Updated: February 2025
1. The NSA (“Nelson Soccer Association”) welcomes all individuals to participate in soccer and believes in removing barriers to foster inclusion. All participants deserve respectful and inclusive environments for participation that value the participant’s Gender Identity and Gender Expression.
2. In keeping with the British Columbia Soccer Association’s (“BC Soccer”) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and policy [revised June 2024] and BC Soccer’s Rules and Regulations, Rule 4(g) [revised May 2024], the NSA affirms its commitment to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion and providing a safe place for all participants within the NSA.
3. In this policy:
“Gender” means the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a society assigns to people in accordance with their Sex.
“Gender Expression” means the manner in which an individual represents or expresses Gender to others – through behaviour, hairstyles, activities, voice, mannerisms, etc.
“Gender Identity” means an individual’s deeply held sense or knowledge of their own Gender.
“Sex” means a binary classificatory scheme that divides people into groups on the basis of their biology.
“Transgender” is a broad term used to include people whose Gender Identity or Gender Expression differs from their Sex at birth, regardless of whether or not they identify as “transgender”.
4. The NSA is guided in the creation and application of this Policy by the following principles: (a) (b) (c) (d) All participants should have access to programming and facilities in which they feel comfortable and safe; This Policy must be implemented in a fair and equitable manner; Participants in sport should be able to participate in the Gender category with which they best identify; There should be no requirement for a participant to disclose that they identify as Transgender or their history with respect to same in order to participate in NSA programs.
5. Participants are permitted to participate in the programs offered by the NSA in the Gender category in which the participant best identifies.
6. Any individual who does not identify as male or female, shall be permitted to participate in the Gender category in which they feel most comfortable.
7. All participants should be aware that at higher levels of sport; for instance, those covered by Canada Soccer, they may be subject to additional Rules and Regulations. Participants are encouraged to contact the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (“CCES”) for guidance. Actions for Inclusion
8. In furtherance of this Policy, the NSA commits to take the following actions:
(a) Provide this Policy to NSA staff, directors and coaches;
(b) Offer access to additional inclusion education and training opportunities on its implementation as needed;
(c) Maintain organizational documents and the NSA’s website in a manner that promotes inclusive language;
(d) Refer to participants by their preferred name and pronoun;
(e) Work with Transgender participants on the implementation and/or modification of this Policy as needed;
(f) Where the NSA has the authority to determine participants’ use of washrooms, change rooms, and other facilities, the NSA will permit individuals to use the facilities consistent with their Gender Identity; 2
(g) Apply the Participation guidelines for Transgender participants set out in this Policy in a manner that is consistent with the Policy Statement; and
(h) Monitor ongoing developments regarding national and international participation guidelines for Transgender athletes and review and revise the Policy as needed to ensure it is consistent with promoting a safe and inclusive environment and aligns with progressive developments concerning Transgender participation in sport.
9. Participants are not required to disclose their Gender Identity to the NSA or any of the NSA’s representatives (e.g., coaches, staff, Directors, officials, etc.).
10. Should a participant or the participant’s legal guardian choose to advise the NSA that the participant is Transgender, they may contact the NSA’s SafeSport Representative to do so.
11. Where a participant or the participant’s legal guardian chooses to advise the NSA or a representative of the NSA that the participant is Transgender, the information shared will be kept confidential.
12. With the permission of the participant or the participant’s legal guardian, coaches and staff will advise the NSA if they have a participant who has advised them that they are Transgender and advise the player and the player’s family to have further contact with the NSA to ensure compliance with this Policy and to ensure that all necessary accommodations are considered.
13. The NSA will take all necessary steps to protect the privacy and confidentiality of all participants who are Transgender and will not disclose that information without the express consent of the participant or their legal guardian as applicable for participants under the age of 18. 3
The Nelson Soccer Association (NSA) is a non-profit community soccer association whose mission is to provide all soccer players, coaches, officials and parents in Nelson and the surrounding area with programs and opportunities to learn, play and excel in the sport of soccer.
