The Northwest Territories School Sports Association (NTSSA) is committed to providing safe, equitable, and high quality sport experiences for all students across the territory. One way we do this is through the sanctioning of events.
What is a Sanctioned Event?
A sanctioned event is one that has been officially recognized and approved by NTSSA, meeting defined standards for safety, organization, and participant experience. Sanctioning provides a framework of support, responsibility, and legitimacy for school sport events across the Northwest Territories.
Benefits of Sanctioning
When an event is sanctioned by NTSSA, it benefits from:
- Insurance coverage for participants, volunteers, and event staff
- Official recognition and promotion through NTSSA’s calendar, social media, and website
- Consistent event quality across the territory
- Enhanced safety through risk management and Safe Sport compliance
- Development opportunities for coaches and officials
- Clear athlete pathways connecting school sport to broader opportunities
- Partnership support from Territorial Sport Organizations (TSOs)
NTSSA’s Role
For sanctioned events, NTSSA may provide:
- Administrative support (registration, scheduling, communications)
- Marketing and promotion
- Financial management for event-related costs (medals, banners, officials)
- Safe Sport guidance and policy compliance
- Partnership connections with TSOs
Host Community & TSO Roles
Host communities/schools provide facilities, volunteer support, and local coordination.
TSOs (when applicable) provide officials, sport rules, equipment, and training.
Approval Process
To be considered for sanctioning, an event must be submitted by a TSO, community, or school to the NTSSA Sanctioning Committee for review and approval. Applications should include:
- Event details (dates, location, format)
- Safety measures and risk management plans
- Confirmation of sport rules and eligibility standards
- Hosting commitments (facilities, volunteers, logistics)
Event Tiers
Sanctioned events are grouped into three tiers based on NTSSA involvement and support:
Tier 1 – NTSSA 100%
Full administration, insurance, marketing, financials, and delivery by NTSSA.
Tier 2 – NTSSA 50%
Shared delivery with TSO/community/school, with split responsibilities.
Tier 3 – NTSSA 10%
NTSSA provides limited marketing and support; the event is primarily community/TSO led.
Resources & Official Documents
- Sanctioned Event Description
- Event Tiers
- NTSSA Sanctioned Event Application Form
- Sanctioned Activity Policy
- Safe Sport & Code of Conduct
