CANADIAN SPORT SCHOOL VICTORIA

STUDENT-ATHLETES and Coach HANDBOOK

Definitions

1.          The following terms have these meanings in this Handbook:

“CSS” – Canadian Sport School Victoria program

“Student-athletes” –  Individuals enrolled in the CSS program, and users of PISE services

“CSS Staff” – Any coach, teacher, medical professional, practitioner, counselor or administrator affiliated with the Canadian Sport School, PISE Canadian Sport Institute Pacific or Westshore DL School.

“PISE” – The Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence; the building and facility in which the CSI Pacific operates the CSS program.
“CSI” – The Canadian Sport Institute Pacific

Purpose

2. The purpose of this handbook is to ensure a safe and positive environment within PISE by making Student-athletes and Coaches aware that there is an expectation, at all times, of appropriate behaviour consistent with PISE’s core values and this Code.

Application of this Code

3. A Student-athlete and Coach found to have violated this Code or otherwise engaged in acts of violence or harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Responsibilities

4.          Student-athletes and CSS Staff have a responsibility to:

Core Values

1. Embody the CSS core values of: Integrity, Accountability, Leadership, Humility, Community, Pursuit of Excellence, Respect, Discipline, Commitment and Professionalism.
2. Maintain and enhance the dignity and self-esteem of others by:

1. Demonstrating respect to all individuals regardless of body type, physical characteristics, athletic ability, gender, gender identity, ancestry, colour, ethnic or racial origin, nationality, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, religious belief, political belief, disability, or economic status
2. Acting, when appropriate, to correct or prevent practices that are unjustly discriminatory
3. Consistently treating other individuals fairly and reasonably

Harassment

1. Refrain from any behaviour that constitutes harassment, where harassment is defined as comment or conduct directed towards an individual or group, which is offensive, abusive, racist, sexist, degrading, or malicious. Types of behaviour that constitute harassment include, but are not limited to:

• I.Written or verbal abuse, threats, or outbursts
• The display of visual material which is offensive or which one ought to know is offensive in the circumstances
• Unwelcome remarks, jokes, comments, innuendo, or taunts iv. Leering or other suggestive or obscene gestures
• Condescending or patronizing behaviour which is intended to undermine self-esteem, diminish performance or adversely affect working conditions
• V.Practical jokes which cause awkwardness or embarrassment, endanger a person’s safety, or negatively affect performance
• Any form of hazing
• VII.Unwanted physical contact including, but not limited to, touching, petting, pinching, or kissing
• VIII.Unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, requests, or invitations
• IX.Physical or sexual assault
• Behaviours such as those described above that are not directed towards a specific individual or group but have the same effect of creating a negative or hostile environment
• XI.Retaliation or threats of retaliation against an individual who reports harassment to PISE.

Refrain from any behaviour that constitutes sexual harassment, where sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or conduct of a sexual nature.

1. Types of behaviour that constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

1. Display of sexually offensive material
2. Sexist jokes
3. Sexually degrading words used to describe a person
4. Inquiries or comments about a person’s sex life
5. Unwelcome sexual flirtation, advance, or propositions
6. Persistent unwanted contact

Appearance

        e)        Ensure that clothing and personal grooming:

1. are appropriate for the setting,
2. does not create a distraction or disruptive situation,
3. wears clothing with appropriate and protected coverage

1. does not present a hazard to the student-athletes or others
2. does not reference or promote drugs, alcohol, sex, prejudice or profanity

CSS Classroom

1. Respect the rights and property of all CSS staff and student-athletes, including each student-athletes right to effective and efficient learning
2. Comply with classroom expectations and CSS core values as set by CSS staff or individual teachers
3. Ensure that each individual is contributing to a positive and effective learning environment

Sport Performance Laboratory

1. Sign a laboratory code of conduct if required
2. Use the laboratory as permitted for optimal testing results
3. Respect the laboratory space and environment, understanding that it is also a CSI staff workspace

Anti-Doping

1. Refrain from the use of any supplements, performance enhancing drugs or illegal drugs, as indicated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).
2. Refrain from associating with any individual for the purpose of coaching, training, competition, instruction, administration, management, athletic development, or supervision, who has incurred an anti-doping rule violation and is serving a sanction involving a period of ineligibility imposed pursuant to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program and/or the World Anti-Doping Code and recognized by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES)

Training Facilities

Including but not limited to PISE and Inspire Sports (Gymnastics)

1. Demonstrate respect to all staff, users and partners of the facilities
2. Show respect for the equipment and amenities in the facility
3. Refrain from the use of foul, offensive, insulting language
4. Refrain from taking pictures or video of any person without their consent
5. Refrain from mixing or blending of powders and/or recovery drinks in training areas
6. Refrain from chewing gum, the use of tobacco and spitting

Coaches and Staff

5. In addition to section 4 (above), coaches have many additional responsibilities. The coach/student-athlete relationship is a privileged one and plays a critical role in the personal, sport and athletic development of the student-athletes. Coaches must understand and respect the inherent power imbalance that exists in this relationship and must be extremely careful not to abuse it, consciously or unconsciously. Coaches will:

1. Ensure a safe environment by selecting activities and establishing controls that are suitable for the age, experience, ability, and fitness level of the involved student-athletes
2. Prepare student-athletes systematically and progressively, using appropriate time frames and monitoring physical and psychological adjustments while refraining from using training methods or techniques that may harm student-athletes
3. Avoid compromising the present and future health of student-athletes by communicating and cooperating with sport medicine professionals in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of student-athletes’ medical and psychological treatments
4. Provide student-athletes (and the parents/guardians of minor student-athletes) with the information necessary to be involved in the decisions that affect the student-athletes
5. Act in the best interest of the student-athletes’ development as a whole person
6. Respect other coaches
7. Report any ongoing criminal investigation, conviction, or existing bail conditions, including those for violence, child pornography, or possession, use, or sale of any illegal substance
8. Under no circumstances provide, promote, or condone the use of drugs (other than properly prescribed medications) or performance-enhancing substances and, in the case of minors, alcohol and/or tobacco
9. Not engage in a sexual relationship with a student-athletes under 18 years old, or an intimate or sexual relationship with a student-athletes over the age of 18 if the coach is in a position of power, trust, or authority over the student-athletes
10. Recognize the power inherent in the position of coach and respect and promote the rights of all participants in sport. This is accomplished by establishing and following procedures for confidentiality (right to privacy), informed participation, and fair and reasonable treatment. Coaches have a special responsibility to respect and promote the rights of participants who are in a vulnerable or dependent position and less able to protect their own rights
11. Dress professionally, neatly and inoffensively
12. Use inoffensive language, taking into account the audience being addressed
13. Maintain professional relationships with student-athletes on social media platforms.

Student-athletes

6.          In addition to section 4 (above), student-athletes will have additional responsibilities to:

1. Arrive on-time, well-nourished, and prepared to participate to their best abilities in all training sessions and events
2. Never ridicule a participant for a poor performance or practice
3. Act in a sportsmanlike manner and not display appearances of violence, foul language, or gestures to other student-athletes, officials, coaches, or spectators

Athletic Expectations & Standards

1. Continue to train and compete at a high performance level, demonstrating progress within the high performance pathway.
2. Inform CSS staff immediately of any coaching changes and ensure that CSS staff is provided with current coach contact information.
3. Inform CSS staff immediately if the student-athletes decides to withdraw from high performance sport.

Academic Expectations & Standards

1. Submit each term report card within one week of receiving it

Maintain “Good” or “Excellent” work habits in each class and on every report card, with the understanding that failing to meet these standards will result in the student-athletes being placed on academic probation for one term. Following this term, the student-athletes will be removed from probation if their work habits have returned to G/E status. If the student-athletes work habits still do not meet the CSS academic standards, they may be 

1. suspended from the program to focus on their academic performance. After two consecutive terms on academic probation and suspension, a student athletes may be removed from the program if they still do not meet the academic standard.

Information Technology

7.       Internet, Computer & Email Use

This policy applies to all resources and information technology equipment owned or leased by PISE regardless of the time of day, location or method of access. The acceptable use of Internet, Computer Equipment and E-mail represents the proper management of a PISE business resource. The ability to connect with a specific Internet site does not in itself imply that the user is permitted to visit that site. Monitoring tools are in place to monitor use of E-mail and the Internet. Users shall have no expectation of privacy associated with E-mail transmissions and the information they publish, store or access on the Internet using PISE’s resources.

1. Read, acknowledge and sign an acceptable use policy statement before using these resources.
2. Use access to the Internet and E-mail in a responsible and informed way, conforming to network etiquette, customs, courtesies, and any or all applicable laws or regulation.
3. Read, acknowledge and sign an acceptable use policy statement before using these resources.
4. As with other forms of publication, copyright restrictions/regulations must be observed.

8.         Prohibited and Unacceptable Uses and Consequences

Use of Internet, E-mail and computer equipment resources is a privilege that may be revoked at any time for unacceptable use or inappropriate conduct. Any abuse of acceptable use policies may result in revocation of access and disciplinary action. The following activities are strictly prohibited:

1. Violations of the rights of any person or company protected by copyright, trade secret, patent or other intellectual property, including but not limited to, the downloading, installation or distribution of pirated software, digital music and video files.
2. Engaging in illegal activities or using the Internet or E-mail for any illegal purposes, including initiating or receiving communications that violate any provincial, federal or local laws and regulations. This includes malicious use, spreading of viruses, and hacking.
3. Hacking means gaining or attempting to gain the unauthorized access to any computers, computer networks, databases, data or electronically stored information.
4. Using resources to actively engage in procuring or transmitting material that is in violation of sexual harassment or hostile workplace laws, whether through language, frequency or size of messages. This includes statements, language, images, E-mail signatures or other materials that are reasonably likely to be perceived as offensive or disparaging of others based on race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious or political beliefs.
5. Using abusive or objectionable language in either public or private messages.
6. Knowingly accessing pornographic sites on the Internet and disseminating, soliciting or storing sexually oriented messages or images.
7. Use of peer-to-peer (referred to as P2P) networks such as Bit Torrent, Kazaa, Gnutella, Grokster, Limewire and similar services, due the high network traffic this type of applications generate.
8. Any other non-business related activities that will cause congestion, disruption of networks or systems including, but not limited to: Internet games, online gaming, unnecessary Listserve subscriptions and E-mail attachments, chat rooms and messaging services and similar Internet-based collaborative services.
9. Streaming music and video from Internet sites except where it is required to carry out the user duties, as these types of activities cause network congestion and affect overall network performance.

9. Training Facilities & Training Expectations:

CSS Student-Athletes and staff must:

1. Adhere to the rules and expectations of the PISE facility, and Inspire Sport facility.
2. Treat all facilities and equipment with respect
3. Enter the PISE or CSI training facility using the appropriate swipe card provided
4. PISE Facility Locker Rooms

PISE has day-use lockers, located in the public change rooms on the first floor which may be used under the following conditions:

1. Use lockers for intermittent day use only
2. Acknowledges that PISE reserves the right to cut locks placed on lockers overnight (belongings will be left with the PISE front desk staff)
3. Keep the locker room tidy

PISE also has public lockers available for rent throughout the year Please speak with the customer service representative at the PISE front desk on the first floor for more information and pricing. There are also lockers for use located on the second floor of the PISE building down the hallway to the left of the lobby.

Attendance & Session Start times  

The AM sessions begin at 8:00am and end at 11:00am. The PM sessions begin at 12:45pm and end at 3:30pm. 

Student-athletes and parents have a responsibility to:

1. Inform CSS staff at the earliest opportunity if you will be late, absent or need to leave early. To report an absence, please inform both CSS Coach and Teacher via email and ensure at least one parent/guardian is cc’d on the email.
2. Outside the hours of 8am and 5pm, all communication between student-athletes or parents and CSS staff will occur via email or phone call, unless an emergency necessitates communication in the form of instant/text messaging.
3. Ensure that student-athletes are not late on more than 3 occasions in one school year; Student athletes will be granted 3 lates per year to allow for emergency and unforeseen circumstances. Once two lates have been acquired, parents and student-athletes will be informed as such. After 3 lates, a meeting between CSS staff, student-athletes and parents will be arranged to discuss the student athlete’s commitment to the program.
4. Note that excused absences means "explained" absence; student-athletes are still responsible for work that is missed except in cases of extreme circumstance where parents should notify the teacher and coach about the situation.
5. Endeavor to use Fridays to arrange special appointments for medical, dental and other issues so that student-athletes do not miss CSS program time.
6. Endeavor to plan family holidays or trips at times when there is a school break so as to not interfere with regular attendance at CSS.

Illness

1. Refrain from attending CSS or entering the PISE facility when ill, especially when contagious.

Injury Protocols

1. Report all medical problems to the CSS Coach as soon as possible.
2. See a medical professional when necessary
3. Follow CSS Concussion protocols unless the student-athlete concussion protocol is being directed by a PSO or NSO representative.
4. Attend all training sessions and participate to their best ability as dictated by a medical professional.
5. Remain fully engaged in all training sessions.

Transportation

Transportation is the responsibility of students and their families.

Social Media, Online Presence & Personal Brand

 Student-athletes have a responsibility to:

1. Present themselves on social media and all forms of web presence in a manner that reflects positively upon themselves, their families, their community and PISE.
2. Not reference, promote or use drugs, alcohol, sex, prejudice or profanity on social media or on any online platform.
3. Use social media and their online web presence to help promote and further their goals as a high performance student-athlete.
4. Remove themselves from social media if they cannot abide by these guidelines.
5. Maintain professional relationships with CSS coaches and PISE staff on social media platforms.