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Female athletes - male coaches: Male athletes - female coaches
22/08/04 by Geoff Wood
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The Seattle Times (Washington, USA) recently (December, 2003) uncovered the results of a year long investigation into the relationship between female student-athletes and their male coaches. The Times report stretched over four days and showed some disturbing results for schools and parents.
During the previous decade the investigative reporters learned that 159 coaches were fired or reprimanded in the State of Washington (4.5 million). The reason was sexual misconduct that ranged from harassment to rape. Nearly all the coaches were male, and 98 percent of those reprimanded or fired continued to teach or coach.
What disturbed many readers was that the report showed that when complaints were filed, many schools failed to act. Many schools brushed aside the allegations, and many failed to file a required report to state authorities reporting the suspected abuse to police.
It was interesting to note that the reporters tracked down ten of the coaches that had been reprimanded or had resigned from public schools. The reporters found these coaches still teaching and coaching but in private schools where schools files are closed, unlike in public schools where records must be held public.
The report found that some schools ended up paying thousands of dollars to get some coaches to leave; and others still hired ‘fired’ coaches to coach female athletes even when they were aware of that coach’s history.
Risk Management Issues
A coach is often alone with his or her athletes, exposing them up to charges of abuse or sexual misconduct. Many coaches willingly give a lift to a student needing a ride home after practice or a game on a dark or wet evening. Some coaches find their athletes attractive and willing to form a relationship.
Often complaints are passed onto school authorities by a concerned second, third or fourth party. A few loose words around the dinner table can have the coach “partying with his or her athletes”, when the coach may have stopped by a house to deliver a left coat or sports gear bag. Unfortunately there are coaches who do party, provide alcoholic drinks, hang out with the team in in-appropriate settings, or make sexual advances. These coaches, male and female, have destroyed the public’s faith in the many teachers and volunteers who give long hours for the good of youth.
Advice
Don’t get close to the kids. Coach them in your sport and as a positive role model.
Hands off, especially female athletes. A hi-five hand slap can be just as effective in expressing delight in a play as a hug. If you have to hug, it must be short and clean.
No booze!
When on overnight trips, never sleep, even visit, the same room as athletes of the opposite gender. Hold meetings in public areas.
No rides home. Call a parent or taxi. Never put a student in your car alone, unless there has been communication with the parent… and never ever a female athlete with a male coach or a male athlete with a female coach.
Never have the team over to your place. Hold team meetings at a parent’s place (who is home).
Protect yourself and your athletes
Protect yourself, and your athletes. Correct colleagues who are stepping over the boundaries. Report to authorities if you suspect a coach is having more than a coaching relationship with his or her athletes. The abuse must stop.
SportsRISK helps schools train schools and clubs on establishing positive and safe coach/athlete relationships and is part of the Sports Risk Management Group.
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