Purpose
The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a national initiative led by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to support safe, ethical sport. One of its three pillars is the Rule of Two. The goal of the Rule of Two is to ensure all interactions and communications with athletes are open, observable, and justifiable. Its purpose is to protect participants—especially minors—and coaches by ensuring that a coach is never alone with an athlete in a potentially vulnerable situation, except in rare emergency circumstances.
Standards – Canada Soccer Rule of Two
Canada Soccer expects organizations to work toward the safest possible environment by having two screened and NCCP-trained or certified coaches with an athlete whenever the athlete might be vulnerable. Where this is not possible, a screened Person in Authority (such as a manager, support staff, chaperone, or club director) should be present. If no screened adult is available, another adult—such as a parent/guardian of another athlete, or another senior athlete—should be asked to assist temporarily. The lowest standard, and not recommended, is a single coach with more than one athlete.
Adapted from Canada Soccer – Rule of Two Guidelines (Responsible Coaching Movement). Bradford Wolves FC
Rule of Two – Implementation Practices
Good Rule of Two Implementation Practices and Practical Tips
Canada Soccer outlines several practical steps that clubs and teams can use to put the Rule of Two into practice in daily operations.
- Take the Responsible Coaching Movement pledge and communicate this commitment to families and players.
- Ensure a coach is never alone and out of sight with a participant without another screened coach or screened adult present.
- Keep training environments open to observation and avoid closed-door meetings.
- Inform parents/guardians and players that the club is working toward the highest Rule of Two standard—two screened and NCCP-trained coaches present.
- Share these guidelines with families and invite them to help identify and report situations where the Rule of Two may not have been followed.
- When a participant travels in a coach’s vehicle, ensure another adult is present whenever possible.
- Consider the gender identity of athletes when assigning screened coaches or support personnel, and recruit a bench parent/support where needed.
- Ask parent volunteers to complete the organization’s screening process and obtain a criminal record check.
- Encourage parents and volunteers to pursue NCCP training, even if they are not primary coaches.
- Eliminate one-to-one electronic messaging; include another adult on all communications and keep messages sport-related.
- Ensure the club has: (1) a Code of Conduct to Protect Children, (2) Guidelines for Appropriate/Inappropriate Conduct between Adults/Adolescents and Children, and (3) a written procedure, provided to parents and Persons in Authority, explaining what to do if inappropriate conduct is witnessed.
- Adopt a Discipline Policy that describes how misconduct and failures to follow the Rule of Two will be addressed.
Adapted from Canada Soccer – Rule of Two Guidelines (Responsible Coaching Movement). Bradford Wolves FC
Rule of Two – Practical Guidelines
Travel
- A Person in Authority should not be alone in a car with an athlete unless they are the athlete’s parent/guardian.
- A Person in Authority must not share a hotel room with an athlete unless they are the athlete’s parent/guardian.
- Room or bed checks during overnight stays should always be done by two Persons in Authority.
Locker Rooms, Changing Areas, and Meeting Rooms
- One-on-one interactions in spaces with a reasonable expectation of privacy (locker rooms, washrooms, changing areas, meeting rooms) should be avoided.
- A second Person in Authority should be present for necessary interactions in these spaces, and supervision should ideally be by Persons in Authority of the same gender identity as the players.
- If a second Person in Authority is not available, the supervising adult should never be alone with a single athlete.
Training and Competition Environment
- A Person in Authority should not be alone with an athlete before or after practices or games unless they are the athlete’s parent/guardian.
- Parents/guardians should remain until another athlete or Person in Authority arrives if their child is first at the field.
- After activities, another Person in Authority or adult should stay until all athletes have left so that no adult is left alone with a single athlete.
- Individual instruction and feedback should always occur within earshot and eyesight of another Person in Authority.
Gender Identity
- For teams with athletes of one gender identity, at least one Person in Authority of the same gender identity should be available at all interactions.
- For co-ed teams, a Person in Authority of each gender identity represented on the team should be available whenever possible.
Virtual Environments
- The Rule of Two continues to apply in virtual settings.
- For athletes under 16, a parent/guardian should be present where possible.
- At least two adults (two coaches, or one coach and another adult) should be present on all virtual sessions; one-on-one virtual sessions should be avoided.
- Coaches should connect from professional, non-private spaces and avoid bedrooms or overly personal settings.
- Social media contact and one-to-one direct messages between coach and athlete should be prohibited; group communication including another adult is recommended.
This document is a Bradford Wolves FC branded adaptation of the Canada Soccer ‘Rule of Two Guidelines’, developed in alignment with the Responsible Coaching Movement.
Adapted from Canada Soccer – Rule of Two Guidelines (Responsible Coaching Movement). Bradford Wolves FC
