This hits the nail on the head as to why we switched gyms:
http://tinssp.com/usag-sexual-abuse...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
http://tinssp.com/usag-sexual-abuse...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
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A lot of what he wrote really resonates with me. My DD was in a couple of situations with really bad coaches, and I still see the echoes of it years later. I did get her out of those situations, but I wish I had done it even sooner than I did.
excellent article. i am a track coach who ventured into gymnastics. this article is as true as it gets. culture of obedience in gymnastics is the problem. the production of little soldiers is the problem. the total absence of the idea of a mature, responsible athlete in wag is the problem. soldiers are way easier to abuse than little people educated to think for themselves.
Yep.
I also moved my dd. I only suspected, i had no proof, and dd wasn't even with that coach. For exactly the reasons in that article.
The parents of the kids in that group seem to think it's fine. Injuries are a normal part of the sport. The kids swear they love the coach. Everyone in the club wants to be in that squad because they are getting some incredible results.
But i have heard what the coach says to the kids. I have seen them ignore kids they're not happy with. I have seen them be lovely and almost parental, which makes me doubt myself, but i think is part of it. I have seen them walk out of one childs competition to warm up another.
I also hear many people say how good a coach they are. I suppose time will tell, whether they all go to the olympics or whether they end up broken, and whether they think it's worth it. I think dd would have broken, either emotionally or physically. It may well have broken me too, as the club culture was such that you were a "chosen one" in that squad, or you were outside it.
That was an excellent read. Sadly, even "every day JO gymnasts" experience this, from compulsories to optionals. I've seen it and my DD has experienced it. And yes, us parents know, and we put up with it. We even discuss it amongst ourselves. Like abuse in general often is, it's usually cyclical. So things get bad but then they get better to a degree, and like idiots, we think, "Whew! So glad that's over!" But as soon as you're comfortable, it gets worse again, and we fall for it again.".
And yes, us parents know, and we put up with it. We even discuss it amongst ourselves. Like abuse in general often is, it's usually cyclical. So things get bad but then they get better to a degree, and like idiots, we think, "Whew! So glad that's over!" But as soon as you're comfortable, it gets worse again, and we fall for it again.
It's hard when your kid is having success and doesn't want to quit yet.
I have no intention to sound harsh, but why do you put up with it as a parent? Are there not other gyms in your area that DD could move to? Are you worried she wouldn't have as much success at another gym? If you got to start over again, would you do something different?
The part that was really interesting to me was the comments from the pole vaulting coach....because those were similar to what my youngest daughter's diving coach said when she started diving in college...she was obedient, she did as she was told, d
Oh it can be/is the same in diving too. Many clubs have chinese or eastern european coaches, and their methods are very much as in the article. Clubs are sticking with these coaches as they produce results quickly, at least in the short term. It is very similar to gymnastics when producing elite level athletes. You do what the coach says.