MedHat softball taking responsible coaching movement pledge ahead of 2023 season

By JAMES TUBB on January 19, 2023.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Minor Softball association is taking the next step ensuring its coaches bring the best environment on all teams.

The local association has taken the responsible coaching movement pledge, established by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport that invites coaches and sport organizations to learn and apply consistent safety principles with three distinct pillars that help lead to a safe, smart and secure sport environment.

The RCM pledge revolves around three pillars: rule of two, background screening and ethics training.

MHMSA vice president Josh Hudson has been involved in local softball for close to a decade in both a coaching role and on the board of directors. He says the pledge is something he’s had on his radar and was happy to see how quickly the board agreed to add it to the coach selection process.

“The nice thing about this program is it’s simple enough because as an association we’re already doing the vast majority of these things, it just wasn’t necessarily unified in a formal pledge,” Hudson said. “We were already doing background checks on our volunteers and coaches, we’ve already been mandating some basic coach training that’s delivered by coach.ca, the national coaching program in Canada. But now, it’s a little bit more formalized and as an association, this is something we believe in.

“We’re going to support our coaches to get trained to do this the right way and we know that our athletes will have a healthy and safe environment to grow up in and to perform in.”

The rule of two means all interactions and communications with participants are in open, observable and justifiable settings with two responsible adults – whether a coach, parent, staff or screened volunteer being present. Background screening is where all coaches and sport organization leaders are screened to meet requirements to be involved in sport. Ethics training provides a smart sport environment which ensures coaches are trained and have the confidence and skills needed to effectively manage challenging situations.

Hudson says they’ve always screened their coaches by requiring a criminal background check that features a vulnerable sector check, and have a grant that helps pay back the fee so coaches aren’t out of pocket.

He says prospective coaches on their competitive teams also receive personal background checks on their coaching abilities and if they fit the type of person the association wants coaching kids. Those coaches also undergo training at different levels provided by the Coaching Association of Canada to ensure they’re bringing the best development to Medicine Hat Softball.

For their recreational teams, there is still a training process through handouts and meetings to discuss the rule of two and basic coaching skills.

Hudson says adapting the pledge is about ensuring staff and athletes can have positive relationships on and off the field. They are proud to be one of three organizations in Medicine Hat to take the pledge, joining Salta Gymnastics Club and Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation.

“When parents are out thinking about what to enrol their kid in, we’ve taken this pledge, we were going to provide a safe and healthy environment for their child,” Hudson said. “When they’re choosing an activity for them, you can feel confident in that.”

Hudson says registration is open for the upcoming season and they are looking to build off the 550 athletes they had last year. Anyone interested can visit medicinehatminorsoftball.ab.ca or via the organization’s social medias.

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