POLICIES/PROCEDURES

CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY

The Quinte Skyhawks and No Limits Youth Organization has set in place a Code of Conduct and Covenants that our organization upholds, holding a high standard of ideals and values our Executive, Coaches, players, families, parents and volunteers hold too.  Skyhawks has adopted the Universal Code of Conduct to prevent and Address any and all Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) as their guiding principles.

Below is our CODE!

• Consent – Consent is defined in Canada’s Criminal Code as the voluntary agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question. The law focuses on what the person was actually thinking and feeling at the time of the sexual activity. Sexual touching is only lawful if the person affirmatively communicated their consent, whether through words or conduct. Silence or passivity does not equal consent. Sexual activity is only legal when both parties consent. The Criminal Code also says there is no consent when: Someone says or does something that shows they are not consenting to an activity; Someone says or does something to show they are not agreeing to continue an activity that has already started; Someone is incapable of consenting to the activity, because, for example, they are unconscious; The consent is a result of a someone abusing a position of trust, power or authority or someone consents on someone else’s behalf. A person cannot say they mistakenly believed a person was consenting if: that belief is based on their own intoxication; they were reckless about whether the person was consenting; they chose to ignore things that would tell them there was a lack of consent; or they didn’t take proper steps to check if there was consent. Sexual activity with a Minor is a criminal offence as is sexual activity with a person under the age of 18 years when the other person is in a position of trust or authority
• Disclosure - The sharing of information by a Participant regarding an incident or a pattern of Maltreatment experienced by that Participant. Disclosure does not constitute a formal report that initiates a process of investigation to address the Maltreatment Discrimination” – Differential treatment of an individual based on one or more prohibited grounds which include race, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, or disability.
• Duty to Report - A legal duty to report is mandated by law, and the requirement varies by province depending on provincial legislation. Everyone has a duty to report child abuse and neglect under Canadian child welfare laws. Professionals who work with children and youth have an added responsibility to report. Adults are obliged to report child Maltreatment if there is knowledge or suspicion that it is occurring. This is called the “duty to report.” Every person in Canada has the duty to report known or suspected child Maltreatment by law. Known or suspected abuse or Neglect of a child must be reported to: local child welfare services (e.g., children’s aid society or child and family services agency), or provincial/territorial social service ministries or departments, or local police.
• Duty to Report Outside of Child Protection Legislation - Participants have a duty to report concerns of inappropriate conduct of other Participants to uphold the ethical standards and values of Canadian sport. Reporting inappropriate conduct is important to ensure proper action is taken and expectations are re-established. By addressing inappropriate conduct, a collective responsibility to protect Participants from Maltreatment is enacted.
• Grooming - Deliberate conduct by a Participant to sexualize a relationship with a Minor that involves the gradual blurring of boundaries and normalization of inappropriate and sexually abusive behaviour. During the grooming process, the Participant will gain the trust of the Minor and protective adults and peers around the Minor often under the guise of an existing relationship. Manipulation tactics are then used to blur perceptions and gain further access to and private time with the Minor in order to abuse or exploit the Minor. Grooming can occur whether or not harm is intended or results from the behaviour
• Maltreatment - Includes Maltreatment related to:
  • i. Psychological Maltreatment  - which includes, without limitation, verbal acts, nonassaultive physical acts and acts that deny attention or support
  • ii. Verbal Acts - Verbally assaulting or attacking someone, including but not limited to: unwarranted personal criticisms; body shaming; derogatory comments related to one’s identity (e.g. race, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, Indigenous status, ability/disability); comments that are demeaning, humiliating, belittling, intimidating, insulting or threatening; the use of rumours or false statements about someone to diminish that person’s reputation; using confidential sport and nonsport information inappropriately. Verbal Maltreatment may also occur in online forms.
  • iii. Non-assaultive Physical Acts (no physical contact) - Physically aggressive behaviors, including but not limited to: throwing objects at or in the presence of others without striking another; hitting, striking or punching objects in the presence of others
  • iv. Acts that Deny Attention or Support - Acts of commission that deny attention, lack of support or isolation including but not limited to: ignoring psychological needs or socially isolating a person repeatedly or for an extended period of time; abandonment of an Athlete as punishment for poor performance; arbitrarily or unreasonably denying feedback, training opportunities, support or attention for extended periods of time and/or asking others to do the same
  • v. Physical Maltreatment – includes, without limitation, contact or non-contact behaviours that have the potential to cause physical harm v. Contact behaviours - Including but not limited to: deliberately punching, kicking, beating, biting, striking, strangling or slapping another; deliberately hitting another with objects
  • vi. Non-contact behaviours - Including but not limited to: isolating a person in a confined space; forcing a person to assume a painful stance or position for no athletic purpose (e.g., requiring an Athlete to kneel on a hard surface); the use of exercise for the purposes of punishment; withholding, recommending against, or denying adequate hydration, nutrition, medical attention or sleep; denying access to a toilet; providing alcohol to a Participant under the legal drinking age; providing illegal drugs or non-prescribed medications to a Participant; encouraging or knowingly permitting an Athlete to return to play prematurely following any injury or after a concussion and without the clearance of a medical professional; encouraging an Athlete to perform a skill for which they are known to not be developmentally ready
  • vii. Sexual Maltreatment – includes, without limitation, any act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or expression, which is committed, threatened or attempted against a person, and includes but is not limited to the Criminal Code Offences of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, indecent exposure, voyeurism and non-consensual distribution of sexual/intimate images. Sexual Maltreatment also includes; 1. sexual harassment and stalking, cyber harassment, and cyber stalking of a sexual nature. 2. Any intentional touching of a sexual nature of any part of a person’s body, however slight, with any object or body part by a person upon another person, whether clothed or unclothed, or intentionally touching of another with any of these body parts; any contact, no matter how slight, between the mouth of one person and the genitalia of another person, and 3. making another touch themselves, the Participant, or someone else with or on any of the body parts listed in any intentional touching in a sexualized manner of the relationship, context or situation 4. In addition to the criminal acts identified above, the UCCMS prohibits sexual relations between an Athlete above the age of majority (depending upon jurisdiction) and a Participant who holds a position of trust and authority on the basis that there can be no Consent where there is a Power Imbalance.
• Interference with or Manipulation of Process - An adult Participant, by directly or indirectly interfering  by: a) falsifying, distorting, or misrepresenting information, the resolution process, or an outcome; b) destroying or concealing information; c) attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in  d) harassing or intimidating (verbally or physically) any person involved  e) publicly disclosing a Participant’s identifying information, without the Participant’s agreement; f) failing to comply with any temporary or provisional measure or other final sanction; g) distributing or otherwise publicizing materials  h) influencing or attempting to influence another person to interfere with or manipulate the process. A Participant shall not take an adverse action against any person for making a good faith Report of possible Maltreatment. Retaliation includes threatening, intimidating, harassing, coercing or any other conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from engaging or participating in the process. Retaliation after the conclusion of investigation and sanction processes is also prohibited. Retaliation may be present even where there is a finding that no Maltreatment occurred. Retaliation does not include good-faith actions lawfully pursued in response to a Report of possible Maltreatment.  Aiding and Abetting Aiding and Abetting is any act taken with the purpose of facilitating, promoting, or encouraging the commission of Maltreatment by a Participant. Aiding and Abetting also includes, without limitation, knowingly: a) allowing any person who has been suspended or is otherwise ineligible to be in any way associated with sport or to coach or instruct Participants; b) providing any coaching-related advice or service to an Athlete who has been suspended or is otherwise ineligible; and c) allowing any person to violate the terms of their suspension or any other sanctions imposed.
• Harassment – A course of vexatious comment or conduct against an Individual or group, which is known or ought to reasonably be known to be unwelcome. Types of behaviour that constitute Harassment include, but are not limited to:
• i. Written or verbal abuse, threats, or outbursts;
• ii. Persistent unwelcome remarks, jokes, comments, innuendo, or taunts;
• iii. Racial harassment, which is racial slurs, jokes, name calling, or insulting behaviour or terminology that reinforces stereotypes or discounts abilities because of racial or ethnic origin;
• iv. Leering or other suggestive or obscene gestures;
• v. Condescending or patronizing behaviour, which is intended to undermine selfesteem, diminish performance or adversely affect working conditions;
• vi. Practical jokes which endanger a person’s safety, or may negatively affect performance;
• vii. Unwanted physical contact including, but not limited to, touching, petting, pinching, or kissing;
• viii. Deliberately excluding or socially isolating a person from a group or team;
• ix. Persistent sexual flirtations, advances, requests, or invitations;
• x. Physical or sexual assault;
• xi. Behaviours such as those described above that are not directed towards a specific person or group but have the same effect of creating a negative or hostile environment;
• and xii. Retaliation or threats of retaliation against a person who reports harassment to Quinte Skyhawks Football or No Limits Youth Organization.
• Neglect - Any pattern or a single serious incident of lack of reasonable care, inattention to a Participant’s needs, nurturing or well-being, or omissions in care. Neglect is determined by the objective behaviour but the behaviour must be evaluated with consideration given to the Participant’s needs and requirements, not whether harm is intended or results from the behaviour
• Failure to Report - A legal duty to report is mandated by law, and the requirement varies by province depending on provincial legislation. An adult Participant who fails to Report actual or suspected Psychological Maltreatment, Sexual Maltreatment, Physical Maltreatment or Neglect involving a Minor Participant is considered maltreatment.  Duty to report is the Law.

Code of Conduct Actions Taken

This Code applies to Individuals’ conduct during Skyhawks Football business, activities, and events including, but not limited to, competitions, practices, tryouts, training camps, travel associated with Skyhawks Football activities, and any meetings.  An Individual who violates this Code may be subject to sanctions set out below.  If a violation of the "CODE" has been brought forward the first step will be followed below and if proven, one or more of the following sanctions (Suspension or Dismissal) may be imposed, discretion is based upon the executive and all decisions are final.

• Verbal or Written Warning - This is the first step. A verbal statement or an official, written notice will be presented to the individual that is in question to the allegation.  From there a meeting would be setup to begin proceedings towards necessary steps if necessary. In some instances  where evidence has been provided, immediated dismissal or suspension can be given upon the discretion of the Executive. 
• Suspension - Suspension, either for a set time or until further notice, from participation, in any capacity, practice, activity, event, or competition sponsored by, organized by, or under the auspices of any sport Skyhawks Football & No Limits Youth Organization. A suspended Participant is eligible to return to sport but reinstatement may be subject to certain restrictions or contingent upon the Participant satisfying specific conditions noted at the time of suspension. 
• Dismissal - Permanent removal to participate in any capacity with Skyhawks Football & No Limits Youth Organization.  Other discretionary sanctions for Maltreatment may be imposed, including, but not limited to, other loss of privileges, no contact directives or other restrictions or conditions as deemed necessary or appropriate.
• This Code applies to anyone who represents Skyhawks, including but not limited to Executive, Coaches, Volunteers both inseason and  outside of Skyhawks Football business, activities, and events when such conduct adversely affects relationships within (and its work and sport environment) and is detrimental to the image of our organization.