Badminton Birdies is committed to fostering a safe environment for all its junior members and participants.
We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the sport of badminton without fear of discrimination, harassment, bullying, or abuse.
This commitment applies to all parties, including young athletes, coaches, volunteers, staff, board members, parents and spectators.
Our goal is to provide a fun, enjoyable, and safe atmosphere for everyone involved.
To better understand and implement best practices for safe sport, Badminton Birdies has developed a framework outlining the key processes in place.
By following this framework and providing the necessary information to our club staff and members, we aim to prevent unhealthy behaviors and improve the management of any complaints or incidents.
All of our policies and core documentation can be found in full detail with in the official Safe Sport Manual.
Education
Badminton Birdies is committed to providing resources and educational materials to help our members understand and support safe sport concepts. We aim to educate all our members as clearly as possible to prevent unsafe situations and practices. Through education, we believe we can create a positive difference in our clubs and ensure a safe environment for everyone involved in junior badminton in Ontario.
Abuse, Harassment & Anti-Bullying
Badminton Birdies promotes an open and fun environment for all involved in youth badminton. We are dedicated to creating safe spaces free from abuse, harassment, and bullying in any form. By clearly establishing our zero-tolerance approach, we encourage an enjoyable badminton experience for all young participants.
Resources:
Mental & Physical Health
Badminton Birdies supports the importance of maintaining both mental and physical health.
We recognize that both aspects of health are equally important and should be treated with the utmost care. By educating and raising awareness about mental and physical health support, we aim to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health needs and ensure all participants seek help for any health issues they face.
Concussions
A concussion is a brain injury that can affect how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Any blow to the head, neck, or face can cause a concussion. It can also result from a blow to the body that causes the brain to move inside the skull.
Concussions can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Symptoms of Concussions
Symptoms can vary widely and may not appear immediately.
Common signs include headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or noise. Some individuals might experience balance problems, blurry vision, or a feeling of sluggishness.
Emotional symptoms like irritability, sadness, or anxiety can also occur. In more severe cases, loss of consciousness or amnesia surrounding the event may be present. If you suspect a concussion, it's crucial to seek medical attention promptly to ensure proper diagnosis and management.
What to Do If You Suspect a Concussion
All of our Coaches are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion.
If you suspect a concussion, it's crucial to seek medical attention promptly to ensure proper diagnosis and management.
Protective Eyewear
Protective eyewear is essential for kids playing badminton to prevent eye injuries.
All junior players must wear protective eyewear during Badminton Birdie instructional programs.
Encouraging kids to wear protective eyewear not only safeguards their eyes but also promotes a culture of safety in sports from a young age.
Given the sport's fast pace and the high velocity of the shuttlecock, safeguarding eyes is essential.
If prescription glasses are worn by the player, protective goggles must be worn over top to fully protect the eyes.
This article from The Canadian Medical Journal provides further insight about the risks to eyesight when protective gear is not worn while playing badminton. Traumatic hyphema in a 13-year-old girl: Eye protection regulation in badminton is needed
All junior players in Ontario must wear protective eyewear meeting the ASTM F803 standard whenever there are more than two players on the same court at all Badminton Ontario sanctioned events.
Badminton is the leading cause of racquet sports–related eye injuries in Canada, with traumatic hyphema being a common complication.
More than half of patients with ocular injuries from badminton never regain full visual acuity.
Ocular injury from badminton can be prevented with the use of eye protectors that meet the ASTM F803 standard.
All Junior players are provided Protective Eyewear while participating in Badminton Birdies
Prevention
Badminton Birdies recognizes the importance of creating prevention strategies to ensure a safe badminton environment.
By having preventative measures in place, we can build on the Education pillar and create a strong system to prevent unsafe behavior.
The following topics will each have their own tab: Responsible Coaching Movement, Required Training, Rule of Two, Screening.
Screening
Proper screening practices are critical to the safe sport landscape.
At Badminton Birdies, all coaches seeking to purchase a Coach Accreditation Card must complete a background check via the Sterling Back Check system and update it every two years.
We encourage all affiliated badminton clubs to implement screening practices to assess any volunteer or paid coaches, managers, or others who may be in close contact with young players.
Resources
Badminton Birdies adheres to several policies to aid in education, prevention, and response regarding safe sport. These policies are compiled in the Safe Sport Policy Manual.
Read More About Official Safe Sport Training Modules and Policies Here
View or Download a copy of our consent form
Please note:
A Digital Copy of this consent form is provided during the registration process.
All parents or guardians must agree to the terms with in the consent form prior to completing the registration process for each Junior Badminton Player.