sport safety

WHAT IS SAFEGUARDING TENNIS?

The Government of Manitoba’s Protecting Youth in Sports Act is now officially in effect. As a result, all Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), including Tennis Manitoba, are required to adopt Sport Manitoba’s Safe Sport Policy Manual.

In compliance with the Act, Tennis Manitoba has formally adopted the following Sport Manitoba Safe Sport policies:

• Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy
• Discipline and Complaints Policy
• Alternate Dispute Resolution Policy
• Appeal Policy
• Respect in Sport Policy
• Coach Screening Policy Minimum Requirements

These policies provide important guidance for all stakeholders, including clear expectations for participant behaviour, processes for reporting and addressing complaints of maltreatment, potential disciplinary actions, and requirements related to coach education and screening.

These policies apply to all Tennis Manitoba-sanctioned clubs, programs, events, and individuals operating under our jurisdiction. All member clubs are required to comply with The Protecting Youth in Sports Act and the Safe Sport policies.

Importantly, all allegations of maltreatment must be reported directly to an Independent Third Party (ITP). Member clubs, programs, and individuals must not investigate or manage maltreatment complaints internally. The ITP is responsible for receiving, reviewing, and managing all reports to ensure an independent, fair, and safe process.

We encourage all members to visit our Safe Sport webpage to access key resources, including:

• The Safe Sport Policy Manual
• The Independent Third Party (ITP) reporting mechanism
• Guidelines on how to report maltreatment
• Safe sport resources for athletes and parents

As an organization committed to providing positive and inclusive tennis experiences, Tennis Manitoba fully supports these enhanced safe sport measures and remains dedicated to fostering a safe, respectful, and maltreatment-free sport environment for all participants.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP SAFEGUARD TENNIS?

We all need to recognize the responsibility that we have in protecting our athletes. We all play a part in creating a safe and supportive environment that fosters positive growth and personal development for athletes, on and off the court. Education and awareness are the most critical components to creating a safe environment free of abuse and harassment. We can all help safeguard tennis by encouraging our tennis organizations to adopt safe sport education and screening requirements. Adopting these requirements is important because:

• We have an ethical and moral duty to protect our athletes.
• It is imperative that all persons in positions of authority be held to a high standard of conduct.
• It reduces the liability for coaches and club board members. Liability can extend to not only the perpetrator of the act, but also to an organization “sufficiently close” to make a claim of vicarious liability appropriate.

SAFE SPORT EDUCATION & SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

In accordance to CAC guidelines, Tennis Canada with the support of its provincial partners has made it mandatory for everyone that is coaching, instructing, or assisting and that is in a position of authority in all indoor and outdoor clubs in Canada to complete the following safe sport education and screening requirements:

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Importance of the Rule of Two

We also strongly encourage clubs to strengthen their policies and procedures regarding child safety and implement them in everyday practice. One of the easiest ways to do this is to educate all coaches and staff on the Rule of Two, which requires 2 screened and certified coaches to always be present with a single athlete or multiple athletes when in an enclosed space. The spirit of this rule is to ensure that both athlete and coach are not put in a vulnerable position. More information on how to implement the Rule of Two can be found here. Additional best practices for clubs can be found here.

HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR SAFE SPORT REQUIREMENTS

The TPA provides 3 options to help individuals complete their safe sport requirements. It is recommended that coaches complete their safe sport requirements through active TPA Certification that provides supplementary benefits and resources. If full TPA certification does not fit your needs, the Community Tennis Facilitator Training or the Online Safeguarding Education Program are also available for tennis club staff in the position of authority.

What if I’m already a TPA member and I still need to complete my safe sport requirements?

If you are an active certified TPA coach and you still need to complete your safe sport requirements, please make sure you’re first signed into your TPA account and then use the links below to complete your Background Check and/or Respect in Sport Module for free: