Safe Sport

Safe Sport ensures that all athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers can participate in sport in an environment that is safe, respectful, and inclusive. Triathlon Manitoba is committed to preventing maltreatment and ensuring concerns can be reported safely and confidentially.

What is Safe Sport?

Safe sport refers to an environment that prioritizes the physical and psychological well-being of all participants. It involves a commitment to providing optimal experiences, while actively preventing and addressing all forms of maltreatment, including abuse, harassment, neglect, and discrimination.

Advancing safe sport is a shared responsibility that requires awareness, education, and clear actions for reporting. This page provides resources and guidance to help advance safe sport in Triathlon Manitoba.

Protecting Youth In Sport Act

The Protecting Youth in Sports Act enhances protection measures for young athletes in Manitoba’s sport system. All Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), including Triathlon Manitoba, must adhere to the following requirements:

● Adopt the policies outlined in the Safe Sport Policy Manual.
● Make safe sport information available to parents and young athletes.
● Ensure coaches complete required screening and training.
● Ensure all participants have access to report allegations of maltreatment to an Independent Third Party (ITP).
● Refer any allegations of maltreatment to the ITP if our organization receives such complaints.
● Enforce any disciplinary action determined by the ITP.

Definition of Maltreatment

Maltreatment is defined as:
i. Physical, sexual or psychological abuse;
ii. Grooming for the purpose of sexual abuse;
iii. Neglect;
iv. Unreasonable discrimination on the basis of a characteristic set out in subsection 9(2) of the The Human Rights Code;
v. Additional Prohibited Behaviours as defined by the UCCMS

Report a Maltreatment Complaint

ITP Sport is responsible for overseeing all allegations of maltreatment. If you would like to submit a maltreatment complaint, please submit your complaint to ITP Sport here: https://app.integritycounts.ca/org/itpsport

Reporting a maltreatment complaint may seem confusing and overwhelming. The following resources can help you navigate the process:

● How to File a Maltreatment Complaint – Interactive Video
● Maltreatment Complaint Process Flowchart
● Filing a Maltreatment Complaint – Complainant’s Guide
● Maltreatment Complaint – Respondent’s Guide

If a maltreatment complaint is submitted to a coach, official, volunteer, or staff member, the complaint must be referred to the ITP.

Report a Non-Maltreatment Complaint

If you have are unsure if your complaint involves maltreatment as it is defined on the tab above, you may submit your complaint following the “Report a Maltreatment Complaint” process noted above, where the first step will be for the ITP to confirm whether maltreatment was involved.

If you are certain your complaint does not involve any maltreatment, you should follow the Triathlon Manitoba – Discipline and Complaints Policy (non-maltreatment) to submit your complaint.

Safe Sport Policy Manual

Policies outlining behaviour expectations for all sport stakeholders, procedures for handling complaints, appeal procedures, and coach education and screening requirements.

More Information

Coach Screening Policy

All Triathlon Manitoba coaches (any individual who is 14 years of age or older and is authorized or recognized by an organization to provide instruction and direction to participants in a sport) must complete the necessary coach screening requirements including:

Respect in Sport
Rule of Two
Criminal Background Check
Child Abuse Registry Check (If working with athletes under 18)

More Information

Safe Sport Tips for Athletes

Age appropriate tips for athletes under 8, ages 9–12, and 13+, describing expected behaviour, measures for their protection, and steps to take if they experience harm, with the 13+ group also having access to a 20-minute safe sport education online module.

More Information

Safe Sport Handbook for Parents and Guardians

Information detailing behaviour expectations, different forms of maltreatment, possible indicators that a child experienced maltreatment, and steps to take if a child experienced maltreatment

More Information

Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders

This course must be completed within sixty (60) days of being assigned a coaching position. Coaches maintain their Respect in Sport certification status by completing the course every five (5) years.

More Information

If you or someone you know is experiencing maltreatment in sport, and you need someone to talk to, contact the safe sport line at 1-833-656-SAFE (7233) or