Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Wednesday 28 February 2018
Parents worried about abuse in youth sports take charge

By SALLY HO ing parents through codes
SEATTLE (AP) — With Olym- of conduct but now have
pic prodigies having just to walk the line between in-
dazzled audiences world- put and child safety.
wide, parents in the U.S. are "There's a balance be-
reconciling the thrill of the tween appropriate pa-
gold with their fears from rental involvement and
recent sexual abuse scan- engagement, meaning
dals in elite youth sports. are there overzealous par-
Shannon Stabbert said her ents who may upset the
6-year-old daughter wants team dynamic or be inap-
to be a gymnast, but the propriate in terms of their
Seattle mother has decid- treatment of the coach
ed to put her in a martial- or athletes, and balanc-
arts program instead. ing that with parental due
"I have no doubt she will be diligence," Pfohl said. "We
quite amazing at gymnas- want parents to be em-
tics," Stabbert said. "I just powered to not only ask
don't feel like it's a mental- these questions but to hold
ly, physically, emotionally people accountable."
healthy sport for girls." Gill, the expert on student-
High-profile cases of sexual athlete development,
abuse and other predatory In this Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, photo, Lara Mae Chollette, a coach of youth soccer and basket- urges all sports programs
behavior in gymnastics, ball, poses for a photo with her daughter Linda, 10, left, and son Jaylen, 7, at a community gym to create safety guidelines
swimming and other sports in Seattle. Associated Press that clearly indicate the
have jolted many parents protocol for adults who sus-
who believe athletics can It launched following the online link for anonymous port has received 470 re- pect abuse. Though teach-
be an important part of initial allegations of sexual abuse reports, SafeSport ports of either emotional or ers and doctors must report
their child's development. abuse against Larry Nassar, also provides educational physical abuse, including it, coaches and volunteers
Some now feel compelled the disgraced sports doc- and training material for 165 reports this year and do not.
to be more cautious in tor for USA Gymnastics who youth leagues nationwide. 222 active investigations "If we're really about youth
monitoring their child's will spend his life in prison The goal is to prevent overall. In some cases, the development and charac-
contact with coaches and after admitting he molest- abuse altogether. organization didn't have ter development, this is go-
other adults. Experts say the ed some of the nation's top "We have got to get up- jurisdiction over a youth ing to be in front — and the
spotty rules and certifica- gymnasts under the guise stream and do more to league to investigate an al- most important part — of
tions for coaches and glo- of medical treatment. educate athletes, to edu- legation. our bylaws," Gill said.
rification of sports culture The U.S. Olympic Commit- cate parents, to educate Youth leagues outside Even the regulators are
can make children who tee developed SafeSport, coaches and to educate Olympic and Paralympic not immune. The chief
feel pressure to achieve but it's now an indepen- sport administrators," SafeS- sports don't have a national safety officer of USA Swim-
even more vulnerable. No dent organization that port CEO Shellie Pfohl said. organization to investigate ming, Susan Woessner, an-
longer a casual pastime, works with law enforce- "I want every parent to reports of physical abuse, nounced last week that
sports teams can leave kids ment to investigate abuse know what questions they harassment, hazing and she was resigning after re-
as young as 5 in the care of allegations for the 49 Olym- should be asking when other issues. Many of those vealing she had kissed a
undertrained, undersuper- pic and Paralympic sports. they sign their child up." leagues have spent years coach accused of sexual
vised coaches. In addition to offering an Since its inception, SafeS- trying to mute overreach- abuse and later assisted in
Emmett Gill, a professor at the governing body's inves-
the University of Texas and tigation of him.
expert on the personal Sean Hutchison is under
development of student- criminal investigation after
athletes, said success often Olympic swimmer Ariana
means children leave their Kukors said he abused her
communities to compete, as a minor. Woessner said
which can leave them at she wasn't in a relationship
more risk. with Hutchison.
"It's clear that the coach's USA Swimming also issued
responsibility, and their per- a letter to parents saying
manent goal, is to win, and it had failed members and
that can sacrifice protect- its system was "not flawless"
ing vulnerable children," and vowing to "ensure that
Gill said. "We really have there is never a lapse of a
forgotten about that good, support system again."
old neighborhood team. For many parents, they say
Now youth sports is a bunch they will look to set more
of strangers on teams with boundaries and ask more
the best athletes, with the questions. "Sometimes you
purpose of winning." kind of wonder: Am I miss-
One national organization ing something as parent?
trying to prevent abuse of Am I not looking? Am I not
young athletes is the U.S. In this Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, photo, Lara Mae Chollette, a coach of youth soccer and basket- asking the right questions?
Center for SafeSport, a ball, runs a basketball drill with her daughter Linda, 10, as her son Jaylen, 7, looks on at a com- Am I trusting too much?"
Denver-based nonprofit munity gym in Seattle. said Lara Mae Chollette, a
that formed last year. Associated Press Seattle mother of three.q