The ever thoughtful Mark Folger’s response to multiple stories of inappropriate behavior toward children from coaches in college football, gymnastics and college basketball in the popular media right now:
TEN STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN (and their good coaches)
1. A coach should never be alone with a child, not before practice, not after practice, not during travel.
2. Coaches and athletes should never share hotel rooms when traveling.
3. Coaches should not provide special treatment to one or two athletes compared to the rest of the team. This could be trips to movies or ballgames, gifts, etc.
… see the rest and Mark’s commentary on FOLGER’S GYMNASTICS
All good reminders.
Your biggest looming potential landmine is Facebook. Tweets, chat and Facebook messages from 2011 will be used as “evidence” in courts of law for years to come. In a few of those cases, coaches will be wrongfully accused.
Put things in perspective. In my city female gymnasts are the most protected children in their schools. Over-protected more often than under-protected, I’d say.
related – Missouri Repeals Law Banning Teacher-Student Facebook Friendship
Gymnastics Coaching.com 