Parents Bittersweet Day

[Pineapple_Lump]

What I can't understand is why gym owners would think kids would make up stories like that. Most kids either have it right or have misinterpreted the coaches words - both situations need to have follow up with the coach. I have heard owners outright and immediately deny that there coach would say such a thing, only to hear from another coach - yeah they said that to the kid, but no point saying anything as the owner won't address it and the kid has left already.

 

[MickeyDGym]

I know the gym you are speaking of. My little one did a try out and was accepted on team but I didn’t get a good feeling from the owner so we declined. I have a friend who is there and told me stories about the owner. Lots of verbal abuse over there. If you are top 3 you get a lot of praise but any mistakes and the child is bashed and threatened to move down levels. So glad we decided to go elsewhere. Maybe try Texas Dreams I hear it’s a positive environment over there.

 

[GymMom4]

What a horrible way for things to end.

I'm so sorry that happened to you and your daughter.

Unfortunately it does happen, as it happened to us as well as others when they left the gym. Owners stood up for the coach and said they could not make him change the way he coaches. They stood behind him 100% every dang time no matter how many parents told them the same story. Then they badmouth you after you leave saying you were just causing drama.

 

[John]

Note to self. Sometimes when I hear a coach or owner say a parent or child simply caused drama remember the owner could be spinning PR and covering himself, his coaches, or his gym. Shame on him.

 

[sce]

Note to self. Sometimes when I hear a coach or owner say a parent or child simply caused drama remember the owner could be spinning PR and covering himself, his coaches, or his gym. Shame on him.

A good thing for us all to keep in mind. Honestly, it's a red flag if an owner or caoch says anything bad about a kid or parent who left. Informing the other kids that a kid left the team is fine, but saying anything negative to me reflects poorly on the speaker. Even if the situation was bad, no need to share that with others.

 

[John]

I have learned so much here, not just gymnastics either. It is such an asset to have the ability to read and learn from others point of view. Thank you everyone

 

[raenndrops]

Just a quick update — i did speak to the owner about what the coach said to my dd. She was very kind on the phone, told me how much they all love and support my dd, told me there must be a misunderstanding and we should all sit down together and talk it out, as she hates that dd ended her season so hurt, etc. she also said if dd didn’t want to return based on what was said, she would personally call around and find another gym to transfer her mid season if she wants to go on to state later this month. She could not have been nicer.

So dd and I go in the meet with HC and owner. My goal was to have HC tell dd she didn’t mean the negative comments and shouldn’t have said that, even as motivation, and have dd end on a positive note. That is how the owner lead me to believe it would go.

We get in there and suddenly a coowner I’ve never spoken to and who has never coached my daughter comes in as well as dd’s junior coach. It is obvious things are going to be difficult and owner proceeds to accuse dd of making it all up. Then she tells us both that she no longer can trust dd and that protecting her coach is her number 1 priority at the gym — not the welfare and safety of the kids, but protecting her coach. And now she has to protect her coach from dd. It was soul crushing.

That was on March 1. I went ahead and paid for the month of March so they cannot claim we left owing money, but there is no way in %>*~ that my daughter will continue her off campus PE there for the rest of the year, at a place that calls my child a liar and that places the hurt feelings of a coach over the safety and well being of the children in their care.

She cleaned out her locker and said goodbye to her friends today. She is heartbroken.

If you havent already, report it to SafeSport.