Maltreatment Awareness 11.4

A Shared Responsibility for Safety

Creating a safe environment is a team effort!

While everyone involved in hockey – associations, teams, parents, volunteers, and staff – shares the responsibility for safeguarding participants, it’s crucial to nurture the physical and emotional well-being of our players, especially young ones.

We invite all members to dive into resources designed to enhance safety, respect, and inclusivity in our sport. Whether you’re looking to understand maltreatment policies, report misconduct, or promote positive body image, there’s something here for everyone, let’s all work together to:

• Approach Minor Conflicts Respectfully: When navigating minor conflicts, focus on approaching the situation with empathy and understanding. Use the EAR approach – Empathy, Acknowledgment, and Resolution – to guide your interactions. By removing emotional intensity and emphasizing empathetic communication, you can foster respect and understanding among all parties involved. This method encourages a constructive dialogue, leading to positive outcomes for everyone.
• Become an Ally: Explore Athlete Ally Resources to educate yourself and unlearn biases that may affect our sport.
• Build a Positive Environment: Access Coach.ca Abuse-Free Sport Resources to help foster a culture of safety.
• Empower Women in Sport: Read the Hockey Canada Building the Future of Women’s and Girls’ Hockey discussion paper and learn about the current challenges that exist in women’s and girls’ hockey – join us as we work together to bring to life the collective vision.
• Learn and Engage: Visit the Hockey Alberta Maltreatment & Bullying Webpage for vital information on keeping our sport safe and welcoming for all.
• Promote Body Positivity: Discover how to create a supportive atmosphere with BodySense: Promoting Positive Body Image and Preventing Disordered Eating in Sport resources focused on positive body image.
• Speak Up & Report Serious Issues: Use the Independent Safe Sport Online Reporting system to ensure accountability and uphold our shared values. If you encounter serious situations involving bullying, harassment, hazing, or verbal abuse, please report them to your local hockey administration.
• Stay Informed: Familiarize yourself with the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) to better understand national safeguarding standards
• Take Action Against Racism: Check out the Anti-Racism in Sport Toolkit—a free resource filled with strategies to combat discrimination.