Safe Sport
If left unchecked, maltreatment will threaten the health and safety of participants and undermine Canadians’ trust and confidence in sport. Canadians should have a reasonable expectation that sport lives up to the general principles and commitment of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), resulting in sport that is accessible, inclusive, respects participants’ goals and is free from all forms of maltreatment.
The CCES has adopted the UCCMS and is committed to working with partners to protect athletes from all forms of maltreatment.
The CCES believes that sport organizations at all levels can foster safer, more inclusive and positive environments by using the True Sport Principles as an upstream approach to the prevention of maltreatment and the promotion of safe sport, because the absence of maltreatment is not good enough. Collectively, we must strive for sport that delivers positive benefits to individuals and communities.
These safe sport resources are available to the Canadian sport community.
Canadian Sport Helpline
This national toll-free helpline offers help to victims or witnesses of harassment, abuse or discrimination in sport.
Responsible Coaching Movement
Take the RCM pledge to show your commitment to safe, smart and secure sport.
Abuse-Free Sport
Abuse-Free Sport is responsible for investigating reported violations of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) and for imposing sanctions against individuals who violate the Code. It’s an independent program that is part of the growing national movement to rid Canadian sport of all forms of harassment, discrimination and abuse. Abuse-Free Sport aims to prevent maltreatment at all levels of sport across Canada through education, training and research.
In Canada, the UCCMS provides the foundation for the development of a coordinated implementation strategy to prevent and address maltreatment across all levels of the sport system, and for all participants, such as athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, and practitioners. The UCCMS is the result of an extensive consultation process that sought insight and expertise from within the sport system and from external subject matter experts.
The UCCMS defines the sexual, physical and psychological forms of maltreatment that are prohibited in sport and outlines appropriate sanctions for individuals who violate the UCCMS or engage in maltreatment.
The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport. The OSIC administers complaints related to violations of the UCCMS alleged against designated participants in sport organizations that sign on to the Abuse-Free Sport program. In particular, it is responsible for complaint intake, and manages admissible complaints through to the completion of an independent investigation, where warranted.
The Government of Canada requires that all federally funded sport organizations adopt the UCCMS into their rules. The CCES joined Abuse-Free Sport in March 2023.
Canadian Sport Helpline
The Canadian Sport Helpline is a national toll-free helpline offering assistance to victims and witnesses of harassment, abuse, and discrimination in a sport environment.
Offered by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), this anonymous, confidential, independent service allows people to share and validate their concerns, obtain guidance on required next steps, and get referrals to other resources for follow up.
Access the helpline toll free from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern Time), seven days a week by telephone, text, live chat or email in both official languages.
- Visit: abuse-free-sport.ca
- Email: [email protected]
- Call or text: 1-888-83SPORT (1-888-837-7678)
The Canadian Sport Helpline is funded by Government of Canada.