SCI is a national innovator in its use of a Sports Ombuds Model, establishing one of the first Ombuds offices in the nation specifically designed to address sports-related issues. Establishing a safe, credible, and effective Sports Ombuds program provides a significant return on investment and is essential in minimizing the destructive costs of conflict.
Conflict Will Occur
SCI believes strongly in partnering with organizations to build systems that acknowledge conflict will occur and create an environment where it can be addressed positively. This also serves as a model for an external Ombudsperson’s function within the organization.
What is an Ombuds?
An Organizational Ombudsperson is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and its stakeholders. The Ombudsperson facilitates resolution of conflicts and complaints in a neutral, impartial, independent and confidential manner, advocating not for one person over another, but for fairness in the process for all parties.
Sports Ombuds Functions
A Sports Ombuds function serves to resolve acute problems informally and to provide a significant feedback mechanism to the organization’s management structure from which informed change can be made to prevent similar problems from recurring.
Reduce Costs
A Sports Ombuds function reduces both direct and indirect costs. This can mean lowering athlete drop-out rates, reducing staff resource time spent resolving issues, avoiding costly litigation, and, most importantly, serving your organization’s mission more effectively.
Sports Remains the Focus
In short, helping sports to remain the focus is a primary function of a Sports Ombuds function.
Start With Assessment
SCI begins with an assessment of your organization and works to establish an effective Charter or Terms of Reference to define a scope and customized function that best addresses the needs and resources of your organization.
IOA Standards
SCI follows the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) standards and best practices in implementing and operating it’s Sports Ombuds programs. The IOA provides excellent resources to better assist in understanding the value and effectiveness of an organizational ombuds model.
Sports Conflict Institute
SCI is an excellent resource in understanding whether an Sports Ombuds office makes sense for your organization and, if so, how best to establish and maintain such a function.