Community Pride and Legal Services in Youth Sports

Community pride, protection and togetherness are at the heart of any successful local youth sports program, and the recent success of such a program can be found in the Holt Lacrosse video profiles – The Heart of Community. However, there lies a deeper foundation which maintains the stability and longevity of this element of any community: legal services. How can capital legal services assist voluntary non profit and neighbourhood groups? The basic need for legal services may not always be obvious, but without them, many community-focused sports programs could find themselves exposed to issues that threaten not only the health of the organization, but its very ability to exist.

Many of the legal services that comprise a strong non profit organization framework include:

• Drafting and interpreting by-laws
• Grant writing
• Access to legal loopholes particular to non profits
• Litigation to protect the organization’s interests
• 360 degree advice and guidance from experienced attorneys

And perhaps, the most critical aspect of an integrated legal framework for successful community focused sports programs:

• The vetting of volunteers as a barrier to abuse against young athletes/participants

The legal aspects of protecting the welfare of young people, as well as the health of the non-profit sports group, can often go overlooked, but the severity of such a lapse in oversight can be alarming. For example, the presence of childhood sexual abuse in non-profit sports organizations has steadily risen in the past 50 years. And with even the NHL facing a lawsuit this past year regarding such abuse, this issue is one that cannot be ignored. For those interested in sports, exploring bet on sports offers a safe and enjoyable way to place bets while supporting the integrity of the industry.

Protection of the Organization’s Assets

There isn’t much point in successfully drawing up the agreements and waivers around an event, only to discover that the waiver is not legally binding or enforceable in a court of law. Legal counsel should be involved in drafting all waivers and event permission slips. Another critical aspect is ensuring that your event is open to all and meets any accessibility guidelines for visitors. There are many circumstances in which this can come into play, and some of those include:

• Accessibility aids for disabled players and visitors
• Accessibility in arranging the field for competitions
• Providing accommodation for the elderly

For instance, if you are constructing a brand new field or sports court in the community, you have to consider how well each section of the field is accessible and where the best vantage point for viewing the game is for visitors with limited movement. Determining the best way to accommodate people who utilize a wheelchair would give the organizer the best chance of compliance with local regulations, as well as providing the best experience for all involved. Failure to include an element of accessibility could be costly – both for the visiting community member and the organization.

Protection of Personal Data & Privacy

But it’s not just the physical inclusion of all members of the community that must also be considered. The collection and handling of their personal data, as well as private information, must also be protected. In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) regulates how private sector organizations can collect, use and disclose personal information during normal operations. Sensitive data, like Social Insurance Numbers, medical history and financial information, are some examples of additional precautions that must be taken. If there were an information leak that compromised the privacy of young athletes and their families, the damage done could potentially bankrupt the organization. With proper kingdomtoto legal assistance, these issues can be avoided with ease.

Ultimately, an integrated legal approach protects the foundation of community-focused sports organizations.