All-Star At What Point Is The Gym Owner Responsible?

[OLDCHEER]

I know no athletes are allowed in the coaches office period. There is a sign on the front door. If a meeting needs to happen, it is usually takes place in Craig or Michelle's office with one of them or another adult present.

 

[luxerae]

Oh, and if you're an athlete:

When (and to whom) would you say something if it was your friend? And my BIG question is how would you feel if someone "outed" a coach for abuse and that coach was one of your best? Would you feel like they were ruining your chances (in Worlds, other competitions, etc. In other words, if you felt like you neeeeeeeded this coach, would you be mad at the person for turning him/her in?) In this Palm Beach thing, the girl said she didn't want to affect her team's chances of going to Worlds. After reading the comments on the article, I see why she was worried - if the kids learn from their parents, I can only imagine how she was treated after this.

If my friend came to me or if I even overheard such accusations against a coach, I would definitely let it be known right away to another coach I'm closer to or the owner. I am a firm believer in it's better to be safe, than sorry. So even if it's complete and utter lies, or even if it tears the chance of going to Worlds from my little hands, or if it's a coach that I thought could do no wrong, I'm letting someone know. It all goes back to taking one for the team.. yes, if somebody scratched you during competition and it REALLY hurt you, you should take one for the team. This is NOT something that you take for the team, or for anybody. Ever.

 

[Just-a-Mom]

If my friend came to me or if I even overheard such accusations against a coach, I would definitely let it be known right away to another coach I'm closer to or the owner. I am a firm believer in it's better to be safe, than sorry. So even if it's complete and utter lies, or even if it tears the chance of going to Worlds from my little hands, or if it's a coach that I thought could do no wrong, I'm letting someone know. It all goes back to taking one for the team.. yes, if somebody scratched you during competition and it REALLY hurt you, you should take one for the team. This is NOT something that you take for the team, or for anybody. Ever.

:kiss:I love this. I think every teenage girl and boy should read this.

 

[KDCheerMom]

Two words: Penn State

I kept thinking the same thing reading this thread.

 

[Just-a-Mom]

Two words: Penn State

Everyone in the Penn State administration and athletic department should held accountable from the moment they knew what was happening.

Gym owners are totally accountable and have the burden of "full disclosure" the minute they know of any type of situation involving the physical safety of a child. You get the glory you have to have the guts!

I kept thinking the same thing reading this thread.

I guess that's my problem...I feel like this isn't happening. In the Cheer Illinois incident that I linked above, nothing happened. I'm not even sure he stopped working there. That was sort of why I started the thread, because I just don't see much happening other than the coach in question being arrested in each case. The gyms don't seem to bear any responsibility other than maybe firing - and even that's a big maybe. Now in that instance it wasn't involving the gym directly, but in quite a few of these cases it's happening either in the gym, or on the way to/from the gym or competition. In those cases I feel like the gym owner is somewhat responsible.

But I'm not sure what we mean by "accountable"? I mean, we can all point fingers at PBL and say "You knew!!!" but what could really be done, even if you could prove they did know?

 

[SharkDad]

in this sport you can only show your opinion by deciding where your money goes. Unfortunately many people sacrifice their voice to keep their child on a certain team at a certain gym.

 

[kristenthegreat]

Could they be implicated in a lawsuit (gym owners?) Reckless endangerment of a child? Especially if it can be proven..although that's the rub. How do you prove it?

 

[L5cheermom]

Could they be implicated in a lawsuit (gym owners?) Reckless endangerment of a child? Especially if it can be proven..although that's the rub. How do you prove it?

In Civil court? Certainly. It would be expensive to do so. You'd first have to prove damages which would require expert witnesses which cost money. Then you would have to find witnesses who had direct knowledge that the gym owners knew - like they had reported personal knowledge of previous incidents - not just suspicions. And then you'd be at the mercy of a random jury. Usually too many variables to justify the expense unless a person has money to burn and is trying to make a statement; which, by the way, I would support if the gym owners did know and did nothing to protect those kids.

 

[coachlex1019]

This thread also reminds me of this article that was posted on the homepage a few days ago - Now Hiring: 5 Questions to Ask a Potential Employee | Cheer Professional

The woman was hiring a new employee and when she called previous gyms he'd worked at for reference checks, everything came back great. Turns out the references were false - the previous employers failed to mention that the man impregnated an underage cheerleader, and they gave him great references so he would move away. Now, really, who does that? And legally speaking, it's not OK. I've learned through an HR class that I'm currently taking that this is called giving a "negligent referral" and it is punishable in court. Even if you wanted the guy to move away, why would you open yourself to legal action and risk the safety of other children?

 

[CheerDadof2]

Wow!!! So I'm fairly new to the All-star world compared to many on here by this sounds pandemic!!! Geez.

I had some other comments but they've "rolled out" at the moment, so instead I'll ask a question.

What if you'd heard about "sketchy" behavior by an owner of another gym in your area. You have no connection to the gym and everything you've heard is second and third hand. Aside from voting with your money, don't care how good or what coach is there, would never let CP's go there. Do you have a responsibility to tell authorities?

I mean at this point it's just rumors and speculation.

 

[mecheermom]

This thread also reminds me of this article that was posted on the homepage a few days ago - Now Hiring: 5 Questions to Ask a Potential Employee | Cheer Professional

The woman was hiring a new employee and when she called previous gyms he'd worked at for reference checks, everything came back great. Turns out the references were false - the previous employers failed to mention that the man impregnated an underage cheerleader, and they gave him great references so he would move away. Now, really, who does that? And legally speaking, it's not OK. I've learned through an HR class that I'm currently taking that this is called giving a "negligent referral" and it is punishable in court. Even if you wanted the guy to move away, why would you open yourself to legal action and risk the safety of other children?

Yikes! I know in Texas an employeer is not allowed to say anything beyond "Yes, he/she worked here". IMO if something illegal happened then law enforcement should be notified.

 

[njallday]

Yikes! I know in Texas an employeer is not allowed to say anything beyond "Yes, he/she worked here". IMO if something illegal happened then law enforcement should be notified.

the company i work for (in NJ - though not sure if its a statewide rule) is very similar. all reference phone calls go to HR. I am not allowed to talk to anyone. HR can only confirm employment, give dates of employment, and i believe they can answer "would you hire them again," but they cannot elaborate.

obviously saying no to would you hire them again would be a red flag, but without knowing the reason, that'd be tough. though gyms don't exactly have an HR department and i feel like because cheer is such a small world that from gym owner to gym owner they'd inform one another - especially in a case like this. at least i'd like to hope so. the situation coachlex1019 mentioned just scares me. how could you just endanger more kids like that?

 

[CheerBank]

Wow!!! So I'm fairly new to the All-star world compared to many on here by this sounds pandemic!!! Geez.

I had some other comments but they've "rolled out" at the moment, so instead I'll ask a question.

What if you'd heard about "sketchy" behavior by an owner of another gym in your area. You have no connection to the gym and everything you've heard is second and third hand. Aside from voting with your money, don't care how good or what coach is there, would never let CP's go there. Do you have a responsibility to tell authorities?

I mean at this point it's just rumors and speculation.

Authorities no because you not only have no proof, everything you know is hearsay and would unfortunately be disregarded.
But if I knew anyone who went to that gym I would be sure to tell them. I would also tell my own gym owner.

 

[tntdynomite]

If his former employers gave him glowing references when they knew he did something wrong the new employer can sue...and they would win. It's definitely not worth putting other people in danger to get someone to move away. And why was this person not in jail?

This thread also reminds me of this article that was posted on the homepage a few days ago - Now Hiring: 5 Questions to Ask a Potential Employee | Cheer Professional

The woman was hiring a new employee and when she called previous gyms he'd worked at for reference checks, everything came back great. Turns out the references were false - the previous employers failed to mention that the man impregnated an underage cheerleader, and they gave him great references so he would move away. Now, really, who does that? And legally speaking, it's not OK. I've learned through an HR class that I'm currently taking that this is called giving a "negligent referral" and it is punishable in court. Even if you wanted the guy to move away, why would you open yourself to legal action and risk the safety of other children?

 

[coachlex1019]

If his former employers gave him glowing references when they knew he did something wrong the new employer can sue...and they would win. It's definitely not worth putting other people in danger to get someone to move away. And why was this person not in jail?

I have no idea. Such a f*ed up situation!