Code of Conduct
Ontario Safe Sport in Schools Code of Conduct to Uphold Human Rights, and Prevent and Address Maltreatment
Please view the OSSS Code of Conduct below.
Acknowledgements: The OSSS Code of Conduct was adapted from Ontario public policies, legislation, and the UCCMS (version 6.0, published May 31, 2022) as published by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.
The OSSS writing and research team invites constructive feedback on this draft to carry us further to a comprehensive and formalised OSSS Code of Conduct for school communities. Visit the About page to get in touch or email safesportschools@gmail.com
We are working on adapting the Code of Conduct specific to all provinces and territories.
School boards, associations, grassroots and community sports initiatives have established policies and procedures that aim to meet the specific needs of their organisations. These policies and procedures may not however consider the unique landscape that sports offers.
Sports spaces are characterised by competition, testing bounds of human performance, physical contact, heightened emotions, as well as team rituals like hazing. Throughout history, sports have been influenced by colonial tradition and militaristic narratives like aggression, and violence, that have continued the perpetuation of discrimination and harassment including sexism, ableism, homophobia, and racism that are still present in sports today.
Clear communication, transparency, and accountability is necessary to ensure sporting spaces in schools and communities are not overlooked as spaces of maltreatment. In doing so, school boards, associations, grassroots, and community sports initiatives can promote positive cultures of safety, respect, and wellbeing across sporting endeavours.
Why have a Code of Conduct?
Purpose of the Ontario Safe Sport in Schools Code of Conduct
The Ontario Safe Sports in Schools (OSSS) Code of Conduct is intended to promote the dignity and respect of all stakeholders involved in school sports, and safeguard student-athletes. The OSSS Code of Conduct is evidence-based and largely adapted from the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport which was developed for national sporting environments.
The OSSS Code of Conduct may assist educational stakeholders in their duty of providing a safe and positive educational climate. The OSSS Code of Conduct aims to ensure participant's rights are protected and respected. All people have a right to participate in a sporting and educational landscape that is physically, psychologically, culturally, and emotionally safe.
Impact and Scope
The Ontario Safe Sport in Schools (OSSS) Code of Conduct represents the obligation as set by the Human Rights Code to protect human rights in areas such as education and employment, on the protected grounds of: age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed/religion, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, receipt of public assistance (in housing only), record of offences (in employment only), sex, and sexual orientation (including pregnancy and breastfeeding). It also demonstrates the legal duties school boards hold under The Education Act and through Ministry of Education policies.
Adopting school boards and associations (e.g.: OFSAA) are responsible for developing their own Codes of Conduct, policies, and procedures. They may choose to use the OSSS Code of Conduct as a starting place or template. Safe Sport in Schools recommends that those involved with sports in education consult their school board policies and procedures to ensure alignment.
Additionally, it is imperative to remember that through the Child, Youth, and Family Services Act all people who “perform professional or official duties with respect to children” have a legal duty to report children in need of protection immediately to a children’s aid society.
*We are working to develop Codes of Conduct for all provinces and territories.
”The student-athlete came to associate her sport with her [abusive] relationship with the teacher-coach, and eventually gave up the sport entirely, including a full athletic scholarship to university.”
— Ontario College of Teachers v. Des Brisay, 2022