Alright, USA Swimming.
Yes, you should apologize. Step up the protection of
our youth and ban these idiots who think they can
get their jollies out on the youth of America.
Do not become like the catholic church and try to sweep
this BS under the rug. Take charge and accept the problems
and DEAL WITH IT!
Also, any parent that agrees to let their child go on a week long stay in another state with their coach, alone, for a swim meet...well, they're either too trusting, or they're oblivious. If my daughter were swimming and her coach wanted to take her to another state for a meet, even for a day-trip, you bet your sweet hiney that I'd be taking a day off and going along - regardless of how long the trip was or how much I trusted that coach. I'd want to be there for my own personal reassurance, and also to give my child the support that a parent should be there to provide.
I am interested if your feelings would be different if the coach were female? I remember when I started swimming there were a series of Jr. Olympic meets with qualification for each successive meet up to the National Jr. Olympics. I qualified for the regional meet and my parents really didn't have the money to go and neither could take off work to go, so I went with my coach and the other flyer (from another team) who qualified to go. I think I was 13 or 14 at the time and neither at the time nor now do I think there was anything wrong with it.
I am blessed to not have the financial worries that my parents did while I was growing up and either my wife or I can usually go to any of our kids events. I don't know that I would have a problem with them traveling to a meet with their coaches (both female). I don't know about a week long stay, but I don't think I would have a problem with a weekend meet.
When my youngest daughter was in the 7th grade she participated in an exchange program with a school in Mexico where she stayed for a week at a child's home in Mexico and the girl from Mexico later stayed in our home for a week. We believed that she had the maturity to avoid inappropriate situations and to tell us if she ever felt uncomfortable.
I do worry that we may sometimes be overprotective of our children. I know when we grew up, we roamed the neighborhood with the instruction to be home when the street lights came on. We rarely let our kids out of our sight when they were young.
Also, any parent that agrees to let their child go on a week long stay in another state with their coach, alone, for a swim meet...well, they're either too trusting, or they're oblivious. If my daughter were swimming and her coach wanted to take her to another state for a meet, even for a day-trip, you bet your sweet hiney that I'd be taking a day off and going along - regardless of how long the trip was or how much I trusted that coach. I'd want to be there for my own personal reassurance, and also to give my child the support that a parent should be there to provide.
I am interested if your feelings would be different if the coach were female? I remember when I started swimming there were a series of Jr. Olympic meets with qualification for each successive meet up to the National Jr. Olympics. I qualified for the regional meet and my parents really didn't have the money to go and neither could take off work to go, so I went with my coach and the other flyer (from another team) who qualified to go. I think I was 13 or 14 at the time and neither at the time nor now do I think there was anything wrong with it.
I am blessed to not have the financial worries that my parents did while I was growing up and either my wife or I can usually go to any of our kids events. I don't know that I would have a problem with them traveling to a meet with their coaches (both female). I don't know about a week long stay, but I don't think I would have a problem with a weekend meet.
When my youngest daughter was in the 7th grade she participated in an exchange program with a school in Mexico where she stayed for a week at a child's home in Mexico and the girl from Mexico later stayed in our home for a week. We believed that she had the maturity to avoid inappropriate situations and to tell us if she ever felt uncomfortable.
I do worry that we may sometimes be overprotective of our children. I know when we grew up, we roamed the neighborhood with the instruction to be home when the street lights came on. We rarely let our kids out of our sight when they were young.
