For coaches, assistant coaches and other adults in Canadian sport bound by the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), Version 7.0 (April 1, 2025). Covers scope, maltreatment types, boundaries, the duty to report, false allegations, retaliation and sanctions.
The UCCMS is the core document of harmonized rules for sport organizations that receive funding from the Government of Canada. It applies to the people those Adopting Organizations decide to cover, called Participants. The UCCMS says Participants can include athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators, directors, employees, trainers and parents or guardians, according to the Adopting Organization's policies.
Participants, especially those in positions of trust or authority such as coaches, are responsible for knowing what constitutes Prohibited Behaviour. A person alleged to have breached the UCCMS is subject to the investigation and disciplinary processes in the Adopting Organization's policies.
This FAQ follows Version 7.0 (April 1, 2025) of the UCCMS. Section 4.5 says it may be amended from time to time by the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, with amendments published on its website six months before they must take effect.
Section 4.3 says the UCCMS applies to Prohibited Behaviour that occurs within an Adopting Organization's environment, or when the Participant alleged to have committed it was engaging in the organization's activities.
It may also apply when the Participants involved interacted or knew each other because of their involvement in the organization's activities, or when the behaviour happens outside the organization's environment but has a serious and detrimental impact on another person, or could undermine the integrity of sport or bring the Canadian sport system into disrepute. The physical location of the behaviour is not determinative.
The UCCMS does not address the rules of the game. Sport-specific differences in acceptable touch, physical contact and aggression during training or competition are considered during an investigation or disciplinary review.
The UCCMS defines Maltreatment as a volitional act or omission, described in Sections 5.2 to 5.6, that results in harm or has the potential for physical or psychological harm. The categories are:
Section 5 also prohibits other behaviour that is not itself maltreatment: Boundary Transgressions (5.7), Discrimination (5.8), Subjecting a Participant to the Risk of Maltreatment (5.9), Aiding and Abetting (5.10), Failure to Report (5.11), Intentionally Reporting a False Allegation (5.12), Interference with or Manipulation of Process (5.13) and Retaliation (5.14). Together these are called Prohibited Behaviour.
The categories are not mutually exclusive and the examples are not exhaustive. What matters is the conduct itself, not which category it falls into.
Psychological Maltreatment (5.2) includes, without limitation:
Physical Maltreatment (5.3) includes deliberately punching, kicking, striking or slapping; hitting with objects; isolating a person in a confined space; forcing a painful position for no athletic purpose (for example kneeling on a hard surface); using exercise as punishment; withholding adequate hydration, nutrition, medical attention or sleep; denying access to a toilet; providing alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age or non-prescribed medications; and encouraging a skill the athlete is not developmentally ready for.
Both are judged by the behaviour viewed objectively, not by whether harm was intended or resulted.
Section 5.4 defines Neglect as the omission of adequate care and attention, judged against the Participant's needs. Examples listed in the UCCMS include:
Under Section 5.3.1(b), encouraging or permitting an athlete to return to play after any injury, including a concussion, when you knew or ought to have known the return was premature, or without medical clearance where reasonably required, is listed as Physical Maltreatment.
Neglect is determined by looking at the behaviour objectively, not by whether harm was intended or resulted.
Sexual Maltreatment (5.5) includes non-consensual touching of a sexual nature, forcing or coercing sexual acts, Criminal Code offences such as indecent exposure, voyeurism and non-consensual distribution of intimate images, and sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual jokes, remarks, gestures or images, or acts targeting a person's sexuality or gender identity). It can happen in person, online, by social media or through a third party. A Participant is presumed to know that a person is a Minor (under 19).
Power Imbalance: where there is a Power Imbalance, sexual acts or communications (electronic or otherwise) between Participants are prohibited (5.5.6). Once a coach-athlete relationship is established, a Power Imbalance is presumed throughout it, regardless of the athlete's age. If the relationship began while the athlete was a Minor, the presumption continues after it ends, until the athlete reaches 25. A presumption can be rebutted. A Power Imbalance may exist, but is not presumed, where an adult sexual or romantic relationship existed before the sport relationship began.
Grooming (5.6) is deliberate conduct that makes sexual maltreatment easier or less likely to be reported. It is often gradual, starting with subtle behaviour and boundary testing such as seemingly accidental touching.
Section 5.7 defines Boundary Transgressions as interactions or communications that breach objectively reasonable boundaries of an individual and are inconsistent with the Participant's duties. Whether something is one depends on context, including the ages of the people involved and any Power Imbalance. It may not meet the threshold of any type of maltreatment but is still treated as inappropriate. The test asks whether a reasonable observer would be concerned, what objective seems to guide the interaction, and whose needs are being met.
Examples listed in 5.7.4 include:
Consequences range from formal discipline to simply recording the circumstances and keeping them on the Participant's record. A repeated transgression after a consequence is to be treated seriously. Repeated transgressions toward a Minor or Vulnerable Participant may also be deemed Grooming, even without deliberate intention to facilitate a sexual relationship. A Minor means anyone under 19.
Section 5.11 (Failure to Report) says:
A report means giving the information to the independent authority designated by the Adopting Organization. A Disclosure (someone sharing their own experience with you) is not by itself a formal Report.
Intentionally reporting a false allegation (5.12): it is a violation to report, or influence another person to report, an allegation you know is false. An allegation is false only if the events reported did not occur and the person reporting knew that at the time. An unsubstantiated allegation (not enough evidence to decide either way) is different, and absent demonstrable bad faith it is not a violation on its own.
Retaliation (5.14): it is retaliation to take adverse action against anyone for making a good-faith report of possible Prohibited Behaviour or for taking part in a UCCMS enforcement process. It includes threatening, intimidating, harassing, coercing, negatively interfering with sport participation, or any conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from taking part. Retaliation after the process ends is also prohibited, even if no Prohibited Behaviour was found. It does not include good-faith actions lawfully pursued in response to a report.
Interference with the process (5.13) is also a violation, for example destroying or falsifying information, discouraging someone from using the process, harassing or intimidating anyone involved, or failing to comply with a temporary measure or sanction.
Section 7.2 lists these sanctions, any one or more of which may be imposed once Prohibited Behaviour is confirmed:
Progressive discipline is not required: a single occurrence of Prohibited Behaviour can lead to a very significant sanction. Sanctions must be proportionate and reasonable, and Section 7.4 lists factors such as whether the Respondent poses an ongoing threat to others, admission and cooperation, previous violations, and the desired outcomes of the people directly affected. Before a case is resolved, temporary or provisional measures may be imposed under the Adopting Organization's policies.
Section 7.3 sets presumptive sanctions. The Respondent may rebut them.
Failing to comply with a sanction already imposed results in automatic suspension until the Participant complies. A Participant convicted of a Criminal Code offence for conduct that counts as Prohibited Behaviour is automatically sanctioned, with a right to challenge only the sanction.
Yes, to a degree. Section 8 of the UCCMS says a searchable database or registry of Respondents whose eligibility to participate in sport has been restricted in some way shall be maintained and be publicly available, subject to applicable laws. It must include enough information to give context to the sanction. Adopting Organizations must collaborate with one or more organizations that maintain such a registry.
Further details, such as a summary or redacted decision or investigation report, may also be publicized in a way that is consistent with the UCCMS's purpose and principles and with applicable law.