Policy: Rule of Two

When an SC TORONTO Coach, Volunteer Coach, Assistant Coach or Manager is in a potentially vulnerable situation with any SC TORONTO player (example – locker room or meeting room), another SC TORONTO Coach, Volunteer Coach, Assistant Coach, Manager or the parent/guardian of the player(s) must be present.

For a Person in Authority in any one-on-one situation with any SC player, there must be two NCCPtrained or certified coach present with an athlete. If NCCP-trained or certified coaches are not available, screened volunteers (such as managers, support personnel, chaperones and Directors of the club or organization) should be available instead. If screened volunteers are not available, parents of other athletes should be asked to temporarily substitute. If another adult is not available, there should always be more than one athlete with the coach.

Travel

The following guidelines are strongly recommended during travel with athletes:

• A Person in Authority may not be alone in a car with an athlete unless the Person in Authority is the athlete’s parent or guardian.
• A Person in Authority may not share a room or be alone in a hotel room with an athlete unless the Person in Authority is the athlete’s parent or guardian
• Room or bed checks during overnight stays must be done by two Persons in Authority

 

Locker Room / Changing Area / Meeting Room

The following guidelines are strongly recommended for locker rooms, changing areas, and meeting rooms:

• Interactions between a Person in Authority and an individual athlete should not occur in any room where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy such as the locker room, meeting room, washroom, or changing area. A second Person in Authority should be present for all necessary interactions in any such room.
• If Persons in Authority are not present in the locker room or changing area, or if they are not permitted to be present, they should still be available outside the locker room or changing area and be able to enter the room or area if required

 

Training / Competition Environment

The following guidelines are strongly recommended for the training and competition environment (including before, during, and after practices and games):

• A Person in Authority should never be alone with an athlete prior to or following a game or practice, unless the Person in Authority is the athlete’s parent or guardian. If the athlete is the first athlete to arrive, the athlete’s parent should remain until another athlete or Person in  Authority arrives. Similarly, if an athlete would potentially be alone with a Person in Authority following a game or practice, the Person in Authority should ask another Person in Authority (or a parent or guardian of another athlete) to stay until all the athletes have been picked up. If an adult is not available, then another athlete should be present in order to avoid the Person in Authority being alone with a single athlete
• Persons in Authority giving instructions, demonstrating skills, or facilitating drills or lessons to an individual athlete should always be doing so within earshot and eyesight of another Person in Authority

 

Gender Identity

A Person in Authority who is interacting with athletes should be of the same gender identity as the athletes. The following guidelines are strongly recommended:

• For teams consisting of athletes of just one gender identity, a Person in Authority of the same gender identity should be available to participate or attend every interaction
• For teams consisting of athletes of more than one gender identity (e.g., co-ed teams), a Person in Authority of each gender identity should be available to participate or attend every interaction