Category: parents

Aimee Boorman interview

The best I’ve read.

What was your favorite way to spend a day as a child?

I was a latchkey kid. Single mom. We lived close by the park district where I started doing gymnastics. Then when I switched to private club gymnastics, I would go home and get ready for gym. I’d eat a snack, get on the public transportation and go to gym. My mom would pick me up after and that’s pretty much what I did every day, because my life was gymnastics …

… (Simone) came in during a field trip. You walked in and you see all these 6-year olds on a field trip. She got a note sent home with her that said, “Hey, do you want to come in and try some classes?” …

As far as Simone goes, she has star quality. She did really ugly gymnastics when she was little, but she was powerful. She was this teeny little thing. People would see how high she would tumble, how dynamic she was, and that she had this smile from ear to ear because she was doing what she loved. It was just fun for her. …

What is the most important word that embodies that relationship? 

I think it is trust. We were together for 12 years. It was a long relationship …

AN INTERVIEW – Sarasota Scene Magazine

“beauty sickness”

Teach Girls to Think About What Their Bodies Do Instead of How They Look 

Psychology researcher Renee Engeln:

… 34% of five-year-old girls deliberately restrict what they eat at least “sometimes.” And 28% of these girls say they want their bodies to look like the women in films and on TV. …

coaching ‘NBA policy’

Update – Dave Holcomb at Buckeye has had something similar called TAR. (Two Adult Rule). One adult should never be alone even with a group of kids.

Dave Peterson:

We have had a written policy for 25 years that I call the ‘NBA policy’ because it says you should ‘Never Be Alone’ with a minor athlete. Or really, any athlete.

It originally was predicated on the idea that if an injury occurred, you cannot stabilize the neck and call 911 at the same time. Someone else must be present to be able to deal with an emergency. But it has evolved into a protection of our athletes, our coaches and our business.” …

Purdy: Local youth coach offers crucial advice to parents

(via Ono)

Doctors who abuse patients

Read Dvora Meyers’ post on Deadspin …

USA Gymnastics’ Larry Nassar Scandal Is About Doctors Abusing Patients, Not Just Sports

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

social media for coaches & athletes

There are a LOT of issues here.

Social Media 101 for Coaches

Click PLAY or watch tips from Hockey coach Lisa Haley on YouTube.

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