. 5.2-5.6), Boundary Transgressions (s.5.7), and

Discrimination (s.5.8);

  1. Vulnerable Adults – is included in the definition of Vulnerable Participant;
  2. Vulnerable Individuals – Minors and Vulnerable Participants; and
  3. Vulnerable Participant – as defined in the UCCMS, namely Persons at risk of Maltreatment and/or coercion, often due to age, gender, race, poverty, Indigeneity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability psychological or cognitive ability, and their intersections, and it includes persons who are not able to provide informed consent.

 

Purpose

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. is committed to a sport environment free from Abuse. The purpose of this policy is to stress the importance of that commitment by defining Abuse and educating Individuals about Abuse, outlining how Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. will work to prevent Abuse, and how Abuse or suspected Abuse can be reported to and addressed by Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc.

 

Zero Tolerance Statement

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. have zero tolerance for any type of Abuse. Individuals are required to report instances of Abuse or suspected Abuse in accordance with the policy.

 

Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS)

  1. The Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) is the core document that sets harmonized rules to be adopted by sport organizations that receive funding from the Government of Manitoba to advance a respectful sport culture that delivers quality, inclusive, accessible, welcoming, and safe sport experiences.

 

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. formally adopted the UCCMS as a policy of Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. in ___________2025.

 

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. entered into an agreement with the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) in ____________2025 , for the enforcement of the UCCMS, including using the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) and the Director of Sanctions and Outcomes (DSO) (the SDRCC Agreement.) (https://sportintegritycommissioner.ca/)

 

  1. If there is a conflict between a provision of the UCCMS and a provision of any other Handball Canada Policy, the UCCMS prevails to the extent of the conflict.  

 

Preventing Abuse

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. will enact measures aimed at preventing Abuse, including, but not limited to, screening, orientation, educating and monitoring.

 

Practice

  1. When Individuals, especially Persons in Authority, interact with Vulnerable Individuals who are not their Children, they are required to enact certain practical approaches to these interactions including, but not limited to:
  2. Limiting physical interactions to non-threatening or non-sexual touching (e.g., high-fives, pats on the back or shoulder, handshakes, specific skill instruction, etc.);
  3. Ensuring that Vulnerable Individuals are always supervised by more than one adult;
  4. Ensuring that more than one person is involved with team selection (thereby limiting the consolidation of power onto one Individual);
  5. Ensuring that parents/guardians are aware that some non-personal communication between Persons in Authority and Vulnerable Individuals (e.g., between coaches and minor athletes) may take place electronically (e.g., by texting, direct messaging) and that this type of communication is now considered to be commonplace, especially with older Children (e.g., teenagers). Individuals are aware that such communication is subject to the Code of Conduct and Ethics; and
  6. When traveling with Vulnerable Individuals, the Person in Authority will not transport Vulnerable Individuals without another adult present and will not stay in the same overnight accommodation location without additional adult supervision.

 

Monitoring

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. may regularly monitor those Individuals who have access to, or interact with, Vulnerable Individuals. The monitoring will be based on the level of risk, as described in the Screening Policy.

 

Reporting Abuse

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. will share all decisions regarding Abuse with one another. All information shared will be in compliance with Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. privacy Policy.

 

  1. The policies of Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. will require that complaints relating to Abuse and Prohibited Behaviours must be handled by an Independent Third Party. In the case of Manitoba Team Handball Federation inc., this is to be done pursuant to the SDRCC Agreement. (see https://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/)

 

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. pledges not to dismiss, penalize, discipline, or retaliate or discriminate against any person who discloses information or submits, in good faith, a report concerning Abuse or a Prohibited Behaviour.

 

Communication

  1. Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. will identify those persons within their respective organizations who will be responsible for implementing this policy.

 

Review and Amendment

  1. All significant amendments to this policy will be submitted to Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. for review by its ad hoc committee on policies.

 

  1. This policy will be reviewed every two years. Any significant policy amendments require approval by Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc.

 

Approval

  1. This policy was approved by Manitoba Team Handball Federation Inc. and its Board of Directors on 03-26-2025.

More informations: (1) https://sportintegritycommissioner.ca/ (2) https://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/eng/home