TORONTO, Ont. (December 1, 2022) – Canada Basketball is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to join Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.

Safe sport has been an organizational priority for Canada Basketball for several years with the organization regularly working on implementing policies, procedures, training and programming to make basketball safe for all participants, from players and coaches to officials and volunteers.

Those affected Canada Basketball participants, who are subject to the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) – national team athletes (including Junior Academy), team coaches and staff, national office staff, and board of directors – will have access to the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, following a transition period which will end no later than March 1, 2023.

All other organizational participants – open ID athletes (both national team and Junior Academy), volunteers, officials, and athletes competing in the Canada Basketball 15U / 17U National Championships – will continue to have access to ITP Sport, Canada Basketball’s independent third-party reporting and intake case management system, at https://app.integritycounts.ca/org/itpsport or 1-800-758-9412.

“By committing to join Abuse-Free Sport, Canada Basketball has taken another important step as we continue to strive to create a safe sporting environment for all basketball participants across the country,” said Michael Bartlett, President & CEO of Canada Basketball. “We will continue to build off the safe sport foundation the organization has established over the last several years, while continually evolving our programs and policies to keep all those who love our game safe”.

Prior to March 1, 2023, Canada Basketball UCCMS participants who have experienced or witnessed abuse can contact ITP Sport.

In 2017, Canada Basketball took the Coaching Association of Canada’s Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) pledge, instituting the Rule of Two, background screening, as well as ethics training for all coaches under the jurisdiction of the organization.  Furthermore, a screening policy for those in positions of power was also introduced as a vital part of providing a safe sporting environment.

Canada Basketball adopted the UCCMS in 2019, integrating the document into the organization’s existing Code of Conduct and other policies, as well as developing the Safe Sport policy suite, which includes: Athlete Protection Guidelines, Discipline & Complaints Policy, Investigations Policy and Safe Sport Policy.

Mandatory safe sport training is a foundational element of both Canada Basketball’s athlete and coach orientation programs.  The organization continues to work on integrating the Coaching Association of Canada’s Safe Sport Training into coach education material, including the National Coaching Certification Program, as well as deliver safe sport education to national team age-group training camp participants and provincial team athletes competing at the Canada Basketball 15U & 17U National Championships.

Earlier this year, Canada Basketball became one of the first National Sport Organizations (NSOs) in Canada to launch a national safe sport campaign thanks to Safety in Sport funding provided by Sport Canada.  The campaign featured “Look Beyond,” a 30-second public service announcement which aired nationally on Sportsnet during Canada Basketball FIBA competitions this past summer. 

Canada Basketball believes that everyone has the right to enjoy the sport at whatever level or position they participate. Athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers have the right to participate in a safe and inclusive training and competitive environment that is free of abuse, harassment, or maltreatment.

More information about the Abuse-Free Sport program can be found HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and on Canada Basketball’s Safe Sport initiatives HERE.

ABOUT CANADA BASKETBALL

Canada Basketball is the National Sporting Organization for the sport of Basketball in Canada. Canada Basketball is respected worldwide and is recognized by the International Amateur Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Government of Canada as the sole governing body of the sport of amateur basketball in Canada. Canada Basketball, a not-for-profit organization, represents all basketball interests, provides leadership, coordination and direction in all areas of the sport of basketball.

-30-For more information, contact:
Matt Walker, mwalker@basketball.ca