Category: ethics

Gymnastics Coaching leaving Twitter

Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022, there have been a range of issues and controversies that have concerned me.

Without question he allows dangerous people to post dangerous things. He himself is guilty of amplifying posts that endanger people. And Musk frequently posts things himself that he knows are wrong. Misinformation and disinformation.

Starting January 2025, Gymnastics Coaching will not post on Twitter. Not comment or respond to posts, other than to BLOCK. We’ll continue to lurk as it’s (surprisingly) still the best social media platform for gymternet news.

It’s likely to get worse, not better, in 2025. At some point we’ll quit permanently.

In addition to Twitter, I’d concur that Elon Musk has too much money and power. In particular, too much influence over the U.S. government.

Here are some of the problems according to ChatGPT:

Mass Layoffs and Talent Drain

  • … not enough personnel to manage content moderation or address security vulnerabilities.

Content Moderation and Misinformation

  • Policy Shifts: Under Musk, Twitter reversed or weakened many of its previous content moderation policies. This included restoring previously banned accounts (such as U.S. President Donald Trump) …
  • Rise in Hate Speech and Misinformation: …a surge in abusive content and lies, particularly in sensitive areas like elections and conspiracy theories.

Global Controversies and Legal Challenges

  • Content Moderation Legal Risks: Musk’s more permissive approach to content moderation led to concerns from governments and regulators in the U.S., EU, and other countries. Twitter faced potential legal consequences for not complying with stricter laws on online content and misinformation, particularly in Europe under the Digital Services Act.

Privacy and Security Concerns

  • Security Features Reduced: Some security features were weakened under Musk’s direction, including fewer protections for high-profile accounts and a decreased focus on tackling bots and spam accounts.

Challenges of Managing a High-Profile Platform

  • Musk’s Direct Involvement: Musk’s frequent involvement in Twitter’s daily operations has been both a blessing and a curse. While some see his hands-on approach as revitalizing the platform, others view it as erratic and unpredictable.

Conclusion:

Musk’s acquisition of Twitter has led to significant changes in the platform’s culture, structure, and functionality. While Musk’s vision for Twitter X as an “everything app” and a hub for free speech has garnered attention, the platform’s reputation, stability, and user experience have faced substantial challenges. Many users and observers are concerned that these changes could result in long-term damage to Twitter’s once-dominant position in the social media landscape.

German Gymnastics investigates abuse claim

The German gymnastics federation DTB has pledged to launch an investigation into physical and mental abuse allegations made by 24-year-old retired gymnast Tabea Alt.

On Sunday, the DTB told Germany’s DPA news agency that it “had concrete information on potential wrongdoing from coaches at the federal training center in Stuttgart.”

“The subject of the investigation will be possible misconduct by coaches as well as errors in the high performance sports system at national bases,” the federation said. …

The Street Journal

4 WAG, 6 MAG to Worlds 2025 Jakarta

Hardy Fink encouraged Federations to vote for a return to the system used 2005 to 2021.

And they did. Common sense has prevailed.

Credit FIG for realizing they’d made a terrible mistake in trying to reduce the number of competitors.

NOW … resume arguing WHY nations should send more men than women to the World Championships. 😀

NEW Gymnastics NZ Training Guidelines

New training guidelines issued by Gymnastics New Zealand for all ages and stages of a gymnast’s development will help ensure the sport is a safe, fun and healthy pursuit for all New Zealanders.

… created by a working group of club managers, coaches, athletes, parents and code representatives, Gymnastics NZ education staff, and a consultant from High Performance Sport New Zealand …

The guidelines suggest a range of training hours that strike a balance between developmental considerations, pathway priorities, and technical requirements. They are based upon considerations including: 

  • the fundamental requirements of gymnastics training sessions.
  • age considerations
  • athlete stages
  • our unique New Zealand setting
  • provision of choice
  • a targeted approach to keeping gymnasts in the sport as they reach adulthood and beyond 
  • the key principles of Sport NZ’s Balance is Better initiative.
Gymnastics-NZ-training-guidelines-ART-RG-GFADownload

Time’s Athlete of the Year …

… What!? … It’s not SIMONE. 😀

Actually, I’m cool with Caitlin Clark.

Amazing athlete. And she’s done a lot for ALL women’s sport in 2024.

USAG’s future ‘training & wellness center’

USA Gymnastics is searching for a ‘campus‘.

I’m hoping this will get the offices out of Indianapolis. Ideally, the national sports governing body should relocate to a state government that better protects girls and women. For example, Indiana enacted a new total ban on abortion, which took effect on August 1, 2023.

Indiana does not have a law protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.

In addition, a more central location geographically with better airline connections would be appreciated.

USAG-Training-Wellness-CenterDownload

Béla Károlyi is dead

Controversial coach Béla Károlyi has died, age-82.

One Romanian site says he was living in Huntsville, Texas at the time.

In my opinion, Béla was no technical coach, but a great motivator and promoter.

Without question, he helped popularize Artistic Gymnastics around the world, personal coach to two Olympic champions.

Many of those who knew him best had mixed feelings.

I felt his training methodology was unscientific. Unsafe.

Márta was somewhat better — but in the early 2000s, still required kids to do 10 routines / day immediately before competition. Dumb. Dangerous.

Worst of all, Károlyi success in the USA motivated Steve Nunno and others to emulate harsh coaching.

Márta Károlyi remained the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics until 2016.

In 2024, we are far better off with elite American leaders like Alicia Sacramone Quinn and Chellsie Memmel.

“I Have Made Their Lives Miserable”

That’s what famed gymnastics teacher Bela Karolyi says about the rival coaches who criticize his ruthless methods—but he could say the same about the girls he is training to become Olympic champions.

no excuse for abuse

Question any coach who seems to be aggressive towards children.

The only way to stop it is for parents to stand up, not simply for the current athlete, but the future human being!

We fail our kids when we ignore the very real long-term damage of abusive coaching for the fleeting celebrations of short-term results. Besides, there are far more coaches who don’t verbally abuse players getting the same kinds of results, but also building up excellent humans too. …

Parents in Sport

Ellie Black – keeping gymnasts safe

Emma Spence, Felix Dolci, and others are interviewed.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

How Cheerleading Became So Acrobatic, Dangerous and Popular

AI summary of the NY Times article by David Gauvey Herbert.

Published Oct 22, 2024

… the rise of competitive cheerleading in the United States and the dominance of a single company, Varsity Spirit, in the industry.

It highlights the story of Nikki Jennings, a talented young cheerleader who suffered numerous injuries and abuse during her cheer career, including concussions, hamstring injuries, and emotional abuse from her coach.

The article also delves into the history of cheerleading, tracing its origins from military chants to the modern, acrobatic sport it has become.

It examines how Jeff Webb, the founder of Varsity Spirit, has shaped the sport through his innovations and desire for control, leading to allegations of monopolistic practices and negative impacts on participants and their families.

The article also touches on the recent $4.75 billion sale of Varsity Spirit to the private equity firm KKR, raising questions about the future of the sport and the company’s grip on it.

Read the original article (subscription required).

How Cheerleading Became So Acrobatic, Dangerous and Popular

AI generated image