Protecting Youth In Sports Act And Safe Sport Policy Manual

SAFE SPORT POLICY MANUAL

As per the March 2026 Board Meeting correspondence, the Government of Manitoba passed the Protecting Youth in Sports Act in 2025. The Safe Sport Policy Manual became law on April 1^st, 2026.

The Protecting Youth in Sports Act (also known as Bill 21) requires Sport Manitoba and provincially-recognized and prescribed sport Organizations to adopt and establish standards and oversight to protect Young Athletes.

Sport Manitoba developed the policies over a few months, and they are in force as of April 1^st, 2026.

The policies that are included in the Safe Sport Policy Manual are:

Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy

Discipline and Complaints Policy

Alternate Dispute Resolution Policy

Appeal Policy

Respect In Sport Policy

Coach Screening Policy Minimum Requirements

Maltreatment Complaints must be referred to an independent adjudicator, who is responsible for conducting preliminary reviews, Investigations, and hearings as needed, ensuring all Parties are properly notified, and issuing written decisions and disciplinary outcomes.

Maltreatment Complaints go directly to the Independent Third Party (ITP), but if they are sent to the MSA, the MSA would engage the ITP to review the case and determine next steps.

The ITP, once they receive the Maltreatment Complaint, will determine if the threshold for the ITP to proceed has been met or if it is to be forwarded to the MSA because it does not meet the threshold. In that case, the Complaint would be treated as a non-maltreatment case.

Non-maltreatment Complaints, Discipline, Code of Conduct and Ethics, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, and policy matters will be addressed by the MSA judicial committees using the Safe Sport Policy Manual policies. In addition, the MSA Rules and Regulations Discipline section would be invoked alongside the Safe Sport Policy Manual and the MSA Mandatory Minimums.

What is Safe Sport?

Safe sport refers to an environment that prioritizes the physical and psychological well-being of all participants. It involves a commitment to providing optimal experiences, while actively preventing and addressing all forms of maltreatment, including abuse, harassment, neglect, and discrimination.

Advancing safe sport is a shared responsibility that requires awareness, education, and clear actions for reporting. This page provides resources and guidance to help advance safe sport in Soccer.

Safe Sport Policy Manual

The Protecting Youth in Sports Act

The Protecting Youth in Sports Act enhances protection measures for young athletes in Manitoba’s sport system. All Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), including MSA and MSA members, must adhere to the following requirements:

• Adopt the policies outlined in the Safe Sport Policy Manual.
• Make safe sport information available to parents and young athletes.
• Ensure coaches complete required screening and training.
• Ensure all participants have access to report allegations of maltreatment to an Independent Third Party (ITP).
• Refer any allegations of maltreatment to the ITP if MSA/ MSA members receive such complaints.
• Enforce any disciplinary action determined by the ITP.

The Protecting Youth in Sports Act

Report a Maltreatment Complaint

ITP Sport is responsible for overseeing all allegations of maltreatment. If you would like to submit a maltreatment complaint, please submit your complaint to ITP Sport here:

Reporting a maltreatment complaint may seem confusing and overwhelming. The following resources can help you navigate the process:

• How to File a Maltreatment Complaint - Interactive Video
• Maltreatment Complaint Process Flowchart
• Filing a Maltreatment Complaint - Complainant’s Guide
• Maltreatment Complaint - Respondent’s Guide

If a maltreatment complaint is submitted to a coach, official, volunteer, or staff member, the complaint must be referred to the ITP.

Report a Non-Maltreatment Complaint

Non-maltreatment Complaints, Discipline, Code of Conduct and Ethics, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, and policy matters will be addressed by the MSA judicial committees using the Safe Sport Policy Manual policies. In addition, the MSA Rules and Regulations Discipline section would be invoked alongside the Safe Sport Policy Manual and the MSA Mandatory Minimums.

Please see the Discipline & Appeals section for more information. Click here

Safe Sport Resources:

• Safe Sport Policy Manual
  
  • Policies outlining behaviour expectations for all sport stakeholders, procedures for handling complaints, appeal procedures, and coach education and screening requirements.

• Coach Screening Policy
  
  • All MSA coaches (any individual who is 14 years of age or older and is authorized or recognized by an organization to provide instruction and direction to participants in a sport) must complete the necessary coach screening requirements as per MSA screening policy.

• Safe Sport Tips for Athletes
  
  • Age appropriate tips for athletes under 8, ages 9-12, and 13+, describing expected behaviour, measures for their protection, and steps to take if they experience harm, with the 13+ group also having access to a 20-minute safe sport education online module.

• Safe Sport Handbook for Parents and Guardians
  
  • Information detailing behaviour expectations, different forms of maltreatment, possible indicators that a child experienced maltreatment, and steps to take if a child experienced maltreatment.

• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders
  
  • This course must be completed within sixty (60) days of being assigned a coaching position. Coaches maintain their Respect in Sport certification status by completing the course every five (5) years.

• Safe Sport Line
  
  • If you or someone you know is experiencing maltreatment in sport, and you need someone to talk to, contact the safe sport line at 1-833-656-SAFE (7233) or help@safesportline.ca

Additional Safe Sport Information

For additional safe sport resources, visit Sport Manitoba's safe sport page here.