True Sport Principles
True Sport is a series of programs and initiatives designed to give people, communities and organizations the means by which to leverage the many benefits of sport from a platform of shared values and principles. Through public consultation, Canadians have told us that they want their sport experience to be based on the values of fairness, excellence, inclusion and fun.
True Sport is dedicated to the notion that good sport can make a great difference. It is our mission to deliver programs and initiatives that…
- Enable participants, parents, coaches and officials to articulate and act upon their deeply held belief in the virtues of good sport
- Enable participants, parents, coaches and officials to identify with others holding similar values
- Create a fair, safe and open atmosphere where good sport can grow stronger through inclusive competition at all levels.
To achieve these goals, we promote seven True Sport Principles. The Principles need to be in play at all times, working in perfect balance with one another, for sport to be truly good and have the opportunity to make the greatest difference, True Sport teams, clubs, athletes, coaches and teachers commit to these Principles for Sport.
Who is True Sport?
Anyone who has joined True Sport and continues to play, train, compete and/or offer a sport experience that is consistent with the True Sport Principles is part of True Sport. True Sport includes every sport at every level: from little-leaguers to Olympians, from archery and hockey to basketball and track. True Sport also includes communities whose leaders understand that sport is a powerful driver of health and social connectedness in cities and towns across the country.
Where is True Sport?
True Sport lives across Canada in communities of every size and in sport organizations at every level. True Sport athletes who compete internationally bring the spirit of good sport with them wherever they go.
Why True Sport?
Every year, millions of Canadians come together through sport. In every province and territory, community sport inspires friendship, learning, health, and personal growth. Canadians tell researchers that after the family, sport is the most powerful influence on young people’s development.
True Sport exists to try to create the right conditions for individuals to experience good sport, to value it, commit to it, nurture it and stay connected to it all their lives. True Sport wants to create good sport communities from coast to coast because we know that good sport can make a great difference in the lives of our kids, and we believe that the way we play together shapes how we live together.
Good sport does not happen by chance! Sport falls short of its potential when negative behaviour gets in the way of the positive things sport can teach us about working together, respecting each other’s efforts, and handling both victory and defeat with the grace of a champion.
