Chris DeSantis on the '20/20' USA Swimming feature: "The Mom Test"

To use a boxing metaphor, the predicament USA Swimming is in is called a "Standing 8 count" - Will the boxer continue on or will this be a technical knockout?

USA Swimming needs to adopt an immediate and far reaching child protection policy that is both bullet proof and transparent. It might not hurt to settle the lawsuit if any negligence took place. I think they call that a consent degree?

From Chris DeSantis' blog - "The Mom Test":

You know a story is big when it passes the "mom test". My mother is not an avid follower of sports news. When she hears about something, particularly in swimming, I know the story has gone well beyond the usual people. Of course, the 20/20 story on USA Swimming passes the mom test with flying colors - my mom sent me a concerned e-mail within hours of it airing.

She was concerned for me- what would the repercussions be for swim coaches at large? And while I won't say I'm not worried, I have confidence that swimming will be able to bounce back from the bad publicity. However, as I read the reactions to the story, a number of questions have bubbled up. ..."

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Chris poses unanswered questions and then provides us with constructive opinions and answers.

Now that Chris has me all inspired and such: Here are my two cents and suggestions:

Right now the parents are the "CEO" of USA Swimming and they want to be treated like they are the "BOSS" and the "boss" wants their "coffee now!" Now shifting gears to another metaphor, The parents want to be assured a happy ending is coming up in the "third act" and they want to know that they are going to "applaud" when the curtain drops. If they don't think that is going to happen, they will want a new "director" to finish this movie.

Some suggestions: Back ground checks will be good but they are not absolute prevention policy for what about the pedophiles who do not have a record? (Perhaps they are probably a majority?)

What should have been addressed is what prevention tactics can be deployed on the deck and in the locker room? That is the crux here that will satisfy the parents.

Another key suggestion for transparency: USA Swimming should have an emergency board meeting that invites a parent rep, a writer from Swim Network, a writer from Swimming World Magazine, and a writer from the New York Times to hear how this problem will be faced and how the process and recommendations will be created and implemented.

That would be awesome! It would even school the Catholic Church on how to do it right.

That is transparency and that is what no other organization faced with this problem has done. USA Swimming could be the first.