WHAT IS SPORT SAFETY?

Sport Safety involves creating safer, positive, and inclusive environments. Where everyone can reach their potential without fear of bullying, harassment, or abuse. We want to ensure that everyone is safe, supported, and strengthened through tennis.

HAVE A SPORT SAFETY CONCERN?

Athletes, parents, coaches, officials, and club leaders with sport safety related concerns can access resources and educational material here. If you require further information on how to file a complaint with Tennis Canada’s third party reporting system, you can contact sportsafety@tenniscanada.com or visit our website.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP SAFEGUARD TENNIS?

The Tennis Professionals Association (TPA) and Tennis Canada are committed safeguarding tennis by delivering sport safety education and training, developing best practices and implementing current and comprehensive policies. The TPA’s safeguarding tennis initiative is aligned with the Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) which is led by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC).

Sport Safety involves creating safer, positive, and inclusive environments. Where everyone can reach their potential without fear of bullying, harassment, or abuse. We want to ensure that everyone is safe, supported, and strengthened through tennis.

We all need to recognize the responsibility that we have in protecting our athletes. We all play a part in creating a safe and supportive environment that fosters positive growth and personal development for athletes, on and off the court. Education and awareness are the most critical components to creating a safe environment free of abuse and harassment. We can all help safeguard tennis by encouraging our tennis organizations to adopt sport safety education and screening requirements. Adopting these requirements is important because:

TPA Sport Safety Education and Screening Requirements

In accordance to CAC guidelines, Tennis Canada with the support of its provincial partners has made it mandatory for everyone that is coaching, instructing, or assisting and that is in a position of authority in all indoor and outdoor clubs in Canada to complete the following sport safety education and screening requirements:

Code of Conduct

  • Online form
  • Must be signed once a year

Background Check

  • Can be done online
  • Must be completed every three years

Declaration of Character

  • Online form
  • Must be completed once a year

Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders

  • Online education module
  • Must be completed every three years

Importance of the Rule of Two

We also strongly encourage clubs to strengthen their policies and procedures regarding child safety and implement them in everyday practice. One of the easiest ways to do this is to educate all coaches and staff on the Rule of Two, which requires two screened and certified coaches to always be present with a single athlete or multiple athletes when in an enclosed space. The spirit of this rule is to ensure that both athlete and coach are not put in a vulnerable position. More information on how to implement the Rule of Two can be found here. Additional best practices for clubs can be found here.

How To Complete Your Sport Safety Requirements

The TPA provides 2 options to help individuals complete their sport safety requirements. It is recommended that coaches complete their sport safety requirements through an active TPA Certification that provides supplementary benefits and resources. If full TPA Certification does not fit your needs, the Community Tennis Facilitator Training is also available for tennis club staff in the position of authority.

TPA Certification

These multi-day courses offer various certification levels for instructors, club professionals, and coaches. Certification ensures proven competencies and is highly recommended for anyone teaching tennis or running tennis programs.

Certification includes all benefits of TPA membership including liability insurance.

Register for upcoming TPA Certification

Community Tennis Facilitator Training

This non-certification five-hour in-person course with online education includes safeguarding education, quality standards for retention and growth, age-appropriate equipment, organizing play activities, and effective communication with children.

This course includes all benefits of TPA membership except liability insurance.

Register for the Community Tennis Facilitator Training

What if I’m already a TPA member and I still need to complete my SPORT SAFETY requirements?

If you are an active certified TPA coach and you still need to complete your sport safety requirements please make sure to log into your TPA account to review your missing requirements.

POLICIES

To view tennis Alberta’s policies please visit this page.