Keeping Your Youth Athlete Safe
July 7, 2008
**Be aware the following article is of a sensitive nature**
I was watching T.V while checking e-mails the other night after the Olympic trials, when I ran across a show on the Sundance Channel call…. Flying : Confessions of a Free Woman. Jennifer Fox explored her life experiences and those of other women. She began to talk about her life and suddenly I was struck by her words…”I Ran Track In High School and was abused by my 42 year old coach at 13 years old while I was sharing my poetry book with him”. He didn’t rape her but took advantage of her youth and desire to make him happy and proud of her.She said her “sex” with him was an exchange for love.
It was clear that this situation was a defining moment of her life on so many levels.Unfortunately she describes her life as “A Wreck”. This caused me to think a lot about the bad situations parents can place girl athletes in unknowingly .Perhaps,sometimes we don’t pay proper attention to our daughters as much as we pay attention to their track pursuit.
Children’s Relationships with Child Molesters
Some people don’t understand how a child can be drawn into a child molester’s world. How do so many child molester get away with assaulting children?
We need to keep in mind that these children don’t think like adults do. Maybe they come from a single parent home. Maybe they are approaching puberty and feel awkward and unsure of themselves. Whatever the reason, a child molester will pick up on the weaknesses and doubts of a child and weasel his way into that child’s psyche.
The targeted child may only see that someone is totally interested in her. He or she may bask in the extra attention that the child molester gives.
What Drives a Child Molester to Victimize a Child?
If you have ever conducted a sexual predator search on a child predator web site, you may have been surprised at how long the predator report was. What drives a child molester to victimize a child?
* Child molesters get a thrill out of violating the trust of an innocent child.
* For some child molesters, a new conquest is just part of a game they are playing within themselves.
* Most child molesters are totally obsessed with children.
* They watch children, talk to them, and try to find ways to spend time with them.
* Child molesters typically observe the targeted child for some time so that they can better understand their vulnerabilities and act on them.
Do your part by routinely checking child predator Web sites and generating predator lists of sexual offenders in your area. A predator search can help you know just who might be out there ready to harm your child.
Protect Your Child From Child Predators
You may think that your child is perfectly safe from the advances of a child predator simply because you know where he/she is at all times. Your child isn’t lonely, and you and he do lots of things together. You may feel that he doesn’t fit the profile of a child predator’s target. Think again.
With the influx of Internet usage in a vast majority of homes, your child just isn’t safe! Child predators prowl the Web looking for their next victims. They may pose as another child or teen on sites such as FaceBook or MySpace. They may tell your child any number of lies and continue to do so until they’ve established a relationship. By then, your child may have become more secretive and protective of that relationship.
Take steps now to protect your child!
* Keep your computer in a a popular area of your home, such as the kitchen, living room, etc.
* Use the parental controls that your Internet Service Provider offers.
* Talk to your children and tell them never to hand out personal information.
* Warn your child about the dangers of child predators.
* If you are worried that someone who has contacted your child is a child predator, access the child predator Web site.
* Do a child predator search by inputting that person’s e-mail address.
* Be proactive to keep your child safe!
Unfortunately the following headlines are real, and all very easy to find with a quick google search.
Former Track Coach at school is charged in 4 Bay area rapes
Former Conn. Gymnastics Coach Accused Of Raping Teenage Student …
The Seattle Times: Coaches who prey - The abuse of girls
Youth minister and track coach released after being charged with rape
A teacher and track coach says he is not guilty of raping a teenage student.
Coach faces rape charge :: PostStar.com
Well I think you get the idea , there are more links than I have time to put up.Parents be cautiously trusting of adults that have interaction of your youth athlete.
Related posts:
- Predicting Future Success Of A Youth Athlete
- How Fast Can Your Youth Athlete Run?
- Happy 4th Of July
- Determination is Brooke’s Middle Name
- Youth Athletes And Injuries, Is Your Youth Athlete Next?
Penn State did an unpublished study about bullying in the public schools. One thing that stuck in my mind was commentary about the personalities of middle school teachers and what draws them to teach middle school-aged kids. They want to be popular and cool with this age group. No wonder so many of the teachers who end up in illicit relationships are middle school teachers! Time for better screening methods, methinks.