Club Policies

Blizzard adheres to the Rule of Two Policy as recommended by the Coaching Association of Canada. The Rule of Two states that there will always be two screened and NCCP trained or certified coaches with an athlete, especially a minor athlete, when in a potentially vulnerable situation. This means that any one-on-one interaction between a coach and an athlete must take place within earshot and view of the second coach, with the exception of medical emergencies. One of the coaches must also be of the same gender as the athlete. Should there be a circumstance where a second screened and NCCP trained or certified coach is not available, a screened volunteer, parent, or adult can be recruited.

This rule serves to protect minor athletes in potentially vulnerable situations by ensuring that more than one adult is present. Vulnerable situations can include closed doors meetings, travel, and training environments amongst others. Organizations must create and implement, policies and procedures, in a sustainable, phased and measurable process, that limit the instances where these situations are possible. Canada Soccer Rule of Two Guidelines

As such, and on behalf of the Calgary Blizzard Soccer Club Staff and CBSC Board of Directors, the following child protection policy must always be adhered to.

A Coach, Coordinator, Staff, Volunteer must not:

1. Participate in any direct meeting with an individual player that is not done in the presence of another adult such as the team manager, assistant coach and/or the player’s parent or guardian. Direct feedback before, during or post games/practice scenarios is encouraged but must always be done at the training ground or similar venues within in a visible setting;
2. Engage directly with children through social media channels such as: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and any other social media outlets. Club and team-based group communication sites such as TeamSnap are to be utilized whenever possible;
3. Be alone with a child in a non-visible place and/or enclosed space, such as a car, change room, office or similar at any time;
4. Enter the locker room, change room, dressing room without knocking to let the players know you are about to enter. Please have a gender specific team official check to provide clearance that you can enter the dressing room.
5. Force/coerced/feel obligated to participate beyond their capability in sport activity when injured, suffering from an illness or rehabilitation from an injury.
6. Treat injured players out of sight of others. Please use a “two persons” supervision system when dealing with injured players. We encourage female team officials to treat female players and male team officials to treat male players.
7. Provide transportation to and from practices, tournaments, festivals and games to children unless accompanied by the player’s guardian and/or parent, or unless written permission is provided from the parent or guardian
8. Leave children alone after a game or practice if their parent/guardian has not arrived to pick them up. In such cases the Coach and or Team Manager must remain with child in a visible place until the player is picked up;
9. Conduct practices alone with a children’s team. Make sure you are in a visible place and that there are parents/guardians and or other adults present in the direct vicinity;
10. Use profanity, swearing, ridicule or violence towards a child.

The intent of this policy is to put the child’s safety and well-being first and never put yourself in a situation where you are alone with a child whether in a physical space or via direct communication channels. If at any time you are faced with a situation similar to the above, take the side of caution or seek guidance from the club technical staff, as even the most innocent type of situations can lead to unwanted challenges and misunderstandings. As a coach, staff, coordinator, team official, you must also be aware and keep all requirements current as part of Alberta Soccer.

Child Protection Concerns/Reports can be directed to: Diogo@calgaryblizzard.com

CBSC Bullying Policy

CBSC Social Media Guidelines

CBSC Privacy Policy