What You Can Do: Sport Organizations

• Become a True Sport Organization by having your Board of Directors consider a motion to join the True Sport Movement.
• Add your organization to the growing list of communities, groups and individuals across Canada who believe in the power of good sport by completing the online form at www.truesport.ca/declare.
• Know your values. Consider your values in all of your decision-making – especially when making difficult decisions.
• Incorporate your values into your management tools and business practices.
• Add a True Sport logo and link on your organization's website.

  

• Adopt the True Sport Principles for Sport as your organization’s code of conduct. Ensure that your members understand the acceptable standard for behaviour.
• Conduct a self-assessment to determine how well your organization is already living True Sport. Celebrate and highlight what you are already doing well and discuss how you can contribute to other principles in a more meaningful way.
• Organize an event or incorporate True Sport into an existing event to celebrate your organization’s commitment to True Sport.
• Create a True Sport bulletin board to display posters, pamphlets, upcoming events and to celebrate team and/or athlete achievements.
• Use social networking to spread the word about how you are living True Sport and about True Sport events and activities.
• Expand your network to include other sport organizations and administrators to discuss common issues, shared resources and opportunities to support one another. Consider starting a sport council if one doesn’t already exist in your community.
• Join your local sport council to ensure your organization has a voice and opportunties to share your needs/solutions with other sport organizations in the community.
• Highlight members who live the True Sport Principles or ask members to share their own True Sport stories/legacies with the organization and its members.
• Ensure your volunteers understand their role in helping True Sport live in your sport organization. Adapt the True Sport Volunteer Engagement Kit to your needs.
• Explore registration and equipment support initiatives that are available for families in need, such as KidSport, P.R.O Kids, and Jump Start. Share this information with parents, coaches and organization administrators.
• Provide adequate levels of play for every age and stage of development and desired level of competition or alternative solutions for families/athletes who cannot be accommodated within your program.
• Host or attend True Sport Club Excellence workshops with other members of the community’s sport sector and stakeholders. The workshops will help identify both issues and assets common to participants while providing an open forum to discuss how to address issues and leverage assets.
• Encourage your coaches to develop True Sport Agreements with their team(s). Incorporate this process into your code of conduct.
• Invite experts in your sport or individuals with relevant expertise to visit your organization to help train your trainers, to inspire your athletes or to streamline/guide your operations.
• Embed coaching education into your organization’s philosophy. Support educational opportunities and provide incentives for coaches to continue their coaching education to ensure that your programs are in line with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program.
• Ensure that your organization has a Constitution and a Policies and Procedures document that clearly outlines the organization’s terms of reference, voting process, terms of office and relevant authority including defining its relationship with governing bodies (i.e. provincial, national and international sport organizations).
• Celebrate contribution and recognize your athletes and teams by hosting an annual end of season recognition event.
• Create a True Sport Award that recognizes those who embody the True Sport Principles. Consider the format that works best for you - weekly, monthly, annually.
• Establish a Mentor Program to help new parents feel more comfortable joining the organization and to encourage potential coaches among your parents and athletes to get involved.
• Encourage your members to make healthy choices and to promote positive body image.
• Understand your organizational and athletes’ rights and responsibilities with regards to doping-free sport.
• Embrace the Long Term Athlete Development model to ensure that every athlete is playing at the appropriate age and stage of their physical and ethical development.
• Encourage all parents and coaches to take the Respect in Sport e-learning program to heighten awareness of abuse and harassment.
• Create a transparent and consistent coach and team selection process and post it in a public place.
• Establish policies and procedures that promote positive values, enforce ethical conduct and empower people to deal with inappropriate behaviour.
  • Abuse & Harassment Policy
  • Behaviour Management Policy
  • Universal Code of Conduct
  • Volunteer Screening Policy
  • Access to Sport Policy
• Find creative and contructive ways to deal with inappropriate parental behaviours.
• Identify your commitment to good – values-based – sport as an important part of your corporate culture and a selling point when seeking sponsorship opportunities and/or corporate partnerships. Align your organization with sponsors and partners who value sport as a public asset and understand the power of good sport.
• The right sport experience will provide your members with a positive sport experience. Be clear and up front about what your orgranization can offer athletes and their families. Be prepared to respond to inquiries from families that may include any of the following questions:
  • Is your organization a member of the True Sport Movement? How does your organization live the True Sport Principles?
  • Does your organization offer learn-to or free try-it opportunities so that my child can try the sport before making a commitment?
  • Does your organization provide competitive and non-competitive levels of play?
  • What emphasis does your organization place on winning? Do you have a win at all cost mentality? How do you deal with coaches that have a win at all cost mentality?
  • Do all participants have the same opportunities to play, train and compete?
  • What is my commitment to the organization (time, financial, fundraising, travel, volunteering)?
  • Are registration assistance, equipment lending/swapping programs available?
  • What type of insurance coverage is available in case of injury?
  • Are coaches and volunteers properly trained and offered opportunities for development?
  • What is the organization’s volunteer screening policy?
  • Are training programs appropriate for the ages and stages of physicial development?
  • Is there a transparent coach and team selection process?
  • Are participants encouraged to give back to their community?
  • Does your organization recognize and celebrate their athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers?
  • What do your members say about their sport experience with your organization?