Alberta Youth Disc Golf
Volunteer / Staff Onboarding
Welcome to our onboarding page! You are probably here because you have agreed to volunteer for AYDG or you are coming on board as staff. Please proceed through the different sections below.
Follow the 'VOLUNTEER' prompts if you are volunteering.
Follow the 'STAFF' prompts if you were just hired - congratulations!
01
Police Check with Vulnerable Sector Search
A Vulnerable Sector Check is the most comprehensive level of screening for anyone who will work or volunteer with minors or vulnerable persons in an unsupervised or authoritative role. Some organizations AYDG partners with require this level of screening. As AYDG is a youth organization that works with minors of all ages, we ask that you obtain this type of check.
VOLUNTEER / STAFF - Please obtain a Police Check with Vulnerable Sector Search. If you already have one, please provide that. Note, we may ask you to provide a new one if we consider your old one to be expired or if it is time for renewal.
NOTE 1: It is known that this type of check may not come back instantly and policing agencies may have a backlog of requests. If that is your situation, we will keep you out of unsupervised one-on-one situations until your positive result check is complete.
NOTE 2: Youth aged 14 to 17 will not be able to get a vulnerable sector search done and that is known and okay. You will still be able to get a type of regular check done. Follow the instructions of your policing agency.
What a Police Check with Vulnerable Sector Search (VSC) includes:
• All elements of a Police Information Check — full national and local criminal search.
• Pardoned sex-offender database search — checks the RCMP’s restricted database for
any record suspensions for sexual offences.
• Fingerprint verification (if needed) — confirms identity when a name or date of birth
matches someone in the pardoned offender registry.
How to get it:
Only a police service or RCMP detachment can legally conduct this search — private companies cannot.
• In Calgary: Request a VSC through the CPS portal.
• Outside Calgary: Through your local RCMP detachment or city police service.
Cost:
Varies, but typically cheaper for volunteers with a letter. May also be free for sport organizations in some jurisdictions.
VOLUNTEER - Ask us for a letter that:
-
is dated within 6 months of your Police Information Check application
-
has our organization letterhead
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has your full name
-
states you are a volunteer
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is signed by our Executive Director
02
Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport
The Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) is the core document that sets harmonized rules to be adopted by, but not limited to, sport organizations that receive funding from the Government of Canada to advance a respectful sport culture that delivers quality, inclusive, accessible, welcoming and safe sport experiences.
Alberta Youth Disc Golf adheres to the UCCMS.
VOLUNTEER / STAFF - Please read the UCCMS here.
STAFF - Participate in a discussion/training session with your mentor and/or supervisor.
03
Rule of Two
Applies to VOLUNTEER / STAFF.
STAFF - Participate in a discussion/training session with your mentor and/or supervisor.
The Rule of Two is a leading practice to ensure a safe sport environment for all.
The goal of the Rule of Two is to ensure all interactions and communications are open, observable, and justifiable. When following the Rule of Two, two responsible adults (e.g. a coach, parent, or screened volunteer) are present with a participant. Some organizations may have variations or modifications to it. There may also be exceptions in emergency situations.
AYDG will endeavor to follow the Rule of Two as described above, but with the variations/modifications below. This is because we are currently a small organization. For example, we may have limited volunteers, limited volunteer capacity, volunteers of various ages (including under age 18), no staff OR summer staff under the age of 18 (e.g. Canada Summer Jobs).
EXAMPLE: disc golf group instruction in a field.
General setup when we have at least two screened adults:
-some large group teaching then break into small groups (may repeat);
-achieve a 6:1 ratio as much as possible;
-circulate between the groups or mix them up; and
-have all activity visible, audible, and in open space (no isolated areas).
If only one screened adult is present, they will have all activity visible, audible, and in open space (no isolated areas) and avoid:
-any 1:1 coaching out of sight;
-walking alone with a youth;
-leaving groups unattended;
-station-based splits without another adult; and
-having a youth helper independently running an isolated area.
Key principle: No isolated youth–adult situations.
Youth staff / volunteers should:
-teach and demonstrate skills;
-help with setup and group control; and
-assist under adult supervision.
We will seek to avoid having youth staff / volunteers:
-be the sole supervisor of participants; and
-be left alone with groups.
Youth cannot be counted as an adult toward full adherence to Rule of Two.
General rule: if not having a second adult creates an isolation risk, the structure needs adjusting to adhere to Rule of Two as closely as possible.
04
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
VOLUNTEER - optional, but encouraged to read.
STAFF - Participate in a discussion/training session with your mentor and/or supervisor.
Review this article entitled, 'Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace' from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
Review the 'Official Rules of Disc Golf Appendix F: Adaptive Rules of Disc Golf.'
Review this Wikipedia article: 'Diversity, equity, and inclusion.'
As the article indicates, DEI "...efforts and policies have generated criticism and controversy." Yet we all should seek to understand. As English philosopher, political economist, politician and civil servant John Stuart Mill once said:
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion... Nor is it enough that he should hear the opinions of adversaries from his own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied by what they offer as refutations. He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them...he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form." ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
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05
Sexual Abuse Reporting & Support
VOLUNTEER - optional, but encouraged to read.
STAFF - Participate in a discussion/training session with your mentor and/or supervisor.
Review the phamplets: linked below.
Youth staff/volunteers, though the phamplets are directed to adults, please still review them.
Interacting with Children in Sport (PDF LINK).
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE - STEPS FOR REPORTING
(PDF LINK).
INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT - STEPS FOR REPORTING
(PDF LINK).
Travel Guidelines to Help Protect Children in Sport
(PDF LINK).
Resource Supplement for Travel Guidelines to Help Protect Children in Sport
(PDF LINK).
06
Project Name
This is your Project description. Provide a brief summary to help visitors understand the context and background of your work. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start.
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07
Project Name
This is your Project description. Provide a brief summary to help visitors understand the context and background of your work. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start.
08
Thanks!
Whether you are a staff member or a volunteer, thanks for going through all this training! Please advise us of any broken links or outdated material.
