Protect Our Children

Date: Mon Oct 15 7:35 AM, 2007

RE: Protect Our Children

Date: Mon Oct 15 9:47 AM, 2007

Say what you feel and when he slaps a lawsuit on you for Defaming his Character PAY him for saying what you feel. Otherwise please educate yourself, on the laws of the country you live in and do us all a favor and never register for jury duty.

Date: Mon Oct 15 11:00 AM, 2007

I don't understand why you're defending this man!! Maybe you are him or one of his family members. Or a man that has done this to some young girl. Well you're just as sick as him for defending him.
& No one is going to get sued!! Everyone has a right to their own opinion!!
Know your laws!!

Date: Mon Oct 15 12:51 PM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Say what you feel and when he slaps a lawsuit on you for Defaming his Character PAY him for saying what you feel. Otherwise please educate yourself, on the laws of the country you live in and do us all a favor and never register for jury duty.

I think you need to go back and read thru the responses to this message. The original post was in regards to an article about another cheerleading coach being arrested for allegedly having sexual relations with 15 year old cheerleader at a gym he was a guest coach at. This seems to be quite prevalent in the news lately. The topic is about should coaches have to have background checks to help stop this from happening in the future... Most of the responses on this message were made because of the tone of the second poster. If you read the responses no one is proclaiming the quilt of the male involved, only stating that second post insinuated that it could be the 15 year olds fault because of how she may or may not dress at cheer practice. Comments like hot pants 15 year old, etc. were a bit much. If you read the article it does not give much information and to lay blame on the 15 year old because some teenage girls dress to suggestively during cheer practice is a bit much. The fact remains if found guilty an adult having consensual or not sexual relations with a minor is illegal, be it this case or any other like it.

Date: Mon Oct 15 2:22 PM, 2007

The defense in for the law, you can not assume he is guilty, even if he is arrested, someone can accuse your husbands or sons of this very behavior and the police will come to your door and arrest them, it does not mean that they are guilty. So all you guilty before proven innocent I really hope this never happes to you. I am not defending this man I am defending the law which none of you seem to know. Yes we know that " hot in the pants 15 year old was over the top" But this topic was on the message board for days without a response until then. So sounds like we all need to get a life.

Date: Mon Oct 15 2:39 PM, 2007

Your taking thiss way to personal. Take a deep breath and relax a little.

CheerMama · Senior Member

So back to the original topic:

What do gyms do to ensure they are hiring staff that is safe for our children? Another cheer coach has been arrested. I know where I volunteer with children a background check, finger printing, etc. is required. Is that standard procedure for your gym?

I am not sure about our current gym as far as requiring fingerprints and such what I do know is my daughters take privates with one of the instructors and our director does not allow them to be in the gym with the coach (which is male) unless I am present or a female coach is present. I don't know about our previous gym.

Date: Mon Oct 15 3:06 PM, 2007

Bottom line is we need to protect our children. and if background/fingerprint checks is the way we nee to go then so be it. But in the case of this news story this young 22 year old may not have had a "criminal past". It's really up to us as parents to know who our children are spending time with. And if your gym dosn't have rules in place for it's male staff (sorry to single the guys out but it does seem to be more of a adult male yonger m/f than an adult female to young m/f issue) to Never be alone in the gym with any one student then you are looking for trouble. Just my thoughts

Date: Mon Oct 15 3:29 PM, 2007

Imagaine a male coach gym full of people ( I have seen this happen) and a girl is in a private comes tumbling across the floor, and is about to fall and probally break her neck, let's just say trying to do a to a full.

Does the coach risk accidently grabing her somewhere inapproiate in front on the whole gym, trying to break this childs fall or does he let her eat it on the floor and call 911 and risk a lawsuit because the student gets injured. Think about it people we all would say catch her but would you rather the possibility of a lawsuit ( since it's not a given because the childs family signed a wavier sign a wavier for her to be in the gym) or sitting behind bars with your career and life ruined.

This could be an example of sexual misconduct. Yes an experianced coach should know how to catch her but you can not anticipate everyone's actions what if that was the only way to save her. Would you do it? What if he accidently touches her chest and someone reports him for " sexual misconduct" even though he saved her life, now he ruined his.

CheerMama · Senior Member

I was trying to stay put of it but seriously there are always going to be situations that in a "normal outside" world might seem inappropriate. What if on a coed team a girl doesn't want her but touched by her backspot. Sometimes it is necessary. Is that sexual harrasment be it male or female its part of the stunt ect.... Lets use our best judgement. I am sure if the coach caught the girl she would be grateful and as part of his job duty it is his responisibility to keep the athlete from getting physically hurt. So if someone is going to go the extreme of accusing a coach. Then we might as well stop all sports. Swimming, Water polo gymnastics. All sports have some from of contact. The point is be responsible.

Date: Mon Oct 15 4:06 PM, 2007

What started out as an interesting topic as turned absurd. Message board monitors isn't it time this message retired to message board heaven... Please delete it.

Worlds Watcher · GURU

What I would like to hear is what your gym is actually doing to help protect our children.
1. Is your gym conducting finger printing and background checks? Do you know if they are? If not, you should ask. Any adult working with minors should be required to go through a background check. This is the first step in helping to protect our children.

2. What code of conduct does your gym have, in writing, that the coaches have to sign and agree to? Do you know if your gym has such a thing? If you don't know, ask. Is it okay for coaches to socialize outside of the gym with students, give them a ride home, etc.

3. As a parent, know what your child is doing in and out of the gym, on line, emails, myspace, etc. There are ways your child can begin to "socialize" with coaches outside of the gym you may not be aware of. So, be aware. Be informed. Stay in their business. You are the parent.

Anyone else know what their gyms are doing or not doing?

(I couldn't count so I edited. Now I can count to 3. At least cheerleaders can count to 8)

-- Edited by Worlds Watcher at 18:08, 2007-10-15

Date: Mon Oct 15 5:02 PM, 2007

Well said Worlds Watcher!

Date: Mon Oct 15 5:52 PM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

What started out as an interesting topic as turned absurd. Message board monitors isn't it time this message retired to message board heaven... Please delete it.

I completly agree !!! PLease delete this topic! Attaching that news article has insighted a riot. Asking this question without that article and the response may have been completly diffrent.

OC Mom · GURU

ok, there was more after my post.... whew.... i got scared there. i thought my head got bit off. but i feel it again. sorry, had to delete my comment cause i mistakenly thought mine was the next to last one...

i know, you're all confused. Welcome to my world....

-- Edited by OC Mom at 21:55, 2007-10-23

Date: Tue Oct 23 11:41 PM, 2007

CheerMama wrote:

I was trying to stay put of it but seriously there are always going to be situations that in a "normal outside" world might seem inappropriate. What if on a coed team a girl doesn't want her but touched by her backspot. Sometimes it is necessary. Is that sexual harrasment be it male or female its part of the stunt ect.... Lets use our best judgement. I am sure if the coach caught the girl she would be grateful and as part of his job duty it is his responisibility to keep the athlete from getting physically hurt. So if someone is going to go the extreme of accusing a coach. Then we might as well stop all sports. Swimming, Water polo gymnastics. All sports have some from of contact. The point is be responsible.

NOW YOU GET IT!!! YOU CAN'T PREDICT, WHAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO DO AND SEXUAL HARRASMENT LAWS COVER WHAT YOU THINK AND WHAT OTHER'S PERCEIVED IT TO BE. SOMEONE COULD FILE A CLAIM EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO. WHAT CAN WE DO?

I say fingerprinting and background checks upon hiring and every six months thereafter to ensure a coach has not gotten into trouble and just been able to hide it. We all know you only have to stay in jail until you post bail. I also say the gyms should create rules and have strict regulations regarding the way coaches can handle the kids and the praise they are allowed to extend, example" Coaches are not allowed to hug thier cheeleader's over the age of 6 ( or something like that) no matter how long they have been at the gym and who know who personally. I think these are the things that lead to trouble. But strict rules have to be put in place and then be followed by all no exceptions. Almost like a job where they fire first and ask questions during the lawsuit in court,

Date: Tue Oct 23 11:43 PM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

CheerMama wrote:

I was trying to stay put of it but seriously there are always going to be situations that in a "normal outside" world might seem inappropriate. What if on a coed team a girl doesn't want her but touched by her backspot. Sometimes it is necessary. Is that sexual harrasment be it male or female its part of the stunt ect.... Lets use our best judgement. I am sure if the coach caught the girl she would be grateful and as part of his job duty it is his responisibility to keep the athlete from getting physically hurt. So if someone is going to go the extreme of accusing a coach. Then we might as well stop all sports. Swimming, Water polo gymnastics. All sports have some from of contact. The point is be responsible.

NOW YOU GET IT!!! YOU CAN'T PREDICT, WHAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO DO AND SEXUAL HARRASMENT LAWS COVER WHAT YOU THINK AND WHAT OTHER'S PERCEIVED IT TO BE. SOMEONE COULD FILE A CLAIM EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO. WHAT CAN WE DO?

I say fingerprinting and background checks upon hiring and every six months thereafter to ensure a coach has not gotten into trouble and just been able to hide it. We all know you only have to stay in jail until you post bail. I also say the gyms should create rules and have strict regulations regarding the way coaches can handle the kids and the praise they are allowed to extend, example" Coaches are not allowed to hug thier cheeleader's over the age of 6 ( or something like that) no matter how long they have been at the gym and who know who personally. I think these are the things that lead to trouble. But strict rules have to be put in place and then be followed by all no exceptions. Almost like a job where they fire first and ask questions during the lawsuit in court,

I'm sorry I meant under the age of 6!!! It is way too late, I am going to bed now

Date: Sun Oct 28 1:28 PM, 2007

Unfortunatley there are several cases when an adult has crossed the line- I believe the man in question was also working at a gym in the H.Desert- no cases to report from them but they do have a history of coaches having inapproproate relations with athletes under the age of 18- infact one 16year old is said to be pregnant. This relationship has been going on for 2 season- her parents knew as well as the owners. Now that she is pregnant he was asked to leave his job- Why now fire him when they have condoned it for years- this is ridiculous! a felony is still a felony!

Date: Sun Oct 28 11:10 PM, 2007

That is why I say, someone got pissed off or something went down, because these types of things do not go unseen. Coaches, parents etc all condoning, it's so cute until the girll gets pregnant or dumped etc, then my gosh we all just woke up one day and realized how wrong this was. Yeah right!!