Safe Sport Glossary
This glossary summarizes some of the terms in the Safe Sport Code that you should know. It is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every participant in the sports, physical education, Olympic and Paralympic Movement is responsible for knowing the information outlined here.
Aiding and Abetting
Example: A gym owner knows that a coach was made Ineligible by the Competent Authority due to misconduct but still hires them to train athletes at the gym.
Bullying Behaviour
Bullying Behaviour is repeated behaviour or a single, severe incident directed at an athlete. The behaviour is intended or likely to hurt, control, or tear down that person emotionally, physically, or sexually. It can be: Physical: hitting, beating up, spitting at, or throwing objects at someone; stealing, hiding, destroying, or interfering with someone’s property Verbal, written, or visual: ridiculing, name-calling, taunting, or threatening to harm someone; using gestures to threaten or intimidate Social (including cyberbullying): spreading rumours or lies to harm someone’s reputation; socially excluding them and asking others to do the same; using technology to harass, frighten, intimidate, or humiliate them; posting real or manipulated harmful content online Discriminatory: Bullying Behaviour directed at someone because of their age, ethnicity, looks, culture, religion, regional origin, or disability Criminal conduct: any conduct described as bullying under law When done to Adults, these behaviours could qualify as other violations of the SafeSport Code, such as Hazing or Harassment. Bullying does not include petty slights, minor inconveniences, or lack of good manners, unless these behaviours are repeated or very aggressive.
Example: Throughout the year, athletes on an under-15 team have been leaving mean comments on a teammate’s social media account
Child Abuse
Child Abuse is hurting a child's body or mind, sexually abusing or using a child, or not properly caring for a child. It includes anything that the law calls child abuse
Example: A 10-year-old athlete says the teachers hit them when they get angry.
Consent
Consent means a person freely and clearly uses words or actions to say they want to take part in a specific sexual activity, and they understand what they are agreeing to. Clear actions can show Consent, but staying silent is not Consent. Agreeing to one activity does not mean agreeing to others. A person can take back their Consent at any time, using clear words or actions. A person cannot give Consent if: •They are being forced •They are Incapacitated (for example, because of alcohol, drugs, or a health condition) •There is a Power Imbalance •They are under the legal age of Consent In the SafeSport Code, the age of Consent is 18. There is one exception: when both people are within three years of age of each other, and there is no Power Imbalance
Example: Two 21-year-old athletes talk and agree together to start a romantic relationship.
Cyber Abuse
Cyber Abuse is using technology to harass, scare, or hurt someone. For example, posting a rumour on social media or sending threats by text. It includes doxing, sharing someone's personal information without their permission. It also includes sharing real or fake sexual images, sexual comments and jokes without their Consent.
Example: An athlete posts a teammate's phone number on social media and encourages others to harass them
Emotional Misconduct
Emotional Misconduct includes: •Words: attacking someone with words again and again — for example, name-calling, body-shaming, or making fun of them •Physical actions: being aggressive again and again or very badly — for example, throwing equipment at someone or punching walls near them •Ignoring someone: leaving someone out or ignoring them for a long time, or often excluding them from activities or coaching for no good reason •Stalking: following, watching, threatening, or messaging someone on purpose and again and again — in person or online — in a way that would reasonably scare or upset them or people close to them •Against the law: any behaviour that the law of the land calls emotional abuse, such as child abuse or neglect A person's actions can count as Emotional Misconduct even if they did not mean to cause harm. Emotional Misconduct does not include things that are a normal part of sport. For example, a coach can talk with a wrestler about how to manage their weight, but must not make fun of them or shame their body.
Example: When teaching new skills, a coach corrects every athlete's grip except one athlete, who the coach completely ignores.
Exposing a Minor to Sexual Content or Imagery
The SafeSport Code does not allow anyone to purposely show sexual content or images to someone under 18. This includes pornography, sexual comments, sexual gestures, or sexual situations. If adults do something similar to each other, it may count as a different type of Sexual Misconduct.
Example: On the way to a game, a 20-year-old assistant coach sits next to a 14-year-old hockey player on the bus and shows them pornography on a phone
Grooming
Grooming happens when someone does a series of things on purpose so they can sexually abuse a child or a vulnerable person. This person often chooses a child who feels alone or vulnerable, and works to earn that child's trust. They may also try to earn the trust of adults around the child — family, community, or the sport organisation. Once the abuser has earned trust, they often keep manipulating people so they can continue the abuse. Grooming can happen in person, by phone, or online.
Example: A shooting official offers private, one-on-one meetings with "promising" athletes. This later turns into private messages that become sexual
Harassment
Harassment is behaviour that happens again and again, or one very serious time, aimed at another person. It is meant to, or likely to: •Cause fear, embarrassment, or annoyance: for example, threatening to hurt someone or making fun of them again and again •Offend or put someone down: for example, repeatedly using slurs or making offensive jokes about someone •Create an unwelcoming environment: repeated or serious actions that make it hard for someone to take part in activities •Show power over someone because of prejudice: against a person or group's age, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, national background, or disability It also includes anything law of land calls harassment. Harassment does not include small unkind moments or simple bad manners, unless they happen often or are very serious. Note: Harassment based on someone's sex or sexual orientation is a type of Sexual Misconduct in the Safe Sport Code.
Example: Am archery coach makes jokes about an athlete's prosthetic arm at almost every practice.
Hazing
Hazing is any action — physical, mental, emotional, or psychological — meant to abuse, put down, scare, or endanger a person so they can join or be accepted by a group. No one can give Consent to Hazing, even if they seem willing to take part. Hazing may include: •Physical acts: hitting someone with fists or objects, or physically holding them down •Non-physical acts: forcing someone to play drinking games, do embarrassing things, or keeping them from sleep, food, or water •Against the law: anything that the law of the land calls hazing
Example: A badminton academy "welcomes" new players by lining them up and hitting shuttles at them
Intimate Relationship
Adults such as coaches and administrators cannot have an Intimate Relationship with a minor, or with anyone when there is a Power Imbalance. Family relationships are not included in this rule. The only exception is when there is no Power Imbalance and the age difference is three years or less. An intimate or romantic relationship often — but not always — includes sexual activity. It can also include: •Grooming behaviour •Regular contact outside of sport •An emotional connection •Giving each other gifts •Thinking or acting like a couple •Sharing private details about each other's lives outside of sport All the details of a situation are looked at when deciding if a relationship is intimate, and if there is a Power Imbalance. Even when a relationship is not illegal, it can still break the Safe Sport Code.
Example: A coach has been giving gifts to one athlete on the team and meeting privately with them
Nonconsensual Sexual Contact or Intercourse
This means trying, or actually, touching someone sexually or having sex with them without their Consent. This can include: •Kissing •Touching someone's breasts, buttocks, groin, or genitals on purpose, with or without clothes on •Touching someone else with any of those body parts on purpose •Making someone touch themselves or another person with or on those body parts •Putting any object or body part, even slightly, inside someone's private areas •Any contact, even slight, between one person's mouth and another person's genitals
Example: A swim coach keeps adjusting athletes' swimwear without asking, and touches their buttocks
Physical Misconduct
Physical Misconduct is any behaviour done on purpose that hurts, or could reasonably hurt, another person's body. Physical Misconduct includes: •Physical acts: punching, beating, slapping, or choking someone; letting someone go back to play after a serious injury without medical approval •Non-physical acts: not letting someone have water or food; giving someone alcohol or drugs illegally, including someone else's prescription medication; forcing someone into a painful position for no sport-related reason; risking others' safety by playing a sport while impaired •Against the law: anything law of the land describes as physical abuse or misconduct, such as assault or child abuse Physical Misconduct does not include actions that are a normal part of sport. For example, athletes may kick and hit each other in a karate match, but not during a swim meet.
Example: An athlete is given prescription pain killer medicine that was prescribed to a different athlete
Power Imbalance
A Power Imbalance usually exists when one person has more power or authority than another in a relationship. It is always assumed to exist in a coach-Athlete relationship. It can also exist between two Athletes. In a Power Imbalance, one person: •Has authority or control over the other person •Can give or take away a benefit or opportunity from the other person •Is responsible for the other person's physical or mental well-being Things that help decide if there is a Power Imbalance include: •The type and amount of authority •The type and length of the relationship •Each person's age and role •Whether one person is clearly the aggressor •Big differences in age, size, strength, or mental ability Once a coach-Athlete relationship exists, a Power Imbalance is always assumed, no matter the Athlete's age. If the relationship began when the Athlete was under 18, the Power Imbalance continues even after the relationship ends, until the Athlete turns 25.
Example: A coach and an athlete are the same age, but the coach decides if and how long the athlete plays in a match.
Retaliation
Retaliation means taking, or threatening to take, any negative action connected to a complaint, report, or investigation into misconduct. It can happen before, during, or after someone takes part in the Authorising body's process. It can also involve other organizations under the Authorising body's authority. The Safe Sport Code does not allow Retaliation. It is its own type of misconduct. Retaliation can look like: •Threatening, scaring, or harassing a victim, witness, or anyone who supports them •Pressuring someone to drop a complaint or refuse to help with an investigation
Example: A Sports administrator threatens to fire a coach if the coach cooperates with a Safe Sport investigation
Sexual Bullying Behaviour
Sexual Bullying Behaviour is behaviour that happens again and again, or one very serious incident, of a sexual nature that is: •Aggressive •Aimed at someone under 18 •Meant to, or likely to, hurt, control, or put down that person emotionally, physically, or sexually It also includes bullying about a person's actual or assumed sex, including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related health conditions or sexual orientation. This is true even if the actions themselves are not sexual. Sexual Bullying Behaviour can be physical, in words, writing, pictures, or social, and it can happen in person or online. When done to adults, it may count as a different violation, such as Sexual Hazing or Sexual Harassment
Example: Teammates make sexual gestures at a 15-year-old hockey player every time he gets the ball during practice.
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual Exploitation happens when someone tries, threatens, or purposely: •Lets someone watch private sexual activity from a hidden place without Consent •Watches, records, photographs, or streams sexual activity, or a person's real or fake private parts, without Consent •Shows or posts that content without Consent first •Exposes someone to a sexually transmitted infection on purpose without telling them •Makes someone have sex for payment, promise of marriage or offers to pay someone for sex •Misuses a position of power, trust, or someone's vulnerability for sexual reasons
Example: An athlete on an adult team secretly records their teammates while they are changing in the locker room.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment is any unwanted physical or verbal behaviour, or communication (written, pictures, or video), aimed at someone because of their real or assumed sex or sexual orientation. Sexual Harassment may include aggressive, intimidating, or hostile actions. This means the person harassing someone: •Makes sexual favours a condition for playing sports, working, or being in school •Makes decisions about sports, work, or school based on how the person responds •Creates a hostile, unwelcoming environment
Example: A trainer makes sexual comments about athletes' bodies while they work out
Sexual Hazing
Sexual Hazing is any sexual behaviour — physical, mental, emotional, or psychological, meant to abuse, put down, scare, or endanger someone so they can join or be accepted by a group. No one can give Consent to Sexual Hazing, even if they seem willing. Sexual Hazing also includes hazing about someone's sex or sexual orientation, even if the actions are not sexual themselves.
Example: To be accepted by their basketball team, new players are pressured to take naked showers in front of the whole team.
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual Misconduct covers many kinds of sexual behaviour done without Consent, including •Sexual Harassment •Nonconsensual Sexual Contact or Intercourse (or trying to do it) •Sexual Exploitation, including fake images •Exposing a Minor to Sexual Content/Imagery •Sexual Bullying Behaviour, Sexual Hazing, or other inappropriate sexual conduct
Wilful Tolerance
Wilful Tolerance happens when there is a Power Imbalance, and the person with more power allows misconduct to happen to the other person. This is its own specific Safe Sport Code violation. It applies to coaches and other adults with power in the organisation
Example: An administrator ignores an athlete's Bullying Behaviour toward a teammate, because they don't want to get their best player in trouble