Child Protection Policy

 As coaches, managers and staff leading a sport organization that deals primarily with children, it is our duty to ensure they are provided with a safe environment. The Eliot River Ramblers Soccer Club (ERRSC) consider a child to be anyone under eighteen. 

Guidelines for Appropriate Conduct Between an Adult and a Player

 A coach, manager or staff member must not:

1. Engage directly for personal reasons not pertaining to soccer related issues with children through the phone or social media channels such as: email, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, texting, etc. Club and team-based group communication sites such as TeamSnap or PowerUp are to be utilized whenever possible.
2. Participate in any direct meeting with a child that is not in an openly visible location to another adult such as the team manager, assistant coach and/or the child’s parent or guardian. Ad-hoc direct feedback before, during or post games/practice scenarios is encouraged but must always be done at the training ground or similar venues within a visible setting.
3. Be alone with a child in a non-visible place and/or enclosed space, such as a car, change room or similar area or provide transportation to and from practices, tournaments, festivals and games to children unless accompanied by the child’s guardian or with the guardian’s consent.
4. Leave children alone after a game or practice if their parent/guardian has not arrived to pick them up. If such a situation were to arise, it is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that another adult or person remain in the company of the coach and child wherever possible if not in an openly visible location.
5. Ensure practices are in a visible area and that there are parents/guardians and or other adults who have children on the team present in the immediate vicinity from arrival at the session to departure. Wherever possible, do not conduct practices alone with a team. 
6. Use profanity, ridicule, verbal abuse or engage in any unwarranted physical contact with a child. 
7. Expose children to unsafe or unhealthy environments such as extreme heat or cold, excessive training regimes that are not developmentally appropriate, training equipment or facilities that are dangerous, or to any contamination be it biological (e.g., bacteria, virus), chemical (e.g., vapors, gasses) or physical (e.g., materials).

When in doubt about these guidelines, err on the side of caution or seek guidance from the club

What to do when you Witness Inappropriate Conduct

If an ERRSC coach, manager or staff member witnesses or becomes aware of any contravention of the above policy, it shall immediately be reported to the Executive Coordinator of the Club. If there is a conflict with that individual, a report can be made directly to the President. 

What to do when you Suspect Child Abuse

If an ERRSC coach, manager or staff member were to witness or have a suspicion of child abuse, make sure the child involved is safe. Then the incident(s) shall be immediately reported to the (1) RCMP - Queens District, (2)  PEI Child Protection Services and (3) the Executive Coordinator of the Club.

An alternative avenue that can be used to offer support to any victim or witness of a situation of harassment, abuse or discrimination is to contact the Canadian Sport Helpline at:

info@abuse-free-sport.ca

Phone / text message: 1-888-83SPORT (1-888-837-7678)

Additional Information

For further information on coach certification pertaining to child protection: Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders

For further information on child protection: Canadian Centre for Child Protection