This thread could not be any more Letsrun.com if it tried. A rule designed to protect athletes from abuse and intimidation has the losers acting like SafeSport cancelled Christmas. None of you are dating anyone, much less your athletes anyway so I don't know why you are so triggered. If you must date your adult athletes, simply make sure it's consentual and there is no issue with the power imbalance. Or don't coach a USATF club, there is no law that says your club has to be USATF. And if you do date your adult athletes and someone reports you, just go through the process and it will be fine if it's legit. Like it or not, SafeSport can destroy you and your career, just ask Al.
You should take the person's advice and take the class if you are so curious. So many people commenting on things they know nothing about, no wonder there are coaches being arrested and banned daily it seems for doing stupid sh*t!
From the renewal materials I just did. It's amazing how no one understands that there is always nuance to every rule.
R. Power Imbalance
A Power Imbalance may exist:
1. Where one person is in a Position of Power such that, based on the totality of the circumstances, there is a Power Imbalance.
a. Whether someone occupies a Position of Power such that there is a Power Imbalance depends on several factors, including: the nature and extent of the supervisory, evaluative or other authority over the person; the actual relationship between the parties; the parties’ respective roles; the nature and duration of the relationship; the age of the adult; the age of the people involved.
b. Once a coach-Athlete relationship is established, a Power Imbalance is presumed to exist throughout the coach-Athlete relationship (regardless of age) and is presumed to continue for Minor Athletes after the coach-Athlete relationship terminates and the Athlete reaches 20 years of age. A Power Imbalance may exist, but is not presumed, where an Intimate Relationship existed before the sport relationship (e.g., a relationship between two spouses or life partners that preceded the sport relationship).
1) IT appears the OP is posting from Canada so Safesport doesn't apply does it.
2) These Safesport guidelines are well intentioned but seem insane to me. It says they assume there is a power imbalance. Do they ever consider that for the pros the one with the power is often the athlete? The coach can hire and fire the coach at any point.
It specifically states that this applies to all levels, not just pros. Obviously it's more targeted at the college age level where technically adult athletes can easily be manipulated and intimidated by coaches. Everyone goes crazy and flies off the handle when they discover something they were not aware of, but have not studied it sufficiently to actually understand it's implementation or purpose. Yes, it sounds extreme, but I've only seen anyone sanctioned a couple of times and it was with college coaches both times. I actually can't believe people don't know what SafeSport actually says, especially someone who coached previously.
If you are a coach and you date your athlete, yes, from a SafeSport standpoint, it is assumed there is a power imbalance, this does not mean they are coming for you. If someone reports it as inappropriate, they will investigate an determine the nature of the relationship and determine if it violates SafeSport, most likely it will not unless it truly is a scummy college coach using his power to influence young, impressionable athletes.
And yes, SafeSport is in Canada, but as it is here, it depends on the sanctioning body. Here in the US, as far as running goes, it's USATF and USOPC, and any coach that has athletes that they coach to compete at USATF and USOPC events must be in the USATF Registry and SafeSport compliant. If a coach doesn't coach USATF or USOPC athletes, they can potentially date, intimidate or abuse whomever they like at will.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
Has anybody reported Joe Bosshard to Safe Sport? I hear he’s not only in a relationship with one of the athletes on his team, they are even married! Terrance Mahon and Alistair Cragg too! Shocking to learn that someone might coach their significant other!
No, I'm the person that makes sure coaches follow Safe Sport regulations and remove those that do not. Please post names.
This might be the most irresponsible thing I've ever read on LR and THAT is saying a lot!!! Look no further than this comment to see what is wrong with the Safe Sport process!
No, I'm the person that makes sure coaches follow Safe Sport regulations and remove those that do not. Please post names.
This might be the most irresponsible thing I've ever read on LR and THAT is saying a lot!!! Look no further than this comment to see what is wrong with the Safe Sport process!
Not sure why my comment appeared to be a part of the post I was quoting. I was responding to unsafe sport.
No, I'm the person that makes sure coaches follow Safe Sport regulations and remove those that do not. Please post names.
1. SEXUAL CONTACTS OR “ROMANTIC” RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AN ATHLETE AND A PERSON WHO HAS A POSITION OF POWER OVER THE ATHLETE ARE PROHIBITED.
a. “Person with a position of power” includes coaches, administrators, judges, referees, employers, staff, medical personnel, and even volunteers or older athletes and teammates.
b. U.S. Center for SafeSport’s flat prohibition on sexual contact covers children who are under the age of 18. Sexual contact with a child is also prohibited under criminal law; it is a felony and consent is no defense.
c.For those in positions of power, this flat prohibition also includes an athlete that is 18 years old or older, and the athlete “consents” to sexual or romantic contact.
d. A peer or teammate may be in a “position of power” over other athletes; peer sexual contact with minors is prohibited when their ages are separated by more than three years.
e. All competitive levels are covered by this prohibition; not just elite athletes.
f. Sexual/ romantic contact is permitted when there is a peer relationship between adults, such as teammates, or there is no imbalance of power between coach and athlete, such as an adult seeking Master’s lessons. SafeSport presumes a power imbalance for most coach-athlete relationships.
quick someone report Joe Bosshard for being involved with Emma Coburn (sarcasm)
Our club team. Someone showed proof of her “accompanying him” outside club hours. Should I report?
since this is a club team and not serious like NCAA. Keep your mind on your own business. Let them live their own life. If it bothers you that much then move on and run on your own. since you are on a club team it tells me you might not run that fast and or are not able to gel well with an NCAA program. So just figure out how to focus on yourself and your business. If you cannot do this in this setting how are you going to be able to be an adult and mind your own business in the real adult working world? This is called being toxic.
This thread could not be any more Letsrun.com if it tried. A rule designed to protect athletes from abuse and intimidation has the losers acting like SafeSport cancelled Christmas. None of you are dating anyone, much less your athletes anyway so I don't know why you are so triggered. If you must date your adult athletes, simply make sure it's consentual and there is no issue with the power imbalance. Or don't coach a USATF club, there is no law that says your club has to be USATF. And if you do date your adult athletes and someone reports you, just go through the process and it will be fine if it's legit. Like it or not, SafeSport can destroy you and your career, just ask Al.
I married my boss. It sounds like SafeSport definitely would NOT approve. Been together 19 years with three beautiful children. Best decision I ever made. Glad we got together before woke hit.
SafeSport seems over the top to me. Minors involved? Completely unacceptable. Salazar molesting his adult athletes without their consent? Also completely unacceptable. Romance between two consenting adults? I don't see the problem. Yes, it's a little risky for both parties if things go south, but life is full of risk.