safe sport
Page Title
Safe Sport is an environment where individuals can have a healthy, supportive, and respectful sport experience, free from all forms of harassment and abuse.
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Developed in partnership with Sport Manitoba, this page is a comprehensive set of tools, templates, and resources designed to elevate good governance. It also delivers on our promise to build on our collective vision of a more inclusive and welcoming sport community.
What is Safe Sport
What will you find on this page?
Awareness
The first step toward creating a safer sport environment is equipping all sport communities with the knowledge of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in sport. When we can recognize, we can react.
Prevention
Sport organizations have a responsibility and obligation to protect the safety and physical and mental well-being of every individual involved in its community. Sport organizations need to take any situation involving misconduct or maltreatment very seriously.
Action
In Manitoba, it is everyone’s legal obligation to report suspected child abuse. If, in your honest judgment, you believe that a child may not be safe, you are legally required to report it.
AWARENESS
​True Sport, Anti-Racism in Sport, Commit to Kids, and the Rainbow Resource Centre offer workshops and resources around setting the standard for a positive sport experience, including and welcoming marginalized communities, and steps you can take to support those experiencing maltreatment.
True Sport
The seven True Sport Principles are the foundation of good sport. They must be present in the sport experience at all times, in the right balance and proportion, at all levels of competition, to foster a quality sport experience.
For more information click HERE.
Anti-Racism in Sport
The Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign is commited to address, disrupt, and eliminate racism and discrimination in sport.
For more information click HERE.
Commit to Kids
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection's resources for sports organizations, coaches, officials, sport leaders, volunteers, and parents to help keep kids safe in sport.
For more information click HERE.
The Rainbow Resource Centre
The Rainbow Resource Centre offers support to the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the form of counselling, education, and programming for individuals ranging from children through to 55±. It also supports families, friends, and employers of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
For more information click HERE.
Safe Sport Tips for Athletes
A guide for athletes on acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in their relationship with their coach.
For more information click HERE.
Safe Sport Tips for Coaches
A guide for coaches on acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in their relationship with their athletes.
For more information click HERE.
Tools to Understand and Identify Child Sexual Abuse
Some basic information about understanding and identifying child sexual abuse from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
For more information click HERE.
Online Safety Resources for Youth and Parents
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection offers information about the ever-changing online interests of children, the potential risks they face, and proactive strategies to help keep your child/adolescent safe while online.
For more information click HERE.
PREVENTION
​Sport organizations have a responsibility and obligation to protect the safety and physical and mental well-being of every individual involved in its community. Sport organizations need to take any situation involving misconduct or maltreatment very seriously.
Respect in Sport
Responsible Coaching
Movement
The Canadian Center for Ethics in Sports
For more information click HERE.
For more information click HERE.
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For more information click HERE.
ACTION
In Manitoba, it is everyone’s legal obligation to report suspected child abuse. If, in your honest judgment, you believe that a child may not be safe, you are legally required to report it.
Please note the difference between reporting maltreatment and reporting a dispute.
Safe Sport Line
Call our confidential help line at 1-833-656-SAFE (7233) if you're experiencing or witnessing any misconduct in sport, including bullying, harassment, hazing, or abuse. Sport participants have the right to experience a safe and welcoming sport environment.
For more information click HERE.
Submit a General Dispute
Sport participants who have a challenge or disagreement with a policy breach, Safe Sport violation, or unresolved issue can submit this matter.
Form can be found HERE.
Discipline and Complaints Policy
Review this policy for guidelines for submitting disputes.
For more information click HERE.
Disciplinary Outcomes
The following individuals, have been found to be in breach of Cheer Manitoba polices and procedures or the Cheer Manitoba Code of Conduct.
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Kelsi Holmberg
Kelis Holmberg was charged with theft while volunteering as the treasurer for the Manitoba Cheer Foundation (now Cheer Manitoba). She was found guilty of said theft and was sentenced to 9 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution and submit a letter of apology to Cheer Manitoba. You can find the court record HERE.
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Nick Verburg
On January 26, 2023, a Decision of the Cheer Manitoba Discipline Panel was released (the "Decision"). The Decision found that Nicholas Verburg breached the following sections of the Cheer Manitoba Code of Conduct and Ethics: sub sections 7 (a)i-iii, v and vi; s 7(b)i ; and 9 (b) and (c). The Decision was reached following a hearing process in which Mr.Verburg participated, and arrived at the understanding that certain past behaviours needed to change. For that reason, Mr. Verburg rested his defense prior to calling all of the evidence which was going to be called. Mr. Verburg expressed remorse in his testimony, and demonstrated that he understands that his behaviour caused harm and hurt to others, sometimes severe harm and hurt. His remorse, together with the commitment to safe sport principles embodied in the practices of his gym, Vision, demonstrates his ability to take accountability, to learn and to change his behaviours. Consequently, the sanction issued by the Discipline Panel was time served during Mr. Verburg's interim suspension of 15 weeks.
Previously a Statement regarding this matter was posted by Cheer Manitoba in error. Cheer Manitoba apologizes for any confusion or harm caused by that error.
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The above statement is current and reflects the changes from the previous statement. The decision was based on the previous version of the Cheer Manitoba Code of Conduct and Ethics which can be found HERE.