Intervention procedures

• For children and teenagers: Tell an adult you trust about the situation or alert the people in charge of security.
• For adults:

• If you have strong suspicions that the security or the development of the child or the teenager is compromised, contact the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) or the police department in your area.
• Alert the people in charge of security in your organization or at your location.
• Follow the emergency response measures laid out by your organization.
  
• Make sure the victim is safe.
• Remain available to assist, if needed, the person in charge of security and to keep the situation under control.
• Take time to listen to the victim and maintain trust by congratulating him or her for having the courage to speak up. Choose the appropriate moment to do so when the situation is calmer.
• Assess the victim’s health status and take the necessary measures if care needs to be administered.
• Confirm with the person in charge of security if an intervention shall occur and remain available to ensure follow-up.
• In collaboration with the DYP, communicate the information to the person in charge of your organization’s prevention policy and who will be able to inform you about the steps to take. ^[M]

• For children and teenagers: Tell an adult you trust about the situation or alert the people in charge of security if they are present.
• For adults:
  
  • If you have strong suspicions that the security or the development of the child or the teenager is compromised, contact the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) or the police department in your area.
    
  • Alert the people in charge of security in your organization or at your location.
    
  • Follow the emergency response measures laid out by your organization.
    
  • Act to try and make the violence stop.
    
  • Name the behaviour (e.g. “Your behaviour is intimidation”).
    
  • Help the perpetrator understand what constitutes acceptable behaviour (e.g. “The Code of Ethics you have agreed to respect states that you have to respect members of your team, the referees, etc.”)
    
  • Tell the person who has suffered the violence to come back to you if the situation occurs again. Remind them that they have the right to be safe in their sport.
    
  • Encourage them to consult specialized professional resources.
    
  • In collaboration with the DYP, communicate the information with the person in charge of your organization’s violence prevention policy.
    

Rumours and suspicions

Who hasn’t heard rumours during training, practice or competition, of alleged inappropriate wrongdoings from a person in a position of authority, a volunteer or even a parent?

What should we do when we hear such rumours?

In cases of rumours or suspicions related to your organization’s code of ethics or harassment policy (such as rumours of intimidation, inappropriate behaviour, etc.):

The most important thing to do is to not spread that rumour further if we are not able to verify its authenticity. Spreading unfounded rumours can lead to serious problems because you could be inflicting reputational damages to the person targeted by those rumours.

The first thing to do is to call the person in charge of ethics in your organization to talk about the situation. Several sports organizations have a dedicated policy concerning such situations. You must come forward to the person in charge of that policy. If your organization doesn’t have one or if you don’t know the name of the person in charge, you should communicate with any other person in charge in your organization.

Usually, if you are well-intentioned and the facts that you are reporting are realistic and true, and if you don’t have a vested personal interest in the matter, it will be difficult for the organization to justify any retribution. However, retribution could be sought against you if you make a false statement.

In cases of rumours related to abusive behaviour toward an underage athlete:

The provincial Youth Protection Act considers that the security of a minor person is compromised in cases of harmful psychological treatment, sexual abuse or physical abuse. If you witness one of these situations, you are obligated to report it to the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) without delay.

You don’t need to have proof to report a situation to the DYP. If you believe that the security or the health of a person under the age of 18 years old is compromised because of inappropriate behaviour, you should also contact the DYP who will be able to help you through the process. Reporting or asking for advice is strictly confidential when you call the DYP.

Depending on the circumstances, you could also contact the police to make a complaint against the person responsible for the inappropriate behaviour.

• Keep calm in front of the victim.
  
• Listen to him or her. Do not judge.
  
• Reassure him or her.
  
• Tell him or her that he or she made the right decision to tell you about his or her problem.
  
• Make him or her understand that you believe him or her.
  
• Don’t promise you’ll keep his or her secret.
  
• Don’t question or interrogate. Let him or her speak freely.
  
• Write down what he or she told you as soon as possible.
  
• File an intervention request with the DYP: The DYP will then be able to accompany and guide the person in the following steps, tell them who will take care of informing their parents and how to proceed. ^[G]