POLICY
Starting with the 2005/2006 soccer season, Burnaby Girls Soccer Club now requires all volunteers in the club (Executive members, coaches and managers) to undergo a criminal record check. Every carded staff member
of divisional teams (up to 4 per team) and every coach/manager of mini and micro teams (up to 4 per team) must have a criminal record check.

All criminal checks must be completed and submitted to the Club President on or before Oct 31st of each year. This new policy is to ensure the safety of the players in our club and is our club's attempt to be proactive in risk management.

BGSC coaches and staff are still required by BC Soccer to fill in and return to the club the Risk management form

PROCEDURES
1. BGSC Volunteers will download the Criminal Record Check letter from the club website or send an email to their age group coordinator requesting a letter. By showing the letter, the police departments will waive the processing fee for the criminal record checks.
2. The BGSC Volunteer will put their name on the letter and take it and two pieces of government identification to the police headquarters in the city they live in. Burnaby - RCMP, New Westminister - NW Police, Coquitlam - RCMP and Vancouver - VPD. Valid identification : BC Driver's Licence and BC Carecard, Canadian Passport
3. At the police station, the BGSC Volunteer will present the letter, their id and fill in two forms - a) Sexual Offenders Check form and b) Criminal Record Check form
4. The police will process the forms and return a stamped copy of the criminal record check form to the BGSC Volunteer.
5. The BGSC Volunteer will return the stamped form to the Club President on or before Oct 31st each season.
6. If the BGSC Volunteer does not pass the Criminal Record Check, they must immediately contact the Club President/Club Vice President to arrange a meeting to discuss the situation.
7. All Criminal Record checks for Volunteers are mandatory and failure to comply will result in the volunteer being removed from their duties in the Burnaby Girls Soccer Club.

• Foster the growth of girls soccer in this community, encourage and develop competitive soccer skills and good sportsmanship amongst our players.

• Give individual players an opportunity to participate with others of comparable soccer ability.

• Give individual teams an opportunity to participate with others of comparable soccer ability.

• Establish the best possible harmonious relationship and to ensure effective communications are carried out throughout the year between executives, coaches, managers, players and parents to ensure that everyone is made aware of all aspects of the Club's activities.improve the advancement of our Club through coaching and subsequently the improvement of our players, with coaching and referees' clinics at the various levels.

• Encourage volunteers to come forward from parents, the community and our senior players to become involved in all aspects of the Club.

• Ensure that all coaches have a broad theoretical knowledge of soccer, a deep interest in the players and a genuine enthusiasm that can be passed on to the players.

• Ensure that every player shall be given an opportunity to try out for the level of their choice.

1. Players, parents and coaches at all levels should attempt to resolve all issues with the appropriate divisional co-ordinator.

2. Any problem which the Coordinator is unable to solve will be forwarded to the Ombudsman.

3. It is the intention of the club that players will not change teams after the season has started and their names have been submitted to the District registrar via the BCYSA 4-part form.

4. Players who wish to leave their original team after the start of the season must apply in writing to the Club Executive. The Executive will reserve the right to determine where and if the player will be allowed to move.

5. Players are not allowed to play a league or cup game for any team other then their registered team.

6. Coaches who wish to borrow a player for either a tournament or exhibition play must contact the player's head coach. The head coach must confirm acceptance of the request with the Divisional Coordinator.

7. Coaches are not permitted to Contact players who are registered with other teams within the club until after the players cup commitment is completed. "Contact" includes any inducement to play for a different clubs team that is presented by coaches, parents or players of that club.

8. Coaches who violate this guideline will be required to appear at a Club Discipline Hearing and will face possible suspension or dismissal.

1. Soccer is a game of discipline and fun.

2. The laws of soccer should be regarded as mutual agreements, the spirit of which no one should try to evade or break.

3. Visiting teams and spectators are honoured guests.

4. No advantages should be sought, except those of superior skill and effort.

5. Officials and opponents should be regarded as honest in intention.

6. Officials' decisions should be accepted without appearing angry ( no matter how unfair).

7. Winning is desirable, but winning at any cost defeats the purpose of the game.

8. Coaches should be encouraged to attain Coaching Certificates, as required by B.C.Y.S.A. for Provincial Cup Play.

1. Play the game with desire.

2. Be proud when you win.

3. Be graceful when you lose.

4. Be fair always no matter what the cost.

5. Obey the laws of the game.

6. Always play for the good of your team and your team mates.

7. Accept the decisions of the officials with good grace.

8. Conduct yourself with pride and dignity.

9. Honestly and wholeheartedly applaud the efforts of your team mates and your opponents.

1. The attitude shown by parents at games towards their child, the opposing team, the officials and the coaches influence the child's values and behaviour in sports.

2. Children have more need for example than criticism.

3. Make athletic participation for your child and others a positive experience.

4. Attempt to relieve the pressure of competition, not increase it.

5. Be understanding of your child's coach. He or she is a volunteer.

6. Treat the coach as being sincere in his/her intent to be working on behalf of every member of the team and the team as a whole.

7. The opponents are necessary friends. Without them, your child could not participate meaningfully.

8. Applaud good plays by both teams.

9. Do not openly question the official's judgement and never his honesty.

10. Accept the results of each game. Encourage the child to be gracious in victory and defeat.

Complaint Process

The following is BC Youth Soccer's recommended format for dispute resolution and is the method utilized by Burnaby Girls Soccer Club when faced with complaints brought forth by parents, players and coaches. It is always the desire of the club to reach a fair and equitable resolution to the concerns presented to it. The club will only hear complaints in instances where the parties involved have followed the dispute resolution steps as described below.

If any situation develops related to playing, coaching conditions, or perceived problems of harassment or abuse of players by coaches, team officials or other individuals, those who feel they have a valid complaint must be free to come forward and voice their concerns without fear of reprisals against them or any player. For this purpose the following dispute resolution mechanisms are.

1. There will be one person appointed on the Executive to fill the position of dispute resolution officer.
2. Any complaint made in good faith will be processed in accordance with this policy and it is a condition of participation in the clubs activities that all those involved accept the process and it's outcome, or otherwise voluntarily withdraw from further involvement in the club.
3. Any complaints will be treated as privileged and confidential. The complaint and any information provided by any persons regarding the complaint will not be used except for the purposes of resolving the dispute.
4. A progressive mechanism will be put into place to quickly deal with any complaint without interruption of any team activities wherever possible.
5. Any members of the Executive who are in potential conflict must remove themselves (to be decided by the President or VP) during the formation of the investigation team and at all times during the investigation.

The steps to be followed if any player, coach or parent has a complaint or dispute are as follows. The club will NOT hear any complaints which have not been through the following step by step process.

1. It must be a primary goal of all involved to ensure that NO player is at any risk of physical or emotional harm of any kind.
2. Approach the person with whom you have a difficulty, off the field, away from games or practices at an appropriate time and place.
3. Voice your concerns and attempt to reach an understanding informally between the persons involved.
4. Particularly with respect to the younger teams, these meetings should be held away from the players unless their involvement is necessary.
5. If the matter cannot be resolved between the parties, contact the team manager and clearly express the concerns that are outstanding.
6. Team managers should attempt an informal resolution if possible and suggest any compromise with a view to allowing team play or involvement of the player to continue.
7. If the dispute can not be resolved informally, a formal complaint in writing may be delivered to the dispute resolution officer who, in consultation with other appropriate persons, will contact the parties directly involved in an attempt to mediate a solution and recommend changes.
8. If the recommendations of the dispute resolution officer are not acceptable, each party will be asked to appoint one person, not otherwise directly involved in the dispute, to sit on a hearing panel to deal with the matter.
9. By agreement between the two representatives appointed, they may either appoint a third person whom they mutually agree upon to sit as the chairman of the panel,or alternatively if they cannot agree on a third person within seven days of their own appointment, the dispute resolution officer will sit as the chairman of the panel.
10. The dispute resolution panel shall hear both parties to the complaint and any other people with relevant information and shall deliver a written decision as quickly as possible.
11. The written decision and the directions contained in it will be binding on both parties.