GENERAL
What
is Respect in Sport?
RiS is an on-line training course for coaches and sport
leaders. It is designed as a tool to assist coaches, parents and bystanders in
identifying and dealing with abuse, neglect, harassment, and bullying in sport.
Why
is this being implemented?
Sport Manitoba
Why
is it mandatory?
It’s a strong word but this is an important issue and we
believe ALL coaches and sport leaders must understand the fundamentals. In knowing that all of our coaches have had
this essential training we will also better mitigate liability both personal
and organizational.
How
is Respect in Sport implemented?
Respect in sport is presented as an online
curriculum and includes audio/visual presentations, quizzes and printable
handouts.
What
is Sport Manitoba
Sport Manitoba is leading
this initiative with the support of the Province of Manitoba
What
equipment is required to use Respect in Sport?
All that is required to complete the
Respect in Sport curriculum is a computer, an Internet connection and speakers
or a headset. Optional equipment
includes a printer to print the handouts and/or your certificate of completion.
What if I don’t
have a personal computer?
Respect in Sport
is available from any community computer- your work, library, a friend, band
office, school. Your information will be
confidential as you log on with your own password to access the program each
time. The Paul Robson Resource center
has 9 computers available for you to access if you do not have access to one.
What if I don’t
have a high-speed connection?
The course is designed to be accessible
from any PC using a dial-up or high-speed Internet. Once modules are downloaded, the user
experience is the same at any speed. The
speed of download is completely dependant on the connection speed.
What if I don’t know anything about
computers?
Through extensive research and development,
the program was designed, first and foremost, to be user friendly. It is extremely simple to use and has been
implemented and tested by many sport organizations with little or no reported
difficulties. There is also an on-line
“Help” feature and a 1-800 support line available.
Is there a paper version of the program?
No, by design. We are
forever creating paper that costs lost of money and sits in the corner unused.
Respect in Sport’s online courseware eliminates the need for our organization
to absorb printing, mailing and administration costs. Respect in Sport also gives you ongoing
access to the course once you’ve completed it, as an online resource. There are
some documents you can print if you want them but that is your choice.
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NCCP
How does this
relate to NCCP training?
Respect in Sport
was designed to compliment the existing NCCP programs. It is now worth 2 Professional Development
points for Certified Coached in the NCCP system.
How is this
different than the making ethical decisions NCCP module?
Quite different
and far more specific in dealing with the key issues of abuse, neglect,
bullying and harassment. That’s the focus. Again, it fully compliments the
making ethical decisions NCCP module. MED focuses on the process to make
decisions.
How does this
affect my certification requirements?
It won’t affect
your NCCP certification. You will be certified in Respect in Sport separately
and your sport organization will track that separately.
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COACH
As a volunteer
coach I am being asked to do another course?
Yes. It really is
one of the most important courses you’ll take as a volunteer who is responsible
for teaching and training athletes. With this training you should feel more
confident in dealing with issues relating to abuse, neglect, bullying and
harassment and hopefully feel much more secure in this often overlooked area.
This course will give you the tools to protect yourself and the young people in
your care and hopefully make you feel more comfortable being a volunteer.
Why do I have to take the course again when I have already
taken it?
This new course
deals with updated issues such as, cyberbullying, social media, mental health
and LGBT athletes as well as the change to age of consent legislation.
How long is the
course?
It’s a total of
approximately two and a half hours but it’s split in 7 simple modules.
Do I have to do
it all at once?
That’s the
beauty. You can do it at your leisure. Just come and go as you please. The
program knows where you left off and brings you back to that point when next
you sign-in.
What is the
deadline?
All active
coaches who have taken the RIS over 5 years ago, will have until April 1, 2017
to recertify or their RIS certificate become inactive.
Anyone who has
taken RIS under 5 years ago, will be contacted by the Respect Group when their
certification is about to expire and they will then take the new and enhanced RIS for Activity Leaders course.
How much does it
cost?
Because we at
Sport Manitoba believe so strongly in this program and the values it promotes,
we are absorbing all costs. So, for you, it’s free!
Do I have to take
the course every year?
No. It is only
required to take every 5 years (or sooner if PSO decides). You will receive an email from the Respect
group letting you know when your certification is about to expire.
What are the
benefits for a coach?
·
It will help you better understand
the responsibilities, reward and respect that come with being a coach.
·
It will make you more confident in
identifying and dealing with abuse, neglect, bullying and harassment.
·
It will ensure a safer and more
respectful environment for you, other coaches and the children in your care.
·
As a more knowledgeable coach, it
will also better mitigate your own personal liability associated with this very
volatile area within sport.
What if I coach
more than one sport?
It covers all
sports within Manitoba and your certification is good across the board. You will only have to complete the course
once.
What
happens if I don’t do the program?
If you decide not to take the course, that’s fine, you just
won’t be able to volunteer in the capacity of coach.
Why
do I have to take this course if I am coaching adults?
Values are values. Whether you are coaching youth or adults
the issues of abuse, neglect, bullying and harassment are the same.
I’m
just helping out, I’m not the head coach.
Why should I have to take the course too?
Anyone who is in a leadership position with our youth or
adults and involved in sport need to have this knowledge.
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PSOs
What
are the benefits for a PSO?
By implementing the program, PSOs are making a commitment to
the safety of their athletes. It
provides coaches with the tools to deal with legal and moral responsibilities
making them less vulnerable and more confident in dealing with sensitive
issues. It helps your organization in
liability reduction as a risk management tool
The benefits include:
-liability reduction
-help to create a sport specific database
-coach retention
-consistent training for coaches across all sports
How
do athletes benefit?
Respect in Sport will ensure a safer, more welcoming sport
environment where respect is paramount. It will make enjoyment levels go up and
hopefully keep our participants involved in sport
What
are the consequences of not implementing the program?
Each PSO will be required through the Terms and Conditions
of Funding. PSO funding will be affected
if the program is not implemented.
How
do we enforce the mandatory requirement?
By ensuring that all coaches in your sport on the field of
play have taken the course. PSOs will be
asked to not allow coaches that haven’t completed the course to coach. Sport Manitoba will work individually with
each PSO to support them in enforcing the mandatory requirement.
How
will I know which coaches have completed the new course? Who will track?
The database will track all registrants on a per sport
basis. Each sport will have access to their database and be able to track the
progress of their users. The database is simple to manage and we will work with
PSOs on a common approach that makes sense and will really work.
Is there
someone I can call if I have an issue about some of the topics covered in the
RIS program?
Yes, Sport Manitoba has a support line with staff trained in
abuse prevention, risk management, dispute resolution and crisis intervention
that will be able to assist any questions or concerns you may have. Their contact information is 1-877-737-9875
or email gethelp@changeofseasons.ca