This would remove suspicion, it would protect both coaches and kids and provide the branding needed to instill a sense of confidence that dealing with a USA Swimming affiliated club would be a healthy and fun experience.
At this point a policy is needed NOW! The TV press is circling.
From InjuryBoard.com:
The lawsuit, filed by San Jose attorney B. Robert Allard, accuses at least 32 Swim USA coaches at swim clubs across the United States of abusing their young swimmers since 1993. Allard specifically represents a 15-year-old San Jose girl who was repeatedly abused by King over a ten-month period. Furthermore, the suit specifies that the list of the 32 accused coaches is not “all-inclusive” and seeks unspecified damages against King, San Jose Aquatics, Pacific Swimming (the West Coast branch of USA Swimming), and USA Swimming. Allard is asking all swimmers that have been abused by their swim coaches to contact him. He also asked that individuals with information about abuse to come forward with the information.
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1 comment:
It also befuddles me that they don't immediately come out with a simple any "one-on-one" policy insisting that parents have to be more involved than just dropping off their kids at the pool.
Well, that would make them a target for public critique for not addressing the matter properly and dumping the responsibility on the parents' shoulders. Plus, a parent has a right to trust the organization to make sure their kids aren't molested, without being under parental supervision 24/7, right? That's why schools subject teachers to background checks.
It might have been a mistake to make such a broad array of arguments in the brief, most of which do not tie back to King and are not corroborated by victim statements.
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