If you play soccer, ref basketball, coach hockey, or volunteer with your child’s gymnastics club, you have the right to a healthy, supportive, and respectful sport experience, free from all forms of maltreatment.
This is what we define as safe sport, and part of creating this environment involves educating Manitobans about the options they have if they need to submit a complaint.
But before we get into some general guidelines, we need to explore a few terms.
Maltreatment
These are acts or behaviours that have the potential to result in harm. This includes but is not limited to: abuse (physical, psychological, and sexual), neglect, grooming, boundary transgressions, bullying, hazing, harassment, or discrimination.
Dispute
A dispute is informal, and refers to a disagreement, argument, or controversy. They are generally a result of differing opinions. E.g. Field of play issues, non-compliance with bylaws, policies, procedures, or rules and regulations. General disputes are not considered safe sport in nature.
Complaint
A complaint is not used to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about a situation or event. Instead, it is formal, and allows people to make an official report about either maltreatment or a dispute.
Submitting a Complaint to Your Sport Organization
All Sport Manitoba-recognized Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) are required to have a discipline and complaint policy. This policy identifies their processes to address and resolve complaints/disputes (may also have a dispute resolution policy), as well as identifying how complaints can be reported. Contact your association directly to find a copy of their policy.
Typically, complaints are required to be in writing, and the policy usually identifies a timeline that it must be submitted.
What to Include in a Complaint
When submitting an official complaint, if the policy does not identify what you’ll need to include, be sure to cover the following:
The party who is making the complaint/submitting the dispute
The party being disputed about/who made the decision being disputed
The reason for the complaint/dispute
Indicate what has been breached and how
Any evidence that proves the breach
The suggested remedy (what outcome the complainant wants)
Remember to be very specific – vague descriptions may only slow the process down as time will need to be spent clarifying details.
Complaint/Dispute Resolution
An organization’s policy may have the option to deal with complaints first by alternate dispute resolution (ADR) before going to a formal hearing/arbitration. ADR can include prevention, negotiation, facilitation, mediation, and arbitration. ADR may reduce the time and cost of resolving the complaint, maintain or improve relationships between the parties, give more opportunity for people to learn, and be an opportunity for restorative justice.
If you’re involved in sport, know that your PSO has policies and procedures in place, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
For more safe sport tools and resources, visit sportmanitoba.ca/safesport.
