Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Durham College Athletics

The Official Website of the Durham Lords

Scoreboard

Safe Sport

The Durham College athletics and recreation department is committed to being a leader in advancing inclusive, healthy, rights-based, safe sport for all individuals (athletes, coaches, staff, officials and fans). Specifically, we strive to be an equitable and inclusive community, rich with diversity, protecting the human rights of all persons based upon understanding and mutual respect for the dignity and worth of every person.

OUR COMMITMENT

We will cultivate, uphold, live, and measure Safe Sport principles through:
  1. Consistent enforcement of policies, procedures, and best practice guidelines through all levels of the college.
  2. Implementation of best practice safeguards, support for identification and reporting of misconduct, as well as confidential, fair and timely processes for investigating and resolving allegations. 
  3. Provision of educational resources, tools, and initiatives that serve to develop, support, and enhance the knowledge and positive practices of all members of the Lords community.
  4. Active promotion of our Safe Sport commitment throughout programs, interactions, activities, and events.
  5. Collaboration with provincial partners, multi-sport organizations, as well as public partners to support and advance Safe Sport programs.
  6. Evaluation of the effectiveness of college Safe Sport Framework and corresponding policies, education, and advocacy initiatives periodically.

CULTURE

Safe Sport Culture and Guiding Principles
We understand that a key to prevention is the existence of a trusting, open, respectful and ethical athlete experience and culture. With the mission we have set out and the vision we hold, we will continue to create a training and competition environment that lives up to our values everyday.
 

PREVENTION

Training and Education
Our coaches and A&R staff are required to complete online training and education through the Coaching Association of Canada's Safe Sport Training. Additional training for coaches is found within their NCCP membership under workshops like Creating a Positive Sport Environment. This provides coaches practical strategies for fostering a safe, inclusive, and positive sport environment. Respect in Sport  is another platform for training designed specifically for parents and sport administrators. We encourage all participants to understand and commit to our standard for fostering a safe, inclusive sport environment. 

We encourage all participants, including parents, to improve and increase their Safe Sport knowledge by also completing the Coaching Association of Canada's Safe Sport Training. These modules are complementary and an account to participate can be created here.

The Responsible Coaching Movement
The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a call to action for sport organizations, parents, and coaches to enact responsible coaching across Canada — on and off the field.

Established by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, the RCM invites all coaches and sport organizations to learn and apply consistent coaching principles. It includes three distinct pillars, each serving to create a sport environment that is Safe, Smart and Secure.

We have taken the RCM pledge and, in doing so, not only require our coaches to adhere to the Responsible Coaching requirements, but also encourage them to self-educate on the additional components of the true sport principles.

Policies and Codes of Conduct
As part of our Safe Sport commitment we require our coaches and student-athletes to adhere to various protection and sanctioning based policies and codes of conduct. Below are the applicable policies and codes for Safe Sport and other forms of conduct.

For our coaches:
OCAA Code of Ethics
CCAA Safe Sport Resources
Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) (PDF)
https://sportintegritycommissioner.ca/uccms

For our student-athletes:
Durham College Student-Athlete Handbook
OCAA Code of Ethics
CCAA Safe Sport Resources

It is our aim that student-athletes read, understand, and acknowledge what they are responsible for and how they are protected by our institution. We encourage our student-athletes to come to us with any questions, feedback, or clarifications needed.

For our fans:
OCAA Spectator Code of Conduct


REPORTING

If your concern is about respect or about team dynamics/interpersonal conflict, please contact athletics and recreation at athletics@durhamcollege.ca.

As our wellness coach, Heather Bickle is also able to have confidential sessions with students to discuss various issues and concerns, find solutions and a path forward and share relevant resources. Some examples include: 
  • Interpersonal issues (between teammates, classmates, relationships) 
  • Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, lack of confidence 
  • Difficulty managing/balancing athletic and academic workload 
  • Burnout and lack of motivation 
  • Adult responsibilities and decisions 
  • Food insecurity 
To book an appointment with Heather, please email her at Heather.Bickle@durhamcollege.ca.

If counseling, therapy or other mental health support is needed and wanted, she can facilitate a referral to the Campus Health and Wellness Centre.

Report Discrimination
Durham College is committed to maintaining an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment based on:

Informal complaint: Informal complaints are usually managed through discussion or mediation with the EDI Advisor.
Formal complaint: Formal complaints require a written complaint by the student or employee and will result in a higher level of investigation.

Click here for more information.

Sexual Violence Involving Students
If you have been affected by sexual violence, know that it is not your fault. We believe you and we are here for you. Support is available to all members of the Durham College (DC) community who have been impacted by sexual violence, regardless of when or where the violence took place.

Additional information is available through the Durham College Sexual Violence Awareness website 

Other Non-Academic Misconduct
Non-Academic Misconduct unrelated to harassment, discrimination or student sexual violence can be reported to the Student Services – Rights and Responsibilities
Â