Responsible Coaching Movement

Rule of Two - Background Screening - Respect and Ethics Training

On October 18, 2017, Water Polo Canada officially signed the pledge of the Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM). This movement which is coordinated by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) was created to help ensure the protection of athletes and coaches. Water Polo Canada pledges to implement policies and practices that focus on RCM's Phase 1.

The three steps of Phase 1 that Water Polo Canada has committed to implementing are:

1. Rule of Two
2. Background Screening
3. Respect and Ethics Training

For more information on the program, please visit the RCM website.

Rule of Two

“When following the Rule of Two, all interactions and communications with participants are in open, observable, and justifiable settings, and two responsible adults — whether a coach, parent, staff or screened volunteer — are present.” - Coaching Association of Canada.

The Rule of Two applies to in-person and virtual settings. 

For more information regarding the Rule of Two, please visit the CAC website or download the following PDF.

Background Screening

Water Polo Canada commits to having all Canadian National Team (Senior Team and Age Group National Team) coaches as well as all National Championship League (NCL) coaches to provide valid background screening, Criminal Records Checks (CRCs).

All CRCs provided by NCL coaches must have been completed two (2) years from the end of the current NCL season. NCL coaches should check the NCL Requirements webpage for more details. 

For more information regarding background screening, please visit the CAC website or download the following PDF.

Respect and Ethics Training

All coaches must take the Make Ethical Decisions module from the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). This module will help coaches be able to identify the legal, ethical, and moral implications of difficult situations that present themselves.

All Canadian National Team (Senior Team and Age Group National Team) coaches and all National Championship League (NCL) coaches must take either the Respect Group Inc.'s Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders module or the CAC's Safe Sport Training module. These online training modules will educate coaches and staff on the prevention of abuse, bullying, discrimination and harassment, as well as build a culture of respect, becoming better role models. 

In addition, all WPC management staff must take the Respect Group Inc.'s Respect in Sport for the Workplace module. 

For more information regarding respect and ethics training, please visit the CAC website or download the following PDF.