Softball Canada is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to join the Canadian Safe Sport Program (CSSP), the new program by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), to prevent and address maltreatment in sport. The Canadian Safe Sport Program is a new program that is part of a growing national movement to rid Canadian sport of all forms of harassment, discrimination, and abuse. As a program signatory, Softball Canada is an active player in this movement.

Unlike the previous approach, where each national sport organization created its own system for dealing with complaints of maltreatment, this is a centralized “one-stop-shop.” It is independent and led by experts in their fields, using education and research to prevent maltreatment at all levels of sport.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) serves as the central hub. It operates independently to administer complaints about alleged violations of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS).

Where there are admissible allegations of abuse, harassment or discrimination, the CCES conducts independent investigations and recommends sanctions against individuals who violate the UCCMS.

The CCES will also maintain a national sanctions registry, which prevents individuals from evading sanctions by moving to different sports or to different jurisdictions.

For more information contact safesport@softball.ca.