if you wonder why Safesport takes so long to take action, it‘s because of all the frivolous reports being made by disgruntled parents and gymnasts that are clogging up the system and obscuring legitimate reports that need to be investigated. I'm talking about parents who file a report of “emotional abuse” because their child has been told they need to repeat a level or they can’t move up because they aren’t ready. I’m talking about reports of abuse because a gymnast sustained an injury, and the injury causes them to have to retire, or severely limits their abilities or results in colleges no longer being interested.
SafeSport was not set up to be a place to make up false reports because a parent or gymnast can’t get their way, it was set up to stop real emotional or physical abuse. Coaches are leaving the sport and gyms are closing because of constant false reports and the constant threats of reports from people who are mad because their kid isn’t the center of attention or hasn’t been advanced like the parents want them to be. The stress is getting to the coaches and gym owners who are just training kids to be gymnasts.Reports because a coach videoed a routine for training purposes, reports because a Kid doesn’t like conditioning, etc. (I’m certainly NOT saying that legitimate reports should not be filed.)
Parents, please don’t abuse the SafeSport system just because you’re not getting your way.
SafeSport was not set up to be a place to make up false reports because a parent or gymnast can’t get their way, it was set up to stop real emotional or physical abuse. Coaches are leaving the sport and gyms are closing because of constant false reports and the constant threats of reports from people who are mad because their kid isn’t the center of attention or hasn’t been advanced like the parents want them to be. The stress is getting to the coaches and gym owners who are just training kids to be gymnasts.Reports because a coach videoed a routine for training purposes, reports because a Kid doesn’t like conditioning, etc. (I’m certainly NOT saying that legitimate reports should not be filed.)
Parents, please don’t abuse the SafeSport system just because you’re not getting your way.