Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions, Answered

- Program cancellations are accepted prior to the registration close date and are subject to a $25 administration fee per registrant.
- Registration cancellation requests after the registration close date will be considered for extenuating circumstances and are subject to a $25 administration fee per registrant.
- Changes to the program or evening for which your child is registered require Coach or Program Administrator approval and only if spots are available.
- XCBC does not offer refunds or credits due to cancellation of programs due to inclement weather. When possible make up sessions may be offered.
XCBC operates under a tiered registration process.
Registration opens in the following order:
1. Volunteer Families
2. Previous program participants
3. Current XCBC Members
4. The general public.
- If conditions are considered dangerous or risky, classes are subject to be cancelled.
- XCBC does not offer refunds or credits due to cancellation of programs due to inclement weather. When possible make up sessions may be offered.
Cold Weather Cutoff:
Programs for Ages 5-9:
Cold weather cut off is -15 C with windchill, or if you feel that it is too cold for you child – bunnies & jackrabbits (ages 5-9).
Unfortunately we are not able to provide make up classes for lessons cancelled due to inclement weather.
Programs for Ages 9+:
Cold weather cut off is -18 C with windchill, or if you feel that it is too cold for your child – REC & Competitive programs (ages 9+).
The term ‘Safe Sport’ represents an umbrella of policies, rules, regulations and actions taken within the world of sport to keep athletes, coaches, parents, and volunteers safe.
Safe Sport polices can include examples such as requiring background checks of coaching staff, as well as special training for coaches and volunteers.

XCBC is proud to hold itself to the strict Safe Sport standards that govern Nordic Sport in Canada.
Programming primarily operates based from the West Bragg Creek Provincial Recreation Area which is a part of Kananaskis. As such, parking at the trailhead requires the Kananaskis Conservation Pass. Programming locations subject to change based on conditions or training needs and will be communicated in a timely manner.

Athlete, Parent, and Coach Code of Conduct

As a member of XC Bragg Creek Ski and Bike Society (XCBC), you are subject to the rules and regulations of that organization. The XC Bragg Creek organization expects all its members to abide by the following Code of Conduct for athletes, parents, coaches and volunteers. This has been implemented to ensure that all members are offered utmost respect and enjoyment while participating in club activities. Violation of the Code of Conduct will be considered a serious offence and will lead to consequences as outlined below.

The XC Bragg Creek executive shall be responsible for implementing the XC Bragg Creek Code of Conduct, Dispute, resolution, and Appeals Policy.

Rationale & Objectives for the code of conduct:

To respect that all participants have the right to receive the best program possible without interference or inappropriate conduct of others.

To ensure the safety and well being of all participants.
To ensure a positive public perception for the organization and for the benefit of club sponsors.

Expectations of the Athlete:

Sportsmanship: Positive image for the club, respect to other participants, the coaches, team members, etc Know that your first line of communication for you and your parents is your coach. To cooperate with coaches, officials, volunteers and fellow athletes.

Training & competitions: Train regularly. Set measurable goals and work with coaches to achieve these. Listen to coaches and officials when they are communicating with you, and show respect.
Responsibility for Actions: Obey all XCBC Code of Conduct requirements. Refrain from any of the following practices or behaviours which are considered to be major infractions: using alcohol, drugs, tobacco. Or any illicit substances; engaging in any sexual conduct or misconduct; explicit swearing; harassment; bullying; theft; vandalism; engaging in unsafe and unsanctioned activities; engaging in any criminal or illicit behaviour. Report immediately to a coach when there is a situation in which someone has been hurt or could potentially be hurt.
Agreement: Read and understand the code of conduct and obey the Athlete code of conduct. Understand that failure to obey the codes of conduct may lead to loss of membership with our organization.

Expectation of the Parents

Parents by signing this agreement have agreed to:

Ensure that as first line of communication, they communicate with coaches as required on all aspect of training program.
Monitor their expectations of their son or daughters performance and recognize the adverse effect that an athlete may experience if he or she is not able to meet the parent’s expectations.
Be supportive advocates for their child participating in our program.
Commit as a family to assist in fundraising activities that is a requirement of the club.
Ensure that your child arrives on time for all club activities physically and mentally prepared with correct kit/equipment.
Ensure satisfactory nutrition, hydration and clothing of the athlete.
Be supportive and respectful of coaches and officials decisions in public settings.
Ensure that all fees due, paperwork and requested information is up to date with the club.

Expectations of Coaches

Treat everyone fairly within the context of their activity, regardless of gender, place of origin, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status;

Direct comments or criticism at the performance rather than the athlete:
Consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching. For example, coaches should:
- refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches, especially when speaking to the media or recruiting athletes,
- abstain from the use of tobacco products while in the presence of their athletes and discourage their use by athletes,
- abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with athletes,
- refrain from encouraging the use of alcohol in conjunction with athletic events or victory celebrations at the playing site, and
- refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of their duties;
Ensure that the activity being undertaken is suitable for the age, experience, ability and fitness level of the athletes and educate athletes as to their responsibilities in contributing to a safe environment;
Consider the athletes’ future health and well being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured athlete’s ability to continue playing or training;
Recognize and accept when to refer athletes to other coaches or sport specialists. Allow athletes’ goals to take precedence over their own;
Regularly seek ways of increasing professional development and self-awareness;
Treat opponents and officials with due respect both in victory and defeat and encourage athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules;
Communicate and cooperate with the athletes’ parents or legal guardians, involving them in management decisions pertaining to their children’s development.

Coaching Imparitives

We Coaches must:

Ensure the safety of the athletes with whom they work;
At no time become intimately and/or sexually involved with their athletes. This includes requests for sexual favours or threat of reprisal for the rejection of such requests;
Respect their athletes’ dignity. Verbal or physical behaviours that constitute harassment or abuse are unacceptable.
Never advocate or condone the use of drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances; and
Never provide under-age athletes with alcohol.

Disciplinary Process

For minor Infractions of the XCBC Code of Conduct will be dealt with as follows:

The resolution of the problem could involve the imposition of disciplinary measures by the head coach in consultation with the other members of the coaching staff. Disciplinary measures may include any or all of the following, as applicable:

Verbal reprimand
Written reprimand
Withdrawal of training and/or competition privileges
Return to home at the expense of the athlete (or offending person).

In the case of minor infractions, the program coach will schedule a discussion with the athlete and/or parent(s) concerned. All parties will discuss the incident and agree upon strategies to improve conduct. If this first step fails to achieve the desired results, the program coach will coordinate a meeting with the program coach, head coach, program director and parent(s). The third step is a meeting with the program coach, a representative of the XCBC Board of Directors and parent(s).

Disciplinary decisions with respect to major infractions or violations of this Code of Conduct shall be made by the XC Bragg Creek discipline committee assigned by the board of directors. Note: a supervising coach may, in necessary circumstances, suspend an athlete until such time as the discipline committee can address the matter in a most timely fashion. In the case of major infractions, the program coach will notify the program director and the parent(s) as soon as possible.

The discipline committee is made up from 2 parent representatives appointed by the board of directors of XCBC and 1 member of the executive. One of these appointed members will serve in the role of discipline Advisor, to lead the committee, and will fulfill duties as outlines below. When the Discipline Advisor is unable to fulfill his or her obligations, a designated from the Discipline Committee will take over the responsibility. The executive representative is a nonvoting member of the Discipline Committee, and serves only to liaise between the discipline committee and the XCBC executive.

To avoid conflict of interest, if a violation report includes the name of a son or daughter of a Discipline Committee Member, that member shall remove themselves from the investigation/decision making process, and shall request that the board of directors for XCBC Executive appoint a temporary stand-in. If a discipline committee member finds themselves in a potential conflict of interest situation as a result of a family or friendship connection with the athlete or adult in question, he or she shall likewise excuse themselves from the process.

XCBC will operate on a standard of proof called ‘Balance of Probabilities’. In contrast to the criminal courts requirement for proof “beyond a reasonable Doubt”. Balance of probabilities would require that the Discipline Committee take into account all available information and determine the most likely explanation of the behaviour or incident and assign to that a suitable consequence. Discipline with due process must be followed.