A public health approach to maltreatment in sport: a case study of Hockey Canada

Abstract

Maltreatment in sport has gained unprecedented attention in Canada, prompting significant policy reforms targeting safer sport environments. This paper examines how one of Canada’s largest national sport organisations (NSOs), Hockey Canada, responded to a recent mandate to strengthen safe sport policies. Using a descriptive case study design, we identify three key developments in Hockey Canada’s approach to maltreatment: internal and external policy convergence with national standards; enhanced policy implementation via clearer rules, enforcement mechanisms, and mandatory training; and improved policy evaluation through systematic data collection and transparency. These developments illustrate the substantive role NSOs can play in a public health approach to prevent athlete maltreatment by addressing risk and protective factors at multiple levels. We also point to ongoing challenges related to organisational culture, government oversight, and the need for empirical evaluation. Our findings contribute to sport policy discourse by highlighting both the potential and the limits of NSO-led interventions in fostering safe sport environments.