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!
Big Irish Ape-
I had the same thought too. Who on earth would let their child go with a coach, across the country, for a week? Although I can honestly say that I know of at least 5 coaches that I would completely trust with my children. However, deep as my trust is though, I still wouldn't let my children travel alone with them for a week long swim meet. That would be hugely irresponsible on my part (IMHO).
There should never be a situation where an adult coach is ever alone with a child, same sex or different sex, period.
nor should a young swim coach be left alone with one of those cougar swim moms! (you know the ones i'm talking about)
As a father of a 9 year old little girl, stories like this sicken me to the core. There is a fundamental *blip* in some people's brains that makes them forget that certain behaviors are immoral and unacceptable (see the current crisis with the Church, now the Swim Coaches, and even the cases of female teachers and young male students). Maybe there's a chemical associated with that behavior that is missing, maybe it's in abundance...I don't know, but all I know is that it's wrong.
I love swimming. I love watching people swim. I love helping people learn how to swim. I was a lifeguard all throughout high school and college, I was also a swim instructor and a competitive swimmer. I've always thought about coaching a swim team, but so far the opportunity and the time to create such an opportunity has not presented itself.
When I go to a public pool to swim my workout, if the lanes are full of age-groupers and lap swimmers and masters folks, I will sit on the side and observe. I can be watching a 45 year old man doing butterfly and thinking "You know, his kick timing is off...I wonder if I should tell him...", or I could be watching a 10 year old girl doing freestyle and thinking "That coach should work with her on getting her elbows higher..." However in a situation like that, I usually get odd looks from parents when they realize I'm there to swim, but I'm not swimming yet. Then they see me watching people swim, and maybe they think I'm trying to pick up tips. If they see me watching the kids swim, I can only imagine what they think of me.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I hope these reports don't cast a black shadow on all males who would like to get into swim coaching at some point. As I said before, I love swimming, I love to watch swimming, I love to help people learn how to swim and swim better.
The whole situation falls back onto the personal responsibility and awareness of the coach. No one-on-one meetings with swimmers. If you have something to say that cannot be said on the deck during practice, you better have a second coach or a parent involved.
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.
Of course the police are the appropriate investigators upon complaint and I don't care who apologizes. What is needful is that all adults who have a role with these clubs (coaches, officials, parents etc) take responsibility to keep their eyes and ears open, get educated to warning signs and commit to prevention.
The team I swam for my last two years in HS did not have oodles of people going to big meets. I went with one other swimmer (male) and our coach (also male) to Junior Nationals twice when I was 16. When I was 17, I went alone with my coach to Senior Nationals twice. My parents didn't come to any of those meets. This was a different era, obviously. But it does put a pretty significant extra financial (and sometimes logistical) burden to go to such meets with a small team, if one or both parents need to come too..
Nationals that just happened in Orlando a few weeks ago had 4 from my section of Curl 2 males, 2 females and the head (male) coach. No oodles either.
In HS the 35 year old band director was having an affair with my classmate/ drum major/ 1st chair bassonist. A bunch of us in band talked about it but I don't know that any of us really believed it was true 100%. Two months after graduation, his wife found out it was true and divorced him. My classmate was 17 and had just graduated. Her parents got a restraining order but once she turned 18, she married him. Fast forward 20 years and he's been through a few schools as the band director and is now in Naples, FL directing. He is accused of sexually assaulting a 15 year old in his house. He's still married to my former classmate. He is arrested and all the stuff from 20 years ago comes out. Seems nothing in his background check showed the restraining order or problems he had in 1988. Why?! It could have prevented this from (allegedly) happening again. So if something like this could happen to a teacher, what's to say it wouldn't happen easily to an organization like USA-S where the coaches are employed by the teams and not the organization?
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.
Not a bad list. In fact, if the USA Swimming coach was brought on board in the last few years, they were exposed to this list, provided they follow the registration process...
All USA Swimming coaches must pass a background check every two years, and in the second year there is an extensive training video/online materials/book test that must be passed to maintain USA coaching status. This material contains very similar advice to your list when dealing with children, and also covers differences in dealing with children at different stages of their development though young adult-hood.
Parents should make it their business to ensure any coach/teacher/advisor of their children is properly credentialled. I have no problem sharing my credentials with any parent.
Another law suit filed. The coach, Aaron was my coach for about 8 months last year. He and I didn't get along at all (he told me I was a waste of lane space and a negative influence on the kids - HA - I'm not in the paper over bad things!) so I left and Im now with another age group team. Rob was hired by Aaron this past Sept.
www2.insidenova.com/.../
As a 22 year girls H S coach ,I refused to "rub down" our team , even though other teams in our area did so ! Too much can go wrong as to doing better in meets ! Even the girls that saw this on the other teams questioned this !
