Futsal Club Toronto is committed to providing an environment in which all individuals or organizations involved with FCT are treated with respect. Membership and registration with Futsal Club Toronto as well as participation in its activities, brings many benefits and privileges. At the same time, registrants are expected to fulfill certain responsibilities and obligations including but not limited to complying with Futsal Club Toronto’s Club’s Policies and Procedures. Irresponsible behaviour by members, parents, volunteers, administrators, staff members, contractors or officers can result in severe damage to the integrity of Futsal Club Toronto. Conduct that violates these values may be subject to sanctions pursuant to this Policy.

Objectives of the Anti-Bullying Policy

• Bullying will not be tolerated. 

• All players, coaches and managers and parents of the Club should have an understanding of what bullying is. 

• All managers and coaching staff should know what the Club policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported. 

• All players should know what bullying is and what they should do if bullying occurs or is suspected. 

• At Futsal Club Toronto we take bullying seriously. Players and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported. 

Definition of “bullying” 

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. Bullying consists of three basic types of abuse – emotional, verbal and physical. 

Bullying can be and does include: 

• Verbal bullying including derogatory comments, lies, false rumours, teasing, ridicule and bad names.

• Emotional bullying includes being unfriendly, sending hurtful or tormenting messages via social media forms. 

• Bullying through social exclusion or isolation, being ignored and or left out 

• Physical bullying includes pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any other use of violence 

• Being attacked because of their religion, race or colour, gender or sexuality including but not limited to taunts, graffiti, gestures, etc. 

• Sexually unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments 

• Misuse of associated technology such as unwanted camera and video usage and social networking exposure.

Signs and indicators of bullying 

A player may indicate he or she is being bullied by signs or behavior, adults should be aware of these possible signs and should investigate if a player: 

• Says he or she is being bullied 

• Is afraid or unwilling to go to training, practice or games 

• Becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence 

• Feels ill before training sessions 

• Is nervous and /or jumpy when a message is received (e.g. text, IM, phone, social network) 

• Comes home with clothes torn or training equipment damaged 

• Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay the bully) 

• Has unexplained cuts or bruises 

• Is frightened to say what’s wrong 

• Gives improbable excuses for any of the above

In some more severe situations, other indicators can include: 

• Cry them-selves to sleep at night or has nightmares 

• Becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable 

• Is bullying other children or siblings 

• Stops eating 

• Attempts suicide, runs away or hurts themselves deliberately (self harm) 

Directions for coaches/managers noticed that a player is being bullied:

• Ask the player directly 

• Take any incidents of bullying that they tell you about seriously 

• Talk calmly with the player about their experiences 

• Make note of what the player says 

• Reassure the player that they have done the right thing by telling you 

• Understand that your player may need to change aspects of their behaviour 

• Never approach another parent directly 

• Do not encourage your player to retaliate 

• Submit FCT Inappropriate Behaviour Report to your coach and the Club via email to brandon@futsalclubtoronto.com

Procedures 

1. Immediately report the bullying incidents/behaviour to THE CLUB. A complaint can be communicated verbally, initially, to a Futsal Club Toronto official or employee but must be followed up in writing (letter and/or email). FCT Inappropriate Behaviour Report Form should be submitted to the Club via brandon@futsalclubtoronto.com.

2. Futsal Club Toronto will take every concern seriously, investigate the issue and report back to you in a timely manner. 

3. In serious cases, parents may be asked to come in to discuss the problem. 

4. If necessary and appropriate, the police will be consulted. 

5. If bullying is found, it will be stopped immediately by removal of the player (s) who is bullying from Futsal Club Toronto until a suitable process has been met through FCT policy.

6. A record will be kept on the incident(s), investigation and any action(s) taken 

7. The bully (bullies) will be placed on probationary period with Futsal Club Toronto of no less than six (6) months or in more serious cases possible club expulsion.

Harassment Policy Workplace Harassment Policy

Futsal Club Toronto Harassment, Anti-Bullying & Zero-Tolerance Policy 

1. Futsal Club Toronto’s Leadership Team is committed to providing a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Workplace harassment will not be tolerated from any person in the workplace. Everyone in the workplace must be dedicated to preventing workplace harassment. FCT technical staff, volunteers and staff are expected to uphold this policy, and will be held accountable by the employer. 

2. Workplace harassment means engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a staff member, in a workplace, that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. Harassment may also relate to a form of discrimination as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code, but it does not have to.

3. This policy is not intended to limit or constrain the reasonable exercise of management functions in the workplace.

4. Staff are encouraged to report any incidents of workplace harassment. The Club’s Leadership Team will investigate and deal with all concerns, complaints, or incidents of workplace harassment in a timely and fair manner while respecting workers' privacy, to the extent possible. 

5. Nothing in this policy prevents or discourages a worker from filing an application with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal on a matter related to the Ontario Human Rights Code within one year of the last alleged incident. A worker also retains the right to exercise any other legal avenues available.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Futsal Club Toronto is a strong supporter of making sport safe for its youth. This policy is to help ensure the safety and enjoyment of soccer for all, by condemning all forms of abuse - verbal, physical, emotional and sexual – while attempting to protect individuals from abuse. 

The Club supports zero tolerance as it relates to all forms of abuse: verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual. All relationships within the Club context – whether involving members of the Leadership Team, Futsal Club Toronto staff, coaches/managers, volunteers, players, parents/family members, supporters or referees – must be based on mutual trust and respect. Any act of abuse is a betrayal of that trust. 

The Club will investigate and act upon all complaints or reports of inappropriate behaviour. This Zero Tolerance Policy attempts to respect diverse individual and cultural viewpoints while protecting individuals from real or perceived abuse. 

Definitions of Abuse:

1. Verbal Abuse – Verbal abuse includes remarks that are rude or threatening in nature and that tend to demoralize or demean another person. Words that degrade another person constitute a form of verbal abuse. · Verbal abuse includes racial or ethnic insults. All complaints of verbal abuse will be investigated by Futsal Club Toronto and may be reported to police with the consent of the victim or, in the case of a minor, a parent. 

2. Physical Abuse – Physical abuse refers to inappropriate behaviour such as punching, pushing, slapping, kicking, spitting or pinching another individual. All complaints of physical abuse will be investigated by THE CLUB and may be reported to police with the consent of the victim or, in the case of a minor, a parent. 

3. Emotional Abuse – Emotional abuse signifies the lack of sensitivity on the part of anyone associated with the Club towards another individual. Futsal Club Toronto officials (staff, coaches, and managers) should be aware of the power that is inherent in such positions and strive for sensitivity in dealing with individuals in positions of supervision (players, the Club staff, volunteers) and with parents. Emotional abuse includes racial, physical or ethnic insults. All complaints of emotional abuse will be investigated by the Club. 

4. Sexual Abuse – Sexual shall be defined as: 

• sexual intercourse or other forms of physical sexual relations between at least one individual associated with Futsal Club Toronto and another person where the activity is not consensual

• all sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual relations with a minor

• touching of a sexual nature and 

• behaviour or remarks of a sexual nature the Club will immediately report all complaints of sexual abuse to the police. 

Reporting Guidelines and Procedures:

1. Violations of the Zero Tolerance Policy should be reported immediately to the Club office by the victim(s) and/or by those close to them (a parent, a teammate, a coach etc.). 

2. A complaint can be communicated verbally, initially, to a Futsal Club Toronto official or employee but must be followed up in writing (letter and/or email). A complaint should be filed submitting a filled the FCT Inappropriate Behaviour Report Form to the Club via brandon@futsalclubtoronto.com. If the complaint involves physical or sexual abuse, THE CLUB official or employee will contact the police if the individual alleging abuse has not already done so and with the individual’s consent. 

3. All complaints of abuse will be immediately investigated by THE CLUB. 

4. All complaints to THE CLUB must be in written form before a complaint is dealt with. However, THE CLUB will immediately report criminal activities to the police (with the consent of the individual alleging abuse) without a written complaint. 

5. Once a written complaint has been filed with FCT, a discipline committee consisting of a least three FCT Leadership Team members will discuss the complaint with the individual alleging abuse (note: in the case of sexual abuse, THE CLUB may designate a Futsal Club Toronto official of the same gender as the individual alleging abuse to contact the victim). (Refer also to the Ontario Soccer Policies) 

6. A FCT Leadership Team member assigned to lead the investigation into the complaint will schedule a Discipline Hearing within ten (10) business days of notice in the individual(s) whom the complaints have been filed against. The individual(s) who are named on the complaint shall be contacted by registered mail and requested to appear at the Discipline Hearing. 

7. In the case of Physical Abuse such as fighting, kicking, etc. the Discipline Committee will decide between either a Discipline by Review or Discipline by Hearing process to determine appropriate penalties and/or suspensions. 

8. Discipline shall be heard by three (3) Leadership Team members one of whom is the Discipline Chair. If a certified Chair is not available within the Club, the District or Ontario Soccer will be asked to provide a certified Chair for these purposes. 

9. The committee shall hold a hearing and invite the individual(s) named on the complaint to be present at the hearing. Only individuals called by the committee shall be allowed to participate in a hearing. The committee shall then deliberate in camera following the meeting with the individual(s) who are named on the complaint. 

10. The decision shall be communicated to the individual alleging abuse and the individual named in the complaint within ten (10) working days of the Hearing. 

11. Penalties for contravening the Zero Tolerance Policy can range from a permanent suspension from THE CLUB, suspension for a specified period, and a probationary period where the individual can continue with THE CLUB. All committee decisions are final. 

12. Ontario Soccer guidelines for suspensions and penalties may be used as guidance in rendering suspensions for physical abuse issues such as Violent Conduct (fighting, kicking, etc.).

13. Individual(s) who are charged with a criminal offence involving the Club related incidents shall be immediately suspended from the Club pending resolving of the charges. No Discipline Hearing shall take place when an individual is facing criminal charges in Club related incidents. The Club members who are convicted of a Criminal Code of Canada offence are subject to suspension or removal. 

14. Any individual who is convicted of a criminal offence resulting from sexual or physical abuse shall be banned for life from the Club. 15. Individual(s) who violate the Zero Tolerance Policy for non-criminal activities may apply for reinstatement to in writing the Club one month prior to the end of a time specified penalty. 

Handling Incidents of Abuse during a game (physical, verbal or emotional abuse): 

1. The referee must suspend a game if an abuse incident involving a coach, player or parent/spectator occurs during a game. 

2. If a coach is the source of the abuse, the referee will advise the coach that the game will be abandoned if the abuse continues.

3. If a parent/spectator is the source, the appropriate coach will be informed that the game will be abandoned unless the abuse ceases. If the source is a supporter, the appropriate coach will provide the referee with the name of the supporter and the coach must advise the fan that the next occurrence of a similar nature will result in abandonment of the game. If the spectator is not associated with either team, both coaches will be asked to speak to the spectator and request them to leave the field area. 

4. The game will be restarted by the referee only if the abuse ceases, with a dropped ball at the location where the play was stopped. 

5. The incident shall be reported to the Futsal Club Toronto Leadership Team by the referee in charge immediately following the game completion or abandonment. 

6. If the abuse continues, the referee will abandon the game and clearly indicate on the game sheet that the game was abandoned due to abuse. 

7. The senior game official must immediately report the incident to Futsal Club Toronto and fill out a Game Incident Form within 24 hours. 

8. In cases of physical abuse on a referee, a “Referee Assault Form” must be completed by the referee. 

9. The Club will report all incidents of a criminal nature immediately to police. 

This Zero Tolerance Policy applies to: 

1. All members of the Futsal Club Toronto Leadership Team 

2. All Futsal Club Toronto staff members 

3. All coaches 

4. All managers 

5. All players 

6. All parents / family members / guardians / caregivers 

7. All referees 

8. All volunteers 

This Zero Tolerance Policy shall be posted on the Club’s website always and communicated to parents and players at the beginning of every program cycle. Ignorance of the Zero Tolerance Policy shall not be considered a valid defence against a complaint.