BlueCat
Roses are red, cats are blue
- Dec 14, 2009
- 4,503
- 19,507
I think background checks are slightly useful, but they absolutely do not replace vigilant adults (parents, other coaches, gym owners, etc) in limiting the opportunities for abuse. I am not convinced that the time, effort, and money spent on background checks might more effectively be spent in other ways. (More hours for a front desk person at all times, security cameras, etc.)
To (most importantly) stop the situations where abuse can occur AND to (secondarily) limit the situations where false accusations can be made against a coach, coaches should simply never be alone with a minor athlete. No lessons in an otherwise empty gym, no 1-on-1 social time ever, no being alone with an athlete without multiple adults and/or video surveillance as backup. Gym owners and coaches should do everything they can within reason to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. However, to be truly minimize the possibilities of issues, parents need to help also. Thinking that you "trust" a coach enough to spend time alone with your athlete is crazy. Don't do it.
To (most importantly) stop the situations where abuse can occur AND to (secondarily) limit the situations where false accusations can be made against a coach, coaches should simply never be alone with a minor athlete. No lessons in an otherwise empty gym, no 1-on-1 social time ever, no being alone with an athlete without multiple adults and/or video surveillance as backup. Gym owners and coaches should do everything they can within reason to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. However, to be truly minimize the possibilities of issues, parents need to help also. Thinking that you "trust" a coach enough to spend time alone with your athlete is crazy. Don't do it.