Coaches Association of Canada Responsible Coaching Movement
Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM)
The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a call to action for sport organizations, parents, and coaches to enact responsible coaching across Canada — on and off the field of play.
Established by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), the RCM invites all coaches and sport organizations to learn and apply consistent safety principles.
The RCM is built on three pillars that help create a sport environment that is safe, smart, and secure. Each pillar provides important tools, resources, and processes to follow.
The RCM Pillars
Rule of Two
A safe sport environment ensures all coaches, staff, and administrators apply the Rule of Two. When following the Rule of Two, all interactions and communications with participants occur in open, observable, and justifiable settings, with two responsible adults present whenever possible. There may be exceptions in emergencies. Check with your sport organization to see how the Rule of Two is enforced.
Background Screening
A secure sport environment is one where all coaches and sport leaders are screened to meet the requirements to work with participants. Screening can include background and reference checks, interviews, and police checks, completed at regular intervals.
Ethics Training
A smart sport environment ensures coaches are trained and have the confidence and skills to manage challenging situations. Ongoing ethics and safe sport education helps coaches expand their knowledge and awareness of key topics throughout their coaching journey.
Take the RCM Pledge
The RCM encourages sport organizations across Canada to pledge their commitment to these safety principles at every level of sport. The first step is to take the pledge . You can also use the search tool to see if your organization is an RCM Champion: search now .
RCM Resources
RCM materials are available to help promote the movement and raise awareness with coaches, parents, and sport leaders. Access the RCM toolkit, resources, templates, and branding materials from the Coaching Association of Canada at coach.ca/rcm-toolkit .
Policy Templates
Support your organization’s safe sport efforts by implementing clear policies and ensuring they are kept current and enforced. The following templates are available:
- Travel Policy
- Code of Conduct
- Screening Policy
- Electronic Communications and Social Media Use
- Rule of Two
To learn more about protecting participants and coaches while fostering a positive sport culture, visit the Responsible Coaching Movement website.
