How do the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education work? How do I use the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards In Education?
All the information you need regarding an activity/sport will be on the specific activity page. Find the specific activity/sport you are looking for from the drop-down menu after selecting elementary or secondary. Alternatively, if there is additional information related to the activity/sport, you will be directed from the specific activity page to the appropriate content through hyperlinked instructions. If you already know the specific tool you need, you can access it through the Tools & Resources page. If you're looking for information specific to concussions, you can find it directly through the Concussions section. If after searching for the appropriate information, you still have questions or are unsure, you can always Ask Ophea.
What happens if I can’t find an activity in the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education?
When introducing an activity/sport that is not included in the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education, refer to the activity page of the activity/sport it most resembles.
When considering an activity/sport that is not included in the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education and does not resemble an activity/sport in the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education, the inherent risk of the proposed activity must be identified and minimized. Before participation can occur, permission must be obtained from your appropriate school board official (for example, principal, supervisory officer). Consult the Sample Checklist to Identify and Minimize Risk for Activities not Included in OPASSE to assist with this process.
Should you wish to submit a request for an activity/sport to be added to the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education, you can submit your request for through the online form Modify the Safety Standards. Please be sure to include your rationale for the request and all relevant evidence and references (including any activity/sport-related policy). While submissions are accepted year-round, the deadline for a requested addition to be reviewed during that school year is July 15th. We make every effort to review all requests made by July 15th over the course of the school year and release any related edits in time for the following school year.
What age/grades are appropriate to the elementary and secondary levels?
With some exceptions, age divisions are not described on activity pages. Instead, all activity pages are divided into Elementary and Secondary to reflect the common divisions in the Ontario school system. It is the responsibility of each school board/local athletic association to determine the age appropriateness of these activities. Where ages are determined in activity pages, the standard has been determined by experts in the field.
Do I need to follow the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards In Education?
Each school board is responsible for setting out their own safety policy. Publicly funded school boards in Ontario may RAISE the standards if they wish, but they are strongly encouraged not to LOWER them. Ultimately it is your responsibility to check with your school board to ensure alignment with your school board policies.
I don’t agree with the current Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards In Education for a specific activity, what can I do?
If you have reason to believe that a specific activity page or portion of the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education needs to be updated, you can submit a request for revision through the online form Modify the Safety Standards. Please be sure to include your rationale for the request and all relevant evidence and references (including any activity/sport-related policy). While submissions are accepted year-round, the deadline for a requested revision to be reviewed during that school year is October 31. We make every effort to review all requests made by October 31 over the course of the school year and release any related edits in time for the following school year.
Are certifications that are not listed on the Outdoor Education activity pages permitted?
Certifications that are not listed on the OPASSE Outdoor Education activity pages may be permitted provided that they are equivalent or exceed the listed certifications.
How do I determine the equivalency of my certifications?
The Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education (OPASSE) is not in a position to assess qualifications that individuals possess in terms of their equivalency. To determine the equivalency of certifications, you must determine that the components of the courses in question are equivalent to the components of the courses of the specific certifications listed on OPASSE.