As a parent of a WSC player, I engage:

To respect
- Referees and their decisions, the opponents, the parents and their club. Remember without an opponent there is no game.
- The coaches’ decisions towards my kids and their teams.

To support your kids AND their team; in other words,
- To be an example by my attitude and promote fair play and team spirit to my kids.
- To make sure my kids are on time (10 minutes before practice and 45 minutes before games, or as requested by the coaches) and well equipped for practices and games and ready to play.
- To inform the coach of any injury or health problem that can have an impact on my kids during the activities with their team.
- To support my kids in their time management for the soccer activity and attend as many games as possible.
- To support my kids and their team during games and practices.
- To be humble in victory and objective in defeat.
- To congratulate my kids for their efforts and for showing a positive attitude and fair play.
- To help my kids understand their role and the importance of their contribution to the team by highlighting their progress instead on focusing on results.
- To not force my kids to play competitive soccer against his will.

In any circumstances, I cannot
- Enter the field or approach the bench of the players during games, except at the request of the referee, the manger or the coach.
- Offend referees or criticize their decisions, or the coach’s decisions during games or practices. Parents are welcome to come discuss any situation with the coaches as long as there are no players present. However, it is recommended to wait 24 hours after a game to reflect on it (depending on the situation).
- Coach my kids during games or practices. Kids have to concentrate on their team, their role on the field and the instruction given by the coach.

I understand that if I don’t respect my responsibilities as a parent, the Club may ask me to stop attending team activities and my kids can lose his privileges as a WSC player. The consequence can go from losing game time to suspension from practices and games. In extreme cases, it can go up to missing a complete season.

As a WSC coach or volunteer,

I understand
- Coaches are in a position of trust, and it’s through professional boundaries that a foundation of trust between coaches and athletes is built.
- A coach may be the person a child chooses to talk to about something happening in their life.
- It is important that coaches know how to respond to a child in danger, and how to share information appropriately with those who can help.

I engage to
- Support and assist each child to do their best and fulfill the values of respect and engagements as outlined above.
- Model behaviour that enhances healthy relationships with children.
- Ensure all interactions and activities (including electronic communication) are transparent, accountable, tied to my coaching duties and in response to meeting the child’s needs.
- Encourage appropriate behaviour and abstain from inappropriate behaviour, such as those listed in the examples below.

Examples of Appropriate Behaviour
- Respectful language, tone and attitude towards others
- Respectful of personal physical and emotional boundaries
- Responding to children to meet the child’s needs and not the adult’s
- Engaging with children in a manner that would be seen by a reasonable observer as maintaining reasonable boundaries
- Keeping practices open to observation by parents
- Communication with children is transparent and accountable

Examples of Inappropriate Behaviour
- Disrespectful language
- Humiliating or intimidating children
- Inappropriate touching of children (e.g., massaging, stroking, caressing, roughhousing, tickling)
- Confiding or sharing overly personal information with a child
- Asking children to keep secrets
- Electronic communication, including pictures, with children that is personal and not directly tied to coaching duties
- Communication that is sexual or flirtatious in nature
- Pictures taken in change rooms

As a member of the WSC community,

I engage
- To respect the “Rule of Two,” which serves to protect players in potentially vulnerable situations by ensuring that more than one adult is present.
- To contact the WSC the primary liaison for child protection and safety (“Primary Liaison”) if I have any questions on the Code of Conduct. The Primary Liaison is Sarah Ava Nouraeyan, and can be contacted at 514-589-9181 or sarah.nouraeyan@gmail.com.
- To promptly report all allegations or suspicions of inappropriate behaviour witnessed first-hand or learned of to the Primary Liaison, or if unavailable, to the Technical Director or the President (designated contacts).
- To promptly report all allegations or suspicions of potentially illegal behaviour (for example, child sexual abuse) witnessed first-hand or learned of to police and/or child welfare.

If I am unsure of whether the issue witnessed or heard about involves potentially illegal or inappropriate behaviour, I will contract the Primary Liaison or other designated contact immediately, with the understanding that the WSC and the designated contact will support me through the process.

The goal of the WSC Rule of Two policy is to implement procedures that limit the instances where vulnerable situations are possible.

The WSC defines vulnerable situation as any interaction between a coach and minor athlete which takes place out of earshot or observation of others. It can include closed doors meetings, travel and training environments. A public space, whether outdoors or indoors, is considered to a vulnerable situation if no other adults are actively present.

For purposes of the Rule or Two, the WSC identifies level of supervision as follows:

• Gold Standard – two trained coaches or managers

• Secondary level – one coach or manager, and one other adult

• Tertiary level – one coach or manager, and two athletes
  

While the Gold Standard is the preferred environment, it is not expected that it will be reached at all times. The one-on-one interaction between a coach and a minor athlete, without another individual present, is unpermitted and to be avoided in all circumstances.

The alternatives presented for the vulnerable situations below are acceptable and would be considered to be in alignment with the Rule of Two:

• Getting to and from the field – Parents or guardians are responsible for the transportation of athletes to and from events. The Rule of Two does not apply as no coaches or managers are present.

• On field situations (i.e. games or practices) – Tertiary level
  For example, it is permissible for one coach to take a practice (though two or more is preferred). A one-on-one training session is permitted if other adults are around the public space.

• Off field situations (i.e. use of arena rooms or indoor training) – Secondary level

• Car travel – Tertiary level
  Children under 12 must be in the backseat and all passengers must be wearing seat-belts. All drivers must have valid license and insurance.

• Out-of-town tournaments – Gold standard applies to any vulnerable situation.
  
  The Rule of Two does not apply if the athlete is the child of the coach or manager in question.
  
  

More Information on Reporting

The duty to report applies even if the information is told in confidence.

Potentially illegal behaviour includes suspicion related to non-soccer activities which WSC coaches or volunteers may become aware of related to a third party.

Call 911 if there is a crime in progress or life or physical integrity is at risk.

For child welfare, call the Director of Youth Protection (child protection agency). For services in English in Montreal, call 514-935-6196. For services in French in Montreal, call 514-896-3100.

For the police, call the Société de police de Ville de Montréal at 514-393-1133. Incidents can also be reported online at https://spvm.qc.ca/en/Contact. Reporting to one of the designated contacts is also desirable.

Unless informed otherwise, the individual who reported the incident should not attempt to conduct an independent investigation or communicate to others.

The WSC will follow up internally as appropriate and the individual who reported the incident advised.