What is sport integrity?

We take sport integrity seriously and in 2021, softball adopted the NIF.

The NIF is essentially a set of rules that all members of our sport need to follow when it comes to their behaviour and conduct in sport. There are four core policies which make up the NIF. These are:

1. Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
2. Member Protection Policy
3. Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
4. Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling Policy

These core policies are underpinned by the Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy which explains how people who have breached a NIF policy are held accountable for doing the wrong thing.

Learn more here.
Watch the video here.

OTHER INTEGRITY POLICIES

In addition to the National Integrity Framework policies, softball has the following integrity policies:

1. Code of Conduct
2. Conduct and Disciplinary Policy
3. eCommunications Policy
4. Personal Grievances Policy
5. Reviews and Appeals Policy

As a member of a sport that has signed up to the National Integrity Framework, you can make a Complaint if you believe a fellow member has behaved poorly and potentially breached one of the policies.

If the Complaint is about an issue relating to child safeguarding, discrimination or anti-doping, you can make a report to Sport Integrity Australia.

Softball will manage all other integrity complaints. You can lodge a complaint by:

• submitting an online complaint,
• calling Softball Australia's Integrity Manager, Matt Tuohey on (03) 9970 0518 or
• emailing integrity@softball.org.au.

Softball will manage complaints on all other National Integrity Framework (NIF) matters, as well as continuing to manage complaints on non-NIF issues. This includes conduct such as:

• Abuse
• Bullying
• Harassment
• Victimisation
• Sexual Misconduct
• Match, race or competition fixing and other types of Competition Manipulation
• Supplying inside information for the purposes of gambling
• Betting by members on their own sport
• Unlawful use of over the counter or prescription drugs
• Inappropriate use or provision of supplements
• Use, possession or trafficking of illegal drugs
• Concealing information about Prohibited Conduct
• Selection and eligibility disputes
• Competition Rules disputes
• Code of Conduct breaches
• Social Media Policy breaches
• Governance misconduct
• Employment disputes
• Complaints that are solely a Personal Grievance
• Whistleblower disclosures
• Any conduct that occurred before your sports NIF commencement date
• Any other policies that your sport has.

To report any of the above, visit the Softball Australia Online Complaint Form.

You can report anything that may constitute Prohibited Conduct under the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, or that may constitute discrimination based on a protected characteristic, to Sport Integrity Australia.

This includes conduct such as:

• Misconduct with a Child
• Sexual behaviour with or around a child
• Shaming, humiliating, intimidating or belittling a child
• Causing a child physical pain or discomfort
• Supplying of drugs or alcohol to a child
• Discrimination based on:
  •  Race or ethnicity
  •  Age
  • Disability
  • Sex or sexual orientation
  • Religion
• Doping (managed under the sport’s Anti-Doping Policy).

You can also report any prohibited conduct under the Member Protection Policy if it involves a child. To report Prohibited Conduct, visit Make an Integrity Complaint or Report.

SAFE SPORT HOTLINE (1800 161 361)

The Safe Sport Hotline (1800 161 361) is a place for anyone in sport to feel heard, seek support and guidance around integrity matters in sport.

CONNECT WITH SUPPORT

If you, or someone you care about, is struggling with an issue, it’s okay to reach out for support to mental health or wellbeing support service providers.

BULLYING IN SPORT

Every person in sport, in every role, has the right to participate in an environment that is fun, safe and healthy, and to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness.
See Bullying in Sport and available pathways for further details.

ABUSIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT ONLINE

If you have a concern about abusive or inappropriate material online, you can report it to the eSafety Commissioner for action. eSafety can investigate cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse (sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without the consent of the person shown) and illegal and restricted content.

Participation in sport should be safe for all. We are committed to ensuring that people in sport, including children, are treated with respect dignity, and are protected from bullying, discrimination, harassment, or abuse.

7 TO 12-YEAR-OLDS

These guides provide you with a better understanding of your rights and softball's key policies:

• Understand the Safeguarding of Children and Young People Policy visit the How your sport looks after kids factsheet.
• Understand your rights in sport visit the Learn about your rights at sport factsheet.

13 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS

These guides provide you with a better understanding of your rights and softball's key policies:

• Understand the Safeguarding of Children and Young People Policy visit How your sport looks after you factsheets.
• Understand your rights in sport visit Your rights at sport factsheet.
• Understand the Member Protection Policy visit How your sport looks after all its participants factsheet.
• Understand the Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling Policy visit Keep your competition fair and honest factsheet.

For more information on Safeguarding, check out the Safeguarding Children and Young People Fact Sheet.
For more information on Member Protection, check out the Member Protection Fact Sheet.

When it comes to sport integrity, it is critical for everyone involved in sport, from grassroots to elite level athletes, parents, teachers, coaches, sport administration staff and support personnel, to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. There are a range of tools and resources available to help keep everyone informed.

SAFGEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 

The Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is designed to protect children and young people in sport by putting in place rules and processes to ensure sporting environments are inclusive, positive and safe for all children and young people, all the time.  Learn more about Safeguarding here.

Our Child Safe Contact at softball is:
Name: Matt Tuohey
Position: National Integrity Manager
Email: integrity@softball.org.au 
Phone: (03) 9970 0518

Make a complaint: Softball Australia Online Complaint Form

MEMBER PROTECTION POLICY

The Member Protection Policy is designed to protect the welfare, wellbeing and health of everyone involved in sport. It provides clear definitions of abuse, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination, victimisation, and vilification in sport, along with information on how to report these behaviours. Learn more here.

IMPROPER USE OF DRUGS AND MEDICINE POLICY

The Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy is designed to protect athletes from harm caused by the improper use of medicines, supplements and illegal drugs. Learn more here.

COMPETITION MANIPULATION AND SPORT GAMBLING POLICY

The Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Policy is designed to keep sport fair by protecting sporting competitions from competition manipulation (also known as match-fixing) and associated betting activity. Learn more here.

COMPLAINTS, DISPUTES AND DISCIPLINE POLICY

The Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy (CDDP) provides sport and its participants with a best practice complaint management process that can be run by either Sport Integrity Australia or the sport.  Learn more here.

CODE OF CONDUCT

SA is committed to promoting and strengthening the positive image of Softball and its Participants in Australia and treating everyone in Softball with respect and dignity.

The Code of Conduct (Code) aims to ensure that everyone involved in softball (that is athletes, coaches, team managers, support personnel, officials and spectators) are aware of the standards of behaviour expected of them and the mechanism for dealing with any conduct that is alleged to breach the Code

INTEGRITY ELEARNING

Sport Integrity Australia eLearning offers online courses relating to sport integrity, including doping, match-fixing, illicit drugs, and ethical decision-making courses. Specific anti-doping courses are also available for coaches, support personnel, medical practitioners, and parents.

Athletes and support personnel required to complete online education can submit their eLearning certificate to integrity@softball.org.au. 

PLAY BY THE RULES

Play by the Rules provides information, resources, tools and free online training to administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents, and spectators to assist them in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion, and integrity issues in sport.

ESAFETY COMMISSIONER - ESAFETY SPORT HUB

Online abuse can significantly impact sport members and organisations. The eSafety Commissioner is Australia’s national independent regulator and educator for online safety. eSafety provides guidance on online safety issues including cyberbullying, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse and illegal or restricted content. eSafety can help to get harmful online content removed if it meets the legal threshold for investigation.

The eSafety Sport hub provides resources to help the sports community, including information on how to recognise online abuse and deal with online abuse in sport, as well as tailored advice for sport administrators, coaches and officials, and athletes and competitors.

STAY UP TO DATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Keep up to date with all that’s happening in sport integrity by following SIA on Facebook , Instagram , X , YouTube  and LinkedIn  and listen to On Side, the official podcast of SIA.

You can also download the Sport Integrity app, which is available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.