Badminton is more than what happens between the first serve and the final point. It is where young people develop confidence. It is where friendships are made, coaches become mentors, volunteers build community, and athletes discover what they are capable of.

For those experiences to have a lasting positive impact, people need to feel safe, respected, welcomed and supported. At Badminton NWT, we believe creating that environment is a responsibility we all share. Safe Sport starts with all of us.

Creating the Environment We Want

Safe Sport is not simply a policy or something we think about when a concern arises. It is part of the culture we create every time someone walks into a gym. It means having clear expectations for behaviour. It means appropriately screening people in positions of responsibility. It means educating coaches, officials, volunteers and leaders. It means respecting boundaries and creating open and observable interactions.

And it means making sure people know that they can ask questions and speak up. Badminton NWT’s Safe Sport approach includes following the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport, appropriate screening, Safe Sport education and training, respectful communication, and processes for responding to concerns fairly and confidentially whenever possible.

These principles are also reflected nationally. Badminton Canada’s Safe Sport framework includes policies addressing athlete protection, screening, conduct and ethics, complaints, appeals and other areas of participant safety.

The Rule of Two

One important safeguard is the Rule of Two. The goal is to make interactions between participants and people in positions of authority open, observable and justifiable. Whenever possible, a coach should have another responsible adult present when interacting with a participant, particularly a minor. It is a simple idea that helps protect athletes, coaches and everyone involved in our sport.

Parents Should Feel Comfortable Asking Questions

We also want parents and guardians to ask questions.

• Who is responsible for my child?
• Have the adults working with participants been appropriately screened?
• What is the Rule of Two?
• How do coaches communicate with athletes?
• What are the expectations during travel and overnight stays?
• What happens in change rooms and at team gatherings?
• How do I report something that doesn’t feel right?
• Who can my child talk to if they have a concern?

These are not uncomfortable questions. They are important questions. Creating a strong sport environment means making space for those conversations.

Speak Up

If something does not feel right, we want people to speak up. Badminton NWT encourages participants to report concerns involving bullying, harassment, discrimination, abuse, neglect, inappropriate behaviour, retaliation, or potential breaches of the Code of Conduct.

Reports are reviewed according to the Badminton NWT Sport Integrity Policy Suite and, depending on the circumstances, may involve education or informal resolution, review by an independent third party, a formal investigation, or referral to external authorities when required.

Positive Experiences. Lifelong Participation.

Ultimately, Safe Sport is about creating positive experiences. When someone feels safe, they can concentrate on learning. When they feel respected, they are more willing to participate. When they feel like they belong, they are more likely to come back. And when sport becomes somewhere they want to return to, we have the opportunity to create something much bigger than a badminton player. We can help create a lifelong connection to sport, physical activity, community and one another.

So whether you are an athlete, coach, official, volunteer, parent, Board member or supporter:

• We respect each other.
• We play fair.
• We speak up.
• We look out for one another.

Every practice. Every tournament. Every interaction. Safe Sport. Stronger Together.