Call for Applications: Abuse-Free Sport Research Grant Program (Canada)

This will improve the development of effective policies, processes and practices, enhancing the sport experience for all.

On July 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced that the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (“SDRCC”) had been selected to establish and deliver an independent safe sport mechanism, in order to oversee the implementation of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (“UCCMS”) for federally-funded sport organizations. On June 20, 2022, the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (“OSIC”) launched its first phase of operations and Canada’s new independent safe sport mechanism became Abuse-Free Sport.

Research Priorities

• Methodological Approaches
  • The Program will prioritize research proposals that:
    • Apply an intersectional lens in order to engage ALL sport participants and to understand marginalized groups when it comes to their experience with safe sport;
    • Have an interdisciplinary approach to draw knowledge from other disciplines and fields, and adapt it to the sport context; and
    • Have an overall approach that is collaborative through all levels of sport, using participatory/intervention researches in order to develop a meaningful impact on the sport community in Canada.
• Themes
  • The following research themes were highlighted as needing more attention are the:
    • Development of standardized measurement tools (e.g., using common terminology and research questions);
    • Prevalence of maltreatment in sport at the community level;
    • Inclusion of various sport participants (e.g., athletes, officials, administrators, coaches, etc.);
    • Evaluation of victim/survivor support programs and other safe sport initiatives; and
    • Best practices to foster a safe culture for all sports, at all levels.
• Evaluation of Abuse-Free Sport Program
  • Research proposals evaluating these Abuse-Free Sport initiatives will be prioritized:
    • Complaint Management Process / Sport Environment Assessments;
    • Support Services;
    • Education Accreditation Program / Education Library;
    • Research Grant Program;
    • Webinar Series;
    • Abuse-Free Sport Helpline;
    • Safeguarding Tribuna.

Funding Information

• For 2023-2024, applicants can request up to $30,000 for one-year grants. Depending on the nature of the project, annual funding for up to three (3) consecutive years may be provided by the SDRCC. Applicants for such projects can request for a maximum of $90,000 over three (3) years. It is expected that funds will be spent on an annual basis. Continuation of research funding beyond the first year of the three-year grant period is subject to the availability of funds and to satisfactory performance of the initiative which is assessed by the SDRCC through progress reports from grant recipients. Note that there is no automatic extension for the use of funds.

• Progress Reports:
  • A progress report is required no later than six (6) months after the announcement of funding and should be provided every six (6) months until the research end date. The progress report will inform the SDRCC of any important changes affecting the nature of the project, as well as provide information on preliminary findings and/or advancement.
• Final Research Report:
  • A final research report is to be submitted to the SDRCC at the end of the allocated funding period. It is recommended that researchers use a 11- or 12-point font size and 1-inch margins. The use of visuals or interactive multimedia is welcome in the reports. Researchers are free to use their preferred citation format.
  • The SDRCC will own the final report submitted by the researchers, with the right of the SDRCC to reproduce, translate and publish such report with proper recognition of the author(s). Researchers are the sole proprietary of all data collected during the accomplishment of their mandate, with full rights to publish their findings.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications may be submitted by one applicant, or by a team of researchers consisting of one or more co-applicants and/or collaborators.
• The applicant and/or co-applicants can be affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution at the time of application. Applicants who are not affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution are also encouraged to apply, but should ensure to obtain proper ethics approval for their research project. Any individual who contributes significantly to the project is considered a collaborator. Collaborators do not need to be affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution.
• Applicants who have received a grant through the Program, but have failed to submit the necessary documents (e.g., final report, progress report, confirmation of use of funds) by the deadline specified in the grant agreement are not eligible to apply to another grant, until they have submitted the necessary documents.

For more information, visit Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.