Reference Check on Coaches

Date: Tue Jun 17 6:51 AM, 2008

Reference Check on Coaches

Date: Tue Jun 17 7:00 AM, 2008

It's funny that you brought this up. Just last night we were talking about an ex coach of ours who is at another gym now and we just shake our head because we know what a criminal this coach is . There is nothing we can do to stop this coach. Believe me we have tried. This coaches "new" gym thinks this coach walks on water. One thing is for certain When it blows up in this coaches face it's gonna blow hard.

Date: Tue Jun 17 7:05 AM, 2008

Hmmm........ Nor Cal or so Cal, or some other state? Just being confused

Date: Tue Jun 17 7:13 AM, 2008

I don't really buy this. The cheer world is actually pretty small and I would bet that most coaches know, or know about each other here in Nor Cal. If there where serious problems with certain coaches I have a feeling most would know about it. I also can't see anyone hiring someone without first checking out thier references. I think that most owners/coaches would be smarter then that. I'm sure that people leave an organization for a lot of reasons, and it is not always amicable. As long as they are not a criminal, or are proven quilty of some terrible wrong doing, it's just hearsay and gossip. I would hate to think someones career would be tarnished, or possibly ruined because of it. I a firm believer that there is always two sides to every story. JMO

Date: Tue Jun 17 7:35 AM, 2008

I agree and in the post above they mentioned that thier ex coach is at a new gym where they are happy with his/her performance. If thats that case let it go. It really does not effect you any longer and evidently this person found a place that fits, and they are happy. Sounds like it worked out for everyone.

Date: Tue Jun 17 10:38 AM, 2008

I know for a fact that several FELONS are coaching as of today cry

Date: Tue Jun 17 11:45 AM, 2008

This news makes me sick to my stomach. I think I will have a talk with the gym. You entrust these people with your children and come to find out that "you know for a fact" there are criminals. We as parents are NOT allowed to attend practices?? This is too much. I will make sure something is done differently. Trust me.. furious

Date: Tue Jun 17 12:23 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

I know for a fact that several FELONS are coaching as of today

maybe they were rehabilated

Date: Tue Jun 17 2:32 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know for a fact that several FELONS are coaching as of today

maybe they were rehabilated

a few dui's are ok, rite

Date: Tue Jun 17 2:43 PM, 2008

i dont think there is anything remotly funny about felons working alone with our children. Unless your one of them confused

Date: Tue Jun 17 2:51 PM, 2008

I think people are confusing reference checks with background checks.

In a reference check a former employer is only allowed to give certain information to the caller. They would not be permitted to reveal any information they knew about a criminal background. They could only verify employment and recommend the employee or not.

A background check is run through the government and would reveal any criminal background a person had.

Date: Tue Jun 17 2:57 PM, 2008

I dont think there is confusion. Im sure we are all aware the differences. So with that said, these people knowing any criminal information need to step up. Any person working with children should be subjeck to a background check, subsequently never be employed in the first place..

Date: Tue Jun 17 6:31 PM, 2008

Gyms need to have something in place that will ensure we check not only the references but the background on coaches. We had a coach at our gym and I think they did a background check however it is evident they did not do a reference check or they would not have hired her. Then we found out later she was asked to leave several other gyms due to "problems" serious enough NOT to mention. She had the same "problems" with our gym. Now we have gotten rid of her and she moved to another cheer program where she is probably doing the same thing. When she left, out of spite, she called several parents and tried to start rumors about our gym. Most of the parents have been in the cheer industry for a while and new she was a "BADSEED". She has a family history of mental, physical and emotional abuse problems as well as all of her children have been subjected to this as well. I just wish we were told in the beginning that she had these problems. I think because she worked with other gyms it was assumed that she had already passed some sort of background. wrong.. coaches, owners and parents please ask for reference checks on these coaches. It is very scary that these people are out working in the industry with our children and we have no knowledge of their history. Question? If you new the new gym she was going to would you tell them? Remember think of liability for sharing this private information especially if they did not ask for it. Also think of the kids and parents she is now going to be exposing her behaviors to. It is a sick feeling when you want to say something and you cant. You feel obligated to those other children yet you dont want any law suits filed against you and believe me this person is one of those sue happy people. Is the burden solely on the new gym. This is why we should always call and check their references.

Date: Tue Jun 17 6:56 PM, 2008

I know of a situation where an individual received about ohhhhhh 3 months of tumbling training in one gym. If you can call it that. This person was god aweful lazy. The person would sit around and just sit. Never add any real technical advice (once passed training) just wanted to play around with the kids. As the months when on the individuals personality changed. it went from a friendly being to an inclusive person. The "real" personality wasn't a coaching personality nor the lack of effort to assist any of the tumbling students. The gym let this person go. Now, the prior gym is hearing that this person is going to be a "head" tumbling coach. Really? This person isn't credentialed properly nor has the compassion to be a good coach. A reference check should have been made before the hire, now the new gym will suffer with this laziness.

Date: Tue Jun 17 7:17 PM, 2008

In every job I have ever held (large corporations), they would not provide any type of reference check other than to confirm dates of employment for legal reasons. I strongly recommend fingerprint checks run through the FBI for criminal background check.

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate situations. cry

Date: Tue Jun 17 7:52 PM, 2008

I agree have those background checks. What about the coaches at the schools? They are also supposed to have checks but they dont, not all of them. I know of a high school coach with a record. I guess this is the industry to be in if you have a record, become a cheer coach. How awful is that for the cheerleaders who think they are getting a coach they get a criminal or a psycho. Is there anyway around this. I see this problem if we have a public notice for feedback, 1) We will have people making false statements about the coaches so it will be hard to validate and/or 2) The people who do make the reports will be sued. This is a no win situation.

Date: Tue Jun 17 7:53 PM, 2008

I know that cheergyms does fingerprints. Thank you.

Date: Tue Jun 17 8:09 PM, 2008

I understand the background checks, definitely. And if background checks were a standard for EVERY gym there would be far less coaches and gym owners today. Period!!!!! Everything from DUI's, spousal abuse, restraining orders, to fraud. They are out there and I do know that a few coaches have left because of the new gym certifications set in place by USASF.

However, I am talking about the work experience reference checks. Why aren't they done? That is just something that still is puzzling to me. Not just gym owners but also these outside cheerleading companies. These companies that travel across the USA to host summer camps, speciality camps, and then host competitions in the winter. I

just want everyone to understand that it only takes a phone call to find if the individual will be a great employee down the road. Sure everyone is on their perfect behavior for a while. But their true color come shining through in about 4-6 months. Don't you all want to know the true colors before you invest your money and trust in these individuals?

Date: Tue Jun 17 8:19 PM, 2008

UCA, USA, and NCA all do background and reference checks on all staff before they are hired.

Date: Tue Jun 17 8:33 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

UCA, USA, and NCA all do background and reference checks on all staff before they are hired.

I don't know if this totally true?????????