British Gymnastics Safeguarding and Protecting Policy

If an incident or concern is immediate and you think a child is in immediate danger of abuse or at risk of significant harm or are in need of protection, then call the Police on 999 and/or your local Social Services.

If the matter is not immediate, please speak to the person responsible for welfare or contact a member of our Safeguarding and Compliance Team by calling 0345 1297129.

In either circumstance, please also complete the Child Protection Incident form. This form should be used to record the details of any concern they wish to report. A copy should be sent to the British Gymnastics Safeguarding and Compliance team at ethics@british-gymnastics.org  …

#girlchampion gymnasts

Here’s a cute video promoting positive self-image.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Vinnie Silber:

LIC Kids Gymnastics in the New York City area …

Leading the development of these athletes are Morgan Lemon (Director) and Natalie Fuertes (Assistant Director). …

Our gym’s philosophy is based on positive coaching, wherein we value being a good teammate, supporting one another, and working hard to achieve your goals, more than we value banners and medals. …

The videos were a conscious effort to present girls with positive images to counteract the more traditional media images they are bombarded with daily. We wanted to remind girls that they are strong and powerful and beautiful …

Gym Blog Central – LIC Kids Gymnastics Develops the Individual Along with the Athlete

USA Gymnastics skips Senate Hearing

USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for the Olympic sport, was a no-show Tuesday at a Congressional hearing into its handling of sexual abuse allegations — drawing a sharp rebuke from one lawmaker.

“I’m deeply disappointed they’ve sent a statement but no witness to question,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said.

“If they really cared, they would be here,” he added. “They have to answer for what happened here.” …

USA Gymnastics did not immediately respond to a request for comment about why it did not attend the hearing …

USA Gymnastics Blasted for Skipping Senate Hearing on Sex Abuse

Dominique Moceanu opening statement

Hearing on abuse in USA Gymnastics.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

what next for USAG?

Tony Retrosi adds to the list of next steps needed.

As a top clinician, Tony wants SAFETY instruction in coach EDUCATION at ALL LEVELS

USA Gymnastics needs to become a more transparent organization. …

As professionals we can not afford to turn a blind eye and hope someone else makes a report. …

… independent child welfare advocate for the athletes at all training camps. …

USA Gymnastics has already implemented the Safe Sport Program on it’s website. This needs to be made available on all Regional and State websites as well.

Safe Sport is a good first step. It may not go far enough.

It’s Time for a Change

GymCastic on the USAG abuse scandal

Episode #245 is one of the best in a long time.

Spencer and Jessica on:

USA Gymnastics President has resigned …

Why this is not the time to move on because nothing has changed

  • Three things that still need to be done to prevent abuse at USA Gymnastics
  • USAG still going to do their own policing on non-sexual abuse misconduct and crimes. SafeSport only investigating sexual assaults.

Jessica O’Beirne is the person to follow on this issue. Now that Steve Penny has resigned — a symbolic sign of willingness to change — Jessica details some of the next steps necessary if USAG is actually going to make the sport safer for athletes into the future.

Listen here.

USAG Director of Safe Sport

… oversee, coordinate, and communicate all aspects of USA Gymnastics Safe Sport policies, guidelines, educational programs, reporting and adjudication services, and other activities that directly relate to USA Gymnastics efforts to provide its members with a safe, healthy, and positive sport participation environment.

Employment Opportunity: Director of Safe Sport

Protecting Gymnasts

Vinnie Silber has been following the Larry Nassar scandal closely. Here is some good advice on how we move forward.

Parents and coaches need to become better educated on the warnings signs of sexual abuse.

Parents, coaches, and gym owners need to fully understand their roles in protecting gymnasts from predators.

Another thing we need try to do is change the mindset of some parents, athletes, and coaches that “winning at no cost” is not the only option. …

Op Ed – Learn and Grow