Ajax Pickering Raiders MHA - Dispute Resolution Process
APMHA requires that all complaints be filed within 5 days of the alleged incident(s).
General information - Dispute Resolution Process (DRP):
- The majority of individuals that make APMHA a success are volunteers that selflessly give up their time to support others. There is NO justification at any point for acting belligerently toward those individuals regardless of the circumstance. Incidents of inappropriate behaviour or belittlement, including on social media, toward the volunteers of APMHA will be dealt with in a manner up to including the removal of the player and his/her family from any APMHA programing.
- The APMHA reservees the right to provide for suplementary dicipline in all cases.
- APMHA cannot overturn, change, or modify referee judgetment calls in any OMHA games in any programming including House League.
- APMHA will always attempt to have an issue resolved within the team. Using the online form to escalate an issue to the DRP should be viewed as a last resort or of instances of serious matters
- Please refer to the Safe Sport reporting for any cases related to maltreatment. Maltreatment must follow these guidelines. Please refer to sportscomplaints.ca
- Recurring issues with the same parties or team will face increasing sanctions. Moreover, nuisance complaints filed without justification may result in sanctions against the complainant.
- Members of the coaching staff should not be approached with a complaint less than 24 hours after an incident. Coaches are entirely within their right to reject hearing a complaint within that time frame.
- With few if any exceptions, complaints that have not been presented to the Team Rep/Coach and, where required, discussed with the coach will be referred to the team without further action by the DRP. If there is an issue with the manner in which the Team Rep/Coach handled a complaint, then the person is encouraged to contact the Association Executive Director. However, if the Team Rep/Coach took all reasonable steps to address the complaint and found that further action was unwarranted, then APMHA will not likely intervene.
- APMHA will comply with requests from legal authorities to provide any and all information gathered under this process. If the incident involves a potential criminal code violation, then the police should be contacted immediately.
- Be advised that the respondent including coaching staff in all cases has the right to know who has filed a complaint against them.
- Complaints are investigated on a case by case basis with no specific time frame for resolution. General resolution time frame is 2 - 4 weeks.
Dispute Resolution Process (DRP):
This process is designed to formalize the steps that all parties are required to take when dealing with an issue. A Parent/Player that wishes to log a complaint about a coach or other person should observe the following. Only current members of the APMHA may use this process.
Complaints from outside the association must come through their member association representative. Associations are required to follow OMHA/OHF/Hockey Canada Regulations/penalties that may arise regarding complaints. This association follows the OMHA manual for polices and procedures.
- The person with the complaint should clearly document the specific details surrounding the issue including dates, names, location, bystanders, and actions.
- The complainant is expected to first raise the issue with the established Team Designate/Coach.
- All parties should wait 24 hours after the incident takes place but, if they feel strongly, they are permitted to contact the The Team Rep/Coach at any time.
- Once the Online form is submitted, it will be forwarded to the Dispute Resolution Committee. An incomplete form, for example, lack of specific details regarding an incident, will cause the complaint to be returned without action until further details are provided.
- As indicated previously, all decisions made by the DRP are binding at the APMHA level, any further recourse must be sought through the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Appeals Process.
- The APMHA will pause any investigation should there be a concurrent police investigation, OMHA Investigation or Safe Sport investigation in process and until it has been completed.
Issues that will NOT be considered by the committee:
This process is meant for serious complaints such as negligent endangerment, player safety, harassment or other egregious behaviour that are serious enough to bring question as to the ability of an individual to continue to be a part of the team/association.
Below is a list of some of the complaints that may be referred back to the team and will not receive further action from the DRP.
- Parental Ice Time frustrations do not warrant a Formal Complaint and any parental submissions that relate fundamentally to ice time will be dismissed without action. When a parent has an issue with the ice time their child is receiving then they are to contact the Parent Rep/Coach for discussion and resolution. A parent may also voice their concerns through the yearly survey which will be reviewed during the coach selection process.
- This form is NOT meant for simple disagreements or personal conflicts between individuals. Baseless complaints filed with the sheer intent of disliking a coach or other individual may result in sanctions against the complainant.
- Rumors or Innuendo complaints will not be considered.
- Anonymous complaints will not be accepted.
- Parent to Parent social media issues will not be addressed by the association.
- Complaints filed on behalf of another individual will not be accepted (third party complaint).
- Game situations/referee complaints are the responsibility of the OMHA and will not be considered.
Formal Complaints will only be reviewed once this form is completed.
Click here to access the form.
Code of Conduct and OMHA Policies - Click Here
NOTE: This document may be modified from time to time.
The APMHA recognizes the sensitive and the potentially serious nature of Complaints and will strive to keep all matters relating to Complaints confidential. However, if required by law to disclose information, the APMHA will do so. All reasonable efforts will be taken to protect the identities of the Complainant and the Respondent throughout any Investigation. However, it is recognized that maintaining full anonymity during an Investigation is not feasible.