Category: parents

USAG safe sport

USA Gymnastics has hired two key senior staff members as the organization continues its ongoing efforts to protect athletes.

Toby Stark, a long-time leader in child advocacy, will serve as USA Gymnastics’ director of safe sport. In that role, Stark will lead a department focused on athlete protection.

Mark Busby, who handled child abuse and sex crime cases while with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, will provide supporting in-house legal counsel. …

USAG

I’m wondering if USAG will be swamped with years of litigation, named in many individual court cases along with Nassar.

related – GymCastic 259: The Nassar Plea …

Lindsey Lemke speaks out on Nassar

Lindsey trained at Twistars. Was treated at Michigan State University.

She estimates that Nassar performed his “treatment” on her some 600 times …

“But I thought it was a legit medical treatment. … Who was I to question him?”

In September 2016, the MSU women’s gymnastics team was called into an urgent meeting. Lindsey was now 20 and had transferred to MSU on a full scholarship after spending a year at the University of North Carolina. Officials announced that there were allegations against Nassar. “They said we weren’t allowed to tell anybody,” says Lindsey.

Gymnast Lindsey Lemke Was Allegedly Sexually Abused by Her Doctor Starting at 13. Now She’s Speaking Out.

I’m waiting on the next GymCastic podcast to get Jessica’s take on the most recent developments in the Nassar case. For the first time he admitted guilt: 3 counts related to child pornography. In return, the plea bargain says prosecutors won’t pursue federal charges alleging sexual abuse of four young women.

He’l be sentenced on Nov. 27 in federal court in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Other court cases against him will continue.

new USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Policy

The Board approved the new USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Policy – replacing the previous Participant Welfare Policy – which includes key updates to USA Gymnastics safe sport policies and procedures. Effective immediately, the policy outlines the scope of the organization’s commitment to promoting a safe environment, requirements and expectations placed on members, and incorporates the authority and jurisdiction of the U.S. Center for SafeSport. …

Additionally, USA Gymnastics is in the final stages of hiring a Director of Safe Sport. …

The Daniels report provided 70 recommendations in 10 key areas …

USAG

USA Gymnastics has been very slow getting to this point. Hopefully they’ve been slow but thorough.

related – Tony Retrosi – Moving Forward- Chaos or Community

protecting children from sexual abuse

Pediatrician Dr. Tobi Adeyeye Amosun:

1. The location of an incident [of sexual abuse] is likely to be at a place where you are familiar.

2. Slumber parties: I wanted to address this separately because of it being a sensitive subject.

3. Please use appropriate anatomical terms for body parts.

4. “Safe touch” vs. “bad touch”: make sure kids know which is which.

Safe touches I usually teach are the ones that are in areas not covered by your bathing suit, like shoulders, head and feet. Safe touches are also those that make you feel calm and safe, like a hug from your mom.

5. “Stranger danger” is a fallacy.

6. Be aware of what kids are looking at on smartphones and tablets.

7. Most importantly, trust your gut.

A Pediatrician Just Laid Out How to Protect Your Child From Sexual Abuse—And She’s Begging You to Listen

Vanessa Atler interview

Like pretty much everyone I was a big fan of Vanessa Atler in the dark days of late 1990s USA Gymnastics.

GymCastic posted an excellent, candid interview from some months ago. Vanessa volunteered to be interviewed, clearing up many questions we had about her career.

254: Vanessa Atler

She explains how she often did not know what her coaches, parents and manager were discussing.

If you don’t have time to listen, Dvora Meyers posted a summary with commentary — Former National Champion Speaks Out About USA Gymnastics’ Problems With Eating Disorders And Abuse.

Click PLAY or watch Vanessa’s 1999 Floor on YouTube.

athlete burnout

what causes burnout?

For athletes, there are a few theories:

  • Excessive pressure to train, perform, and win
  • Overtraining with little recovery time
  • Shift from intrinsic (having fun, learning new skills, making friends) to extrinsic (medals, scholarships, endorsements) motivation
  • Entrapment – Time and energy invested does not equal the rewards
  • Empowerment – Organized competitive sports controls an athlete and their life, making them feel powerless

Click over to Gym Blog Central for a lengthy discussion and more links.

Athlete Burnout – Symptoms and Prevention