Risk Management
RISK MANAGEMENT - What’s It All About?
The purpose of these risk management guidelines is to provide members with an understanding and awareness of fundamental risk management principles and how they apply to the operation of sanctioned hockey events. The goal is for all members to implement effective risk management programs at the local level, exercising a proactive teamwork oriented approach to safety; where safety is the first priority at all times, on and off the ice. The scope is broad and this guide is intended to touch on all elements of what is seen as the entire field of Safety and Risk Management within BC Hockey.
DEFINITION: Risk management is the process by which a Branch, Association, League or Team reviews its activities, programs and operating procedures (including buildings and staff) to identify, understand and insure against the everyday risks confronted in operating an organized program.
Risk management consists of four (4) basic steps, performed in a logical sequence:
- Step 1. Identify the risks connected with an activity (e.g. game, dressing room, arena parking lot, travel).
- Step 2. Assess the relative significance of all on-ice and off-ice risks.\
- Step 3. Eliminate or minimize the identified risks.
- Step 4. Provide protection against unavoidable risks. This can include insurance coverage.
Risk management is an ongoing process, not a one-time activity. It is not an isolated function or a committee task. Each association, team or league must ensure that the overall operations and planning process of the organization include an active risk management and safety program. Every member of the organization must be aware of his or her role and responsibility within that risk management structure. Remember that risk management is any organization’s best defence against accidents and injuries. Be aware of all the risks involved in all hockey related activities and always err on the side of caution.
Safety is like electricity – it is present for as long as we are prepared to generate it!!
CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS (CRC)
All Executives, Managers, Head coaches, Assistant coaches, On-ice helpers and HCSP personnel on each team U7 thru U21 must submit a Criminal Record Check to our 1st VP before participation in any practice or games at the beginning of each session. Port Coquitlam Minor hockey mandates that the Criminal Record Check be updated every two years and must be valid until the end of the current season.
If you fail to have your CRC into our 1st VP , you will be removed from the roster.
You can now get your CRC done online, follow the link https://justice.gov.bc.ca/criminalrecordcheck
To obtain the passcode, contact1stvp@pocominorhockey.com.
In Person CRC - If you choose not to submit your CRC online, there are 3 forms required to complete the check. The check can be performed at any RCMP detachment. Please contact the detachment for their hours of operation.
- The Association Cover Letter. Without the cover letter, you will be charged a fee for the check.
- CONSENT FOR DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL RECORD INFORMATION form. It must be completed in full, including the boxes at the bottom (initial all 4 boxes).
- CONSENT FOR A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK FOR A SEXUAL OFFENCE FOR WHICH A PARDON HAS BEEN GRANTED OR ISSUED. Another record check form that must be completed in full. Please find the letter on the front web page.
RCMP may process the forms while you wait or you may be required to pick up at later date. The original copy of the form MUST be mailed to:
1st Vice President
PCMHA
P. O. Box 44
Port Coquitlam BC
V3C 3V5
RESPECT IN SPORT (RIS)
RIS is an online training course for coaches and sport leaders. It is designed as a tool to assist coaches in identifying and dealing with abuse, neglect, harassment and bullying in sport. The online course curriculum is broken into six x 30 minute modules hours to complete and includes audio/visual presentations, quizzes and printable handouts. Another beneficial feature of the program is that it does not need to be done all at once; it can be completed at your leisure.
The benefits of the new system include:
- Time Commitment – The course will take an estimated 2.5 hours with the delegate’s HCR SpeakOut! Accreditation is updated immediately upon completion.
- Availability / Access – The course is accessible over the internet therefore the delegates dictate when and where they take the course. They can also complete the course at their own speed.
- Flexibility – Delegates can access the Respect in Sport on-line course at any time (by way of user name and password) therefore are able to complete one module at a time.
- E-Learning Platform – This is an introduction to the capabilities of training delegates with online tools and resources. The course contains many handouts which remain accessible after the course is complete. If a paper copy of any of the documents or the accreditation certificate is required it can be printed from the site.
- Not Sport Specific – Respect in Sport is not specific to any sport. However the learning principles within are common to anyone acting as a sport leader. The consensus is that many of our volunteers coach/assist in other sports. The need to educate our sport leaders is of significant importance, however this allows for some reduction in the duplication of information.
Certifications will now automatically expire four (4) years. As per BC Hockey's requirements, all team officials must complete this course before the first scheduled ice session.
All team officials/volunteers must complete this course.
Register for Respect in Sport (Hockey Canada Activity Leaders) online course: RIS website
HOCKEY CANADA SAFETY PERSON (HCSP)
The Hockey Canada Safety Program utilizes a proactive, preventative, common-sense approach to keeping our children safe. The goal of the program is for the safety people to implement effective risk management programs with their own teams where player safety is the first priority at all times, both on and off the ice. The safety person is a volunteer who has received HCSP accreditation. The HCSP program must be successfully completed every three (3) years in order to be a team’s safety person, even if the individual is a medical professional.
Hockey Canada Safety Program (HCSP) Guidelines
- The minimum age for participants is 19 years of age as of December 31 of the current season
- HCSP expires after three (3) years
- It is mandatory to have at least one (1) certified official on each team
- HCSP must be completed prior to team assignment for the current season
- All teams intending to participate in BC Hockey Championships, must include an official accredited in the HCSP.
- As per BC Hockey's requirements, all teams must have at least one HCSP prior to their first scheduled ice session.
Additional information can be found on Hockey Canada’s website.
Safety Person’s Responsibilities:
As a Safety Person and team official you must play a leadership role in implementing effective risk management programs with your own teams, enhancing the safety of players and all involved in amateur hockey. The following are some responsibilities that the Safety Person should assume:
- Implement an effective Risk Management program with your team that strives to prevent injuries and accidents before they happen.
- Assume a proactive role in identifying and minimizing or eliminating risks during all activities, and if ever in doubt, always err on the side of caution.
- Promote and reflect the values of Fair Play and strive to instill these values in all participants and others involved in amateur hockey.
- Ensure that all players are provided with meaningful opportunities and enjoyable experiences free from physical and/or emotional maltreatment.
- Conduct regular checks of players’ equipment to ensure proper fit, protective quality and maintenance, and advise players and parents regarding the selection or replacement of equipment.
- Promote proper conditioning, warm-up, and cool down techniques as effective methods of injury prevention.
- Maintain accurate medical information files on all players and team officials and bring these to all team activities.
- Maintain a Player Injury Log.
- Maintain a fully stocked First Aid Kit and bring it to all team activities.
- Implement an effective Emergency Action Plan with your team and practice it regularly to ensure all involved understand their roles and are prepared to act promptly when an incident occurs.
- Recognize life-threatening and significant injuries, and be prepared to deal with serious injury.
- Manage minor injuries according to basic injury management principles and refer players to medical professionals when necessary.
- Recognize injuries that require a player to be removed from action. Refer players to medical professionals and coordinate return to play.
- Promote a healthy lifestyle with all hockey participants by being a good role model and by educating participants regarding hygiene, performance-enhancing substances, drug and alcohol abuse, nutrition and hydration.
- Facilitate communication with players, coaches, parents, physicians, therapists, paramedical personnel, officials and other volunteers regarding safety, injury prevention and player’s health status.
- Act as a Safety Person for both your team and your opponents if only one Safety Person is present.
All HCSP clinics are now available ONLY as an online E-Learning course. In-person HCSP clinics are no longer offered by BC Hockey.
- Online payment will be required to complete the registration process and enter the E-Learning modules.
- The registration fee covers the cost of building and maintaining the E-Learning system as well as administration.
- Contents of the previous HCSP manual are located in the E-Learning Handouts section. Once a delegate has completed the E-Learning course they have access to the course contents and handout material for 5 years.
- The delegates’ HCR record is updated immediately upon completion of the course.
- The entire program HCSP curriculum is online including 18 modules of 1 minute to 18 minutes in duration. The total estimated completion time is 3.5 to 4.0 hours.
CONCUSSION AWARENESS TRAINING TOOL (CATT)
On June 27, 2016, BC Hockey announced that all BC Hockey team officials are required to be qualified in the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) prior to their participation in any practice or game starting for the 2016 – 2017 season.
As a sports leader, BC Hockey is bringing concussion awareness to the forefront to ensure the safety of all participants and that team officials are aware and educated on concussion protocol and the Hockey Canada return to play procedure.
This free online tool is now available for parents, players, coaches and trainers as a resource for up-to-date educational training on the recognition, management and prevention of concussions. It contains resources such as the concussion response tool that coaches and parents can access and complete on their smartphone’s/iPad’s/tablets at the time of injury.
CATT plays a vital role in supporting coaches, parents and athletes to take steps to prevent long term consequences of concussions and to understand the effects and treatment of concussions. The training tool is easy to use and only takes minutes, and everyone can access it online. CATT was developed by Dr. Shelina Babul, Associate Director/Sports Injury Specialist with the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, located at the BC Children’s Hospital and in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health. Visit the website at: www.cattonline.com to complete an online course and more information.
The information sheet must be returned to players or destroyed at the end of the season as discussed during the team meeting or agreed by the parents with a majority vote. This form is now online as part of the PCMHA ePact system.
INJURY LOGS
An injury log is simple log of injuries that happen through the course of a season. It is not an official document, but it can be a valuable tool to track recurring injuries to particular players. This log should be kept by the HCSP and used to record injuries that require a coach/trainer coming on the ice when play is stopped due to an injury whether it requires medical attention or not.
A blank injury log can be downloaded here. The Hockey Canada Insurance Program provides supplemental assistance to BC Hockey members for injuries incurred during hockey sanctioned activities. Mandatory / Voluntary participation can depend upon your Branch affiliation and level of play. When an on-ice injury occurs, a Hockey Canada Injury Report Form must be submitted to the BC Hockey office within 90 days of the injury. However, it is up to the parents if they want to claim any expenses as a results.
- When an injury occurs, a Hockey Canada Injury Report Form must be submitted to the BC Hockey office within 90 days of the injury. The form can be downloaded here. Invoices can be submitted for up to 52 weeks after the injury date.
- The claim form must be completed in full. The form has portions that must be completed by the member, a team official and doctor or dentist.
- If reimbursement is requested and an incomplete claim has been filed, it will be returned to the member for completion before any further processing.
- If page 2 is submitted separately from page 1, the member’s name must be written on the page. It should also include the member’s association and injury date.
SUBMITTING RECEIPTS AND INVOICES
- Invoices can be submitted for up to 365 days after the injury date.
- If the member has another insurance plan (other than provincial)
- If the injured individual has insurance through another source, a claim must be filed with the other insurance provider first because the Hockey Canada Insurance Program is a secondary provider.
- Once an individual’s primary insurance has made payment on treatment, the original statement of coverage from the primary insurer as well as copies of the receipts / invoices should be sent to the BC Hockey office. All documents must clearly list the injured member’s name and should also include the member’s association and injury date.
- If the member has NO other insurance (apart from provincial) – Original receipts / invoices should be submitted to the BC Hockey office. All documents must clearly list the injured member’s name and should also include the member’s association and injury date.
- Because processing a claim can take several weeks, it is recommended that the member pay the medical / dental bill and then be reimbursed.
RETURN TO PLAY
This form MUST be filled by players’ family physician or any authorized clinic stating that the player has been cleared to resume playing with PCMHA. You MUST indicate to the physician if your child is playing full contact hockey normally U15 Rep or higher. Sometimes the symptoms may take little longer to recover, however the player can still participate in team practice before he/she is fully cleared for contact hockey.
Click here to download the return to play form.
CONTRACTS
The following contracts have been developed to assist Hockey Associations to define clear expectations of behaviour. Partners are not only expected to sign acceptance of these positive expectations but to abide by these established standards at all BC Hockey related events. It is recommended that all contracts are distributed and signed at the beginning of the season. Hockey Associations are responsible for the safe keeping of these documents. These contracts may be modified to define the association's expectations of their participants.
Parent Contract: to educate hockey parents of their membership rights, responsibilities and privileges.
This form is now available online as part of the PCMHA registration.
Player Contract: to define expectations of behaviour/conduct and commitment to the team and to the game.
This form is now available online as part of the PCMHA registration.
Team Officials Contract: to define expectations of Team Officials (coaches, managers, team parents and safety people) with regard to conduct, attitude, philosophy, and team and player management.
On-Ice Officials Contract: to define their integral role in hockey and the expectations of conduct in the management of the game. They must recognize their impact on the game and their fellow partners.
Social Media Guidelines: to define the role and responsibility of members in relation to freedom of speech and expression including the use of social media networks. It is important to know that nothing is private when posted online. Any online postings must therefore be consistent with association guidelines.
This form is now available online as part of the PCMHA registration.
Locker Room Policy: to educate hockey parents, players, and team officials of their responsibilities in and around dressing rooms.
This form is now available online as part of the PCMHA registration.
SPECIAL EVENT SANCTION FORMS
The purpose of a sanctioning a special event is to extend Hockey Canada Insurance Program coverage such as Major Medical / Dental Coverage to activities that do not fall under regular hockey programming. Special Event Sanctions are for usage of events such as dryland training, fundraisers, and other activities outside of regular hockey programming. Not all activities are eligible for coverage. Please visit BCHockey Website for detailed coverage.
Click here to download the Special event sanction form.
TEAM OFFICIALS AND REQUIREMENTS
There are four positions on the team that are considered Team Officials: Head Coach, any Assistant Coaches, the Manager and the HCSP (Hockey Canada Safety Person). The following table outlines the courses that these Team Officials must complete and by what deadline.
Respect in Sport for Hockey Canada Activity Leaders |
Criminal Record |
Coaching |
HCSP |
CATT |
|
Coach |
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
Yes |
Asst Coach |
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
Yes |
Manager |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Yes |
HCSP |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
Yes |
On-Ice Helper | YES | YES | N/A | N/A | Recommended |
PCMHA will impose penalties and or fines if teams do not have team officials who have the required qualifications by the deadline. For teams that have divisional playoffs, they may be disqualified. It is very important to get this done sooner than later.
SPORTSMANSHIP STARTS IN THE STANDS
Sportsmanship Starts in the Stands was developed to address the behaviours and attitudes that have become a negative influence in the game of hockey in BC. The program intends to ensure that the environment at BC Hockey events and initiatives is positive for everyone. It was also developed to ensure the level of parent expectations was consistent across the province.
Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the cancellation of BC Hockey sanctioning of events hosted or operated by the PCMHA.
PCMHA will notify when the sessions become available. Attendance by at least one parent is mandatory.
How the program works for parents:
- Attend the Sportsmanship Starts in the Stands held by the association
- Complete the sign-up sheet
EQUIPMENT TIPS
Hockey is a collision sport and injuries do occur. But with certified, quality, well-fitting equipment, the frequency and severity of these injuries can be decreased.
Click here for Hockey Canada's equipment tips.
ON-ICE HELPERS
From time to time. teams enlist older hockey players or other volunteers to assist with practices, scrimmages and other activities. It is important to ensure that insurance is in place by following the below guidelines:
- Any on-ice helpers must be a current registered member of BC Hockey / Hockey Canada. If the individual is not currently registered through a minor association, junior team, senior team or as an associate member, the association wishing to have this person help must register the individual. Please notify us in this case.
- All on ice helpers must wear a CSA-certified helmet with a chin strap fastened and appropriate face protection required for the player’s level of play. A BNQ-certified neck guard must also be worn by all minor hockey-aged players assisting as an on ice helper.
- U15 and under on-ice helpers must wear full gear. All other helpers (U15 and up) are to wear what is appropriate to their Division.
- Any helper who is not a BC Hockey minor or junior player must have certification in Respect in Sport (RIS) and complete a Criminal Record Check including a Vulnerable Person Check (CRC/VPC). Additionally, they must be under the direct supervision of the certified team officials.
- Non Members offering coaching or other on-ice help for a fee is not a volunteer, and must become an associate member prior to participation. A person working in this capacity should not be rostered with an MHA Volunteer team.