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!
The ramifications of the lying are at issue here. Most children's lies can be found out. Yes, very serious damage is done to the adult, however, most of the time the children can't keep the lie up. Children are a protected class.
I'll bet that the number of children lying about abuse is far, far less than the number of abused children.
I hate to say it, but teenagers are pretty different now than in the 70s.
Not to say we didn't do some pretty bad stuff back then :)
I think the message is that good and well meaning coaches need to be very careful and protective of their own good reputation.
I believe if a young swimmer had to report directly to a policeman, it would sway them from lying for long.
The police are professionals. It seems that they would be able to recognize the truthful story vs. a fabrication easier than we might.
I hate to say it, but teenagers are pretty different now than in the 70s.
Not to say we didn't do some pretty bad stuff back then :)
I think the message is that good and well meaning coaches need to be very careful and protective of their own good reputation.
I believe if a young swimmer had to report directly to a policeman, it would sway them from lying for long.
The police are professionals. It seems that they would be able to recognize the truthful story vs. a fabrication easier than we might.
Agreed. And as coaches we need to watch for any behavior in other coaches we think might be predatory. And use common sense when dealing with kids - don't put yourself in a position to be accused, by not being alone with a single swimmer.
--mj
As a parent, teacher, and being married to a cop, I can honestly say that children are horrible liars when they have to keep it up. It is the pathological liars (that have huge other issues in their life) that innocent people need to be leary of.
Unfortunately, sometimes too much damage is done to someone innocent before the truth comes out.
When I was a USA Coach, I was also an employee of the YMCA. Our Y had us attend a one hour seminar held at the Y every year that specifically adressed the issue of child abuse. There were certain guidelines in place that we were to follow to avoid a false allegation of sexual abuse. The ones I could remember were as follows:
1. A coach is not to give an athlete a ride home.
2. If a parent is late to pick up a child, two coaches are to remain until the parent or other responsible guardian listed on an appoved pick-up list arrives.
3. A coach is not to travel alone to a meet with an athlete.
4. When talking to an athlete, have another coach present.
5. Communicate through the parent as much as possible.
Anyway, I hope now that this issue has really gotten a ton of attention, clubs will be sure that they have very specific guidelines in place to protect coaches. The bottom line was to avoid being alone with an athlete.
Children lie. Adults do too.
The ramifications of the lying are at issue here. Most children's lies can be found out. Yes, very serious damage is done to the adult, however, most of the time the children can't keep the lie up. Children are a protected class.
I'll bet that the number of children lying about abuse is far, far less than the number of abused children.
I thought that Welgas' written response was pretty good.
If you want to coach kids, part of the game is to understand the rules.
Here's a link to an article that ran last week in the East Bay Express, a free weekly distributed in Berkeley, Oakland and the rest of the east side of the SF Bay detailing a recent local incident:
www.eastbayexpress.com/.../Content
The police are the first place these people should have gone in my opinion, not to USA swimming. I read one story that USA swimming dismissed a complaint because the victim 'could not get another coach to corroborate it'. I think it is regrettable that that particular family did not go to the police.
I agree. This is a criminal issue that the police should deal with, not an organization. Once the police start to investigate, then USA-S should get involved and suspend the coach until the investigation is complete. I am a former director of a Victim Assistance Program and married to a former police officer.
Not sure why he would agree to an interview where you KNOW you are gonna get ambushed.
I totally agree. In this day and age of "sound bite journalism" I can't imagine any organization putting themselves in that sort of position, at least not without a ton of preparation.
S
Wielgus might have looked much better on 20/20 if he hadn't been so defensive. How hard would it have been to say something like: ...
He might well have. If he did it's clear it wound up on the cutting room floor.
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