06-03-2023, 05:01 PM
I don't know if any of you are involved in coaching youth sports, but I am a USA Archery coach. With this, as USA Archery is the organization for Olympic competition of the sport in the US, we coaches have a yearly training we must do talking about all of these things. In addition, I have a yearly training for my role in Scouting. In addition, I have trainings on this as a mandatory reporter and Title IX official at my employer. I sit through a lot of trainings on sexual misconduct every year.
With all of that, I coach all genders. I also work with all genders in Scouting and through Title IX processes. When it comes down to it there is nothing I do differently with any of them. With every youth I deal with I am going to ask permission before touching them to reposition their body for proper stance or arm positioning. I am going to avoid the same areas of their bodies no matter what gender they are. I have never been in a locker room or shower with them and I actually never interact with any youth one-on-one; there is always another adult present.
It shouldn't matter who the coach is or who the athletes are; gender is irrelevant. Vet the coaches, train them, and make sure the participants are aware of what is appropriate and not and also make sure they are comfortable with reporting inappropriate behavior. That is the biggest hurdle is that these young people do not always know who to turn to for help and/or they feel like no one will listen to them.
With all of that, I coach all genders. I also work with all genders in Scouting and through Title IX processes. When it comes down to it there is nothing I do differently with any of them. With every youth I deal with I am going to ask permission before touching them to reposition their body for proper stance or arm positioning. I am going to avoid the same areas of their bodies no matter what gender they are. I have never been in a locker room or shower with them and I actually never interact with any youth one-on-one; there is always another adult present.
It shouldn't matter who the coach is or who the athletes are; gender is irrelevant. Vet the coaches, train them, and make sure the participants are aware of what is appropriate and not and also make sure they are comfortable with reporting inappropriate behavior. That is the biggest hurdle is that these young people do not always know who to turn to for help and/or they feel like no one will listen to them.
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
