“Organization” refers to: MANITOBA Team Handball Federation Inc.

Purpose

The Organization understands that screening coaches is a vital part of providing a safe sporting environment. The Organization is responsible, to do everything reasonable to provide a safe and secure environment for participants in its programs, activities, and events. The purpose of screening is to identify individuals involved with an Organization’s activities who may pose a risk to the Organization and its participants. Coaches are valued and respected by the Organization and are viewed as a key component of the sport delivery system. It is important for coaches to be clear on their role and responsibilities and how these relate to the mission of the Organization. 

Definition of Coach

A coach is any person who guides athletes to train and compete in sport.  They are in a position of power and trust with their athletes regardless of the age of the athlete and the age of the coach. A list of Coach roles and their levels of risk is provided in Appendix B.

Definition of an Athlete

Any child, youth or adult who participates or trains in a sport with the guidance of a coach.

Levels of Risk:

High Risk - Coaches who have direct access to athletes (of any age) without parental supervision.

Medium Risk - Coaches who are under the supervision of other coaches and there is no opportunity to be alone with an athlete.

Low Risk- Coaches who are under full time parent supervision (e.g., community-based coaches). There is no travel involved and  no opportunity to be alone with an athlete.

Background Checks

Coaches are required to obtain any of the following types of Background Checks:

• Criminal Record Check (CRC)
• Police Information Check (PIC)
• Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC - Sterling)
• Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC - Triton)

Generally, a Criminal Record Check and Police Information Check (CRC-PIC) may be obtained from local RCMP detachments and/or local police services and are free for volunteers. However, obtaining the results of the CRC-PIC may take as long as two weeks.

Instead of obtaining a CRC-PIC, the Organization recommends that coaches obtain a background checks from Police Information Check (PIC).

Finally, coaches who have obtained a CRC-PIC, E-PIC or CRJMC, within the last five years are not required to obtain the results of these checks again. Instead, the coach can provide a letter from their employer or sport organization verifying that the checks have been completed. The letter must include the coach’s name, birthdate, the date the checks were completed, and a signature from a representative of the organization or employer. In addition to the letter, the coach must submit a Screening Disclosure Form (Appendix A).

Child Abuse Registry

Coaches are required to obtain a Child Abuse Registry Check (CARC). The Child Abuse Registry is designed to identify and register known child abusers. Individuals on this registry have been found guilty of an offense involving the abuse of a children and/or the Child Abuse Committee has determined the individual has abused a child.

The Organization has its own “CARC Forms” that coaches must use to submit a Child Abuse Registry Check free of charge. Alternate forms will not be accepted (unless at the discretion of the Organization). Results of a CARC may take up to six weeks.

Screening Matrix

The Organization has assigned a level of risk to each Coach role (described in Appendix B). Each role has different screening requirements that range from completing screening education modules to regularly submitting a background check.

The matrix below explains which screening requirements are necessary for each coach role.

Rejection and Appeal

The Organization reserves the right to reject the participation of any coach whose screening results reveal previous criminal activity. However, the coach’s rejection may be appealed to the Organization’s Appeal Committee (which consists of a PSO representative, member of the Organization Board of Directors, and past or present Organization staff member). When determining whether to accept or deny the appeal, the Committee will consider the relevance of the infraction, efforts at rehabilitation, and the date of the infraction.

Appeals should be submitted to Organization staff. Staff or the Appeal Committee may request more information from the Appellant coach. The results of the appeal will be provided to the Appellant within one month of the appeal.

If a coach’s CARC reveals an incident, the coach will not be permitted to participate in the role in any circumstance. This is not appealable.

Other Considerations

Valid Driver’s License - Any coach entrusted to drive a vehicle provided by the Organization (including but not limited to rented vehicles or own vehicles), is required to have a valid Driver’s License. All Drivers will need the appropriate class of license to drive the type of vehicles used.

Delays – The Organization recognizes that there may be delays in obtaining the results of a background check. Generally, the coach will not be permitted to participate in the role during the delay unless the results of the check have been completed. However, if there is a delay in obtaining the results, the Organization may approve the coach’s participation if the coach can prove the process has begun, sits for an interview with the Organization and the coach has provided at least two character references.

Coaches under 18 years of age- for anyone under the age of 18 who is considered a coach, they will not need a Criminal Background Check nor a Child Abuse Registry check.  They will need reference checks, Respect in Sport, Rule of 2 training and are never to be left alone with an athlete.

Yes ________ No________ If yes, please describe below for each conviction:

Name or Type of Offense: ________________________________________________________________

Name and Jurisdiction of Court/Tribunal:

________________________________________ Year Convicted: _____________

Penalty or Punishment Imposed: _________________________________________________________________

Further Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2. Are criminal charges or any other sanctions, including those from a sport body, private tribunal or government agency, currently pending or threatened against you?

Yes_______ No_______ If yes, please explain for each pending charge:

Name or Type of Offense: _______________________________________________

Name and Jurisdiction of Court/Tribunal: _________________________________________________________________

Further Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3. Has any civil court made a finding, judgment or ruling against you, or have you entered into an out of court settlement relevant to the profession of coaching, the sport or any other sport?

Yes ________ No________ If yes, please describe each finding, judgment or ruling below:

Civil Court Finding: _________________ Out of Court Settlement: __________________

Type of Offense or Finding: ______________________________________________

Year of Offense or Settlement: ____________________________________________

Penalty or Punishment Imposed: _________________________________________________________________

Further Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

4. Have you ever been dismissed from a position due to allegations of ethical or moral misconduct?

Yes ________ No________ If yes, please describe below:

Name of applicable Organization:

___________________________________ Date of Dismissal: _________________

Reason for Dismissal: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

5. Have you ever been disciplined or sanctioned by an independent body (sport body, private tribunal, government agency, etc.) for which a pardon has not been granted?

Yes ________ No________ If yes, please describe below:

Name or Type of Offense: _________________________________________________________________

Name and Independent Body:

_____________________________________ Year Convicted: ________________

Penalty or Punishment Imposed: _________________________________________________________________

Further Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Certification

I hereby certify that the information contained in this application is accurate, correct, truthful and complete.

I further certify that I will immediately inform the Organization of any changes in circumstances that would alter my original responses to this Screening Disclosure Form. Failure to do so may result in termination of membership and/or further discipline.

Signature: ______________________________________ Date: _______________

PRIVACY STATEMENT

By completing and submitting this Screening Disclosure Form, you consent and authorize the Organization to collect, use and disclose your personal information, including all information provided on the Screening Disclosure Form, Background Check and/or Vulnerable Sector Check for the purposes of screening, administering membership services and communicating with Provincial Sport Organizations, Host Societies, and other organizations involved in the governance of the sport. The Organization does not distribute personal information for commercial purposes.

Appendix B – Coach Roles

Low Risk                                                                                                                                              

6 week Community Club Coach

These coaches are never alone with an athlete and have parent supervision at all times. No travel occurs, local competition only. These coaches do not take any NCCP and may be provided with pre-planned practice plans. Typical season lasts 4-6 weeks. May or not be members of a PSO.

Medium Risk                                                                                                                                     

Community Coach/Instructor

These are coaches/instructors who are working primarily with athletes in the community in a recreational setting. These are programs that happen in the local community and involve only local travel for participation. Often short term seasonal (6 weeks & up). These coaches may or may not take NCCP sport specific certification in the community or Instruction beginners’ stream of the NCCP. Typically they are Members of a PSO.

High Risk                                                                                                                                           

Competition Coach

These are coaches working with athletes who compete in their local community and throughout the province. Athletes and teams may also travel out of province to compete in tournaments without parental supervision. This includes high school coaches and club travel teams. These coaches may take NCCP sport specific certification in the Competition Introduction stream of the NCCP. These coaches would coach beyond 3 months. They Members of a PSO.

Performance Coach

These are coaches who work with elite club programs, provincial, Canada Games Teams, and University and College programs. These coaches may take sport specific NCCP certification in the Competition Development stream of the NCCP. These coaches may take athletes away to competition without parent supervision.

Professional Coach

These are coaches that work with a club, provincial sport organizations and universities in a full-time/part time employed capacity. These coaches require a minimum of Competition Development certification in the NCCP but may require additional sport specific requirements such as Provincial coaching certification.