In our last issue of In the Neutral Zone, we tackled the question of how to manage disputes internally and offered a few suggestions to the people responsible for managing such conflicts. In this issue, we’ll focus on the needs of the individuals or “parties” who feel they have been treated unfairly.

The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) regularly receives requests for information from athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, volunteers, and employees of sports Organizations regarding disputes they are trying to resolve. Most of the time, these individuals contact the SDRCC because they are unsure of how to go about ensuring their rights are respected.

As part of its mandate, the SDRCC must offer assistance to all members of the Canadian sport community, regardless of their title or position. However, this mandate does not allow us to offer legal opinions to those who solicit our help, but rather requires that we help provide structure to the conflict resolution approach. The following are a few practical pointers you can use if ever you feel that certain rights have not been respected.

How Can Disputes Be Managed Internally?