Category: safety

The love of gymnastics still runs deep among the thousands of young girls who streamed into suburban Chicago’s Sears Centre Arena this weekend to cheer reigning world all-around champion Morgan Hurd and other rising stars at the 2018 American Cup. …

At the Safe Sport booth, eight-foot-tall banners displayed the toll-free number (1-833-844-SAFE) and email address (safesport@usagym.org) for reporting abuse. Brochures about child sexual abuse prevention were free for the taking, as were copies of USA Gymnastics’ beefed-up Safe Sport policy, which requires all members to immediately report instances of abuse. …

Rhonda Faehn:

“You have to let the athlete at a very young age understand and know that they can — and it’s important that they do — learn to communicate and speak up,” said Faehn, a former elite gymnast who coached 13 seasons at Florida. “It’s not only okay, but the best gymnastics results from a teamwork of communication.”

Athlete empowerment wasn’t the hallmark of the command-and-control coaching style of the Romanian husband-and-wife tandem of Bela and Martha Karolyi …

As USA Gymnastics promises to change in post-Nassar world, love for the sport remains

All good.

But, like many others, I’m still wondering what happens when USAG is hit in court with their first multi-million dollar payout to an athlete.

The organization doesn’t have many millions of dollars in their budget.

1. Physical safety and health of athletes
2. Coaching responsibly
3. Integrity in relations with others
4. Respect of athletes
5. Honouring sport

It’s a simplified version of the COACHING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (CAC) CODE OF CONDUCT with DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES.

Canadian coaches do some online courses on ethics, as well.

When it comes to coaching ethics Keith Russell recommends: Educate, Educate, Educate, Legislate. 

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Read an expanded version online: Finances, Sponsors, Litigation, National Team Training Center.

If USAG is to be saved, I’d call this a small step forward. The words are good if not yet backed up with enough action.

There are doubters. John Nichols points out Perry attended only a portion of one day of victim statements.

related – Jessica O’Beirne from GymCastic was invited to LSU for Elite verification. She’s been the most vocal critic of USAG through the Nassar scandal. I see this as real evidence of transparency. An even bigger step forward.

A good word to mention is creepy.

If something seems creepy to you, that’s a red flag. Tell your parents.

If a spotter makes you feel uncomfortable, tell them not to spot you. Do progressions and conditioning instead.

… “One of the biggest misconceptions is that these conversations are too advanced or harmful for children to hear about,” Ms. Palumbo said.

“In reality, the more information that we can give children from an early age about understanding your bodies and your boundaries and what types of touch are appropriate — not only does it give your child that information, it also lets them know that these are safe topics to talk to you about.”

NYT – The Nassar Case Presents Difficult Parenting Questions