HI
This might be a bit rambly......I'm really struggling with things happening at our gym....I knew we were losing several athletes at the end of last season but didn't know why - it was played off as they were done with gymnastics....but what I've now come to find out is it was largely due to the coaching style - our head coaches have always been tough but I feel like what they've been doing has crossed the line and is verbally and emotionally abusive.....
Some examples are
- telling athletes they are wasting their parents money and they should quit,
- getting mad at them if they don't master a skill or make a mistake and tell them they are not coachable or they wont' coach them anymore - the coaches have actually then walked away from the girls for the rest of practice and I've been told this happened once during a competition last year.
- telling an athlete they're going to scratch them just before a competition because they didn't do a skill the way the coach wanted.
- constantly yelling at the girls in the gym (not just raising their voice because it's loud)
- refusing to spot athletes when they ask because "they should know how to do it"
- talking to parents about other athletes (not their own) and how they won't be asked back next year because they're not motivated and not skilled.
- when parents or athletes try to raise concerns they are met with hostility, and are told it's the athletes fault and then are essentially ignored, mistreated and pushed out at the end of the season.
- athletes are forced to sit out on the sidelines at practice if the coach feels they aren't listening or working hard enough.
We have only been at this gym for a couple of years and my child isn't with the head coach yet but will be after this season - I've already made the decision to leave this club as in my mind this is abuse and it's not ok. We have the option to leave this club now and go to a different club which I am leaning towards doing - my daughter is sad to switch mid-season but she feels sick every time she goes into the gym. We tried to talk to the head coach this week about their communication and it went horrible - lots of pushback, blaming others, they called a board member a liar - this is the typical type of response from my understanding.
I'm shocked that this has gone on for so long and no one has reported it......maybe it's just easier to walk away from a gym rather than report the issues, but I feel an obligation to report this to our provincial body (we are in Canada). Maybe people are worried that reporting it could lead to suspension of the coaches which negatively impacts the girls, but in all honestly I feel like the current situation is more damaging....the morale is terrible, the girls leave the gym in tears most days...... Given we are leaving I have no fear of reporting them because they can't retaliate against my child.
I am feeling confident that moving gyms even if it's mid season is the best thing for my child, and I know reporting it is the right thing. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has encountered this or moved gyms mid season....I know deep down I'm doing the right thing but I feel sick about it.....
This might be a bit rambly......I'm really struggling with things happening at our gym....I knew we were losing several athletes at the end of last season but didn't know why - it was played off as they were done with gymnastics....but what I've now come to find out is it was largely due to the coaching style - our head coaches have always been tough but I feel like what they've been doing has crossed the line and is verbally and emotionally abusive.....
Some examples are
- telling athletes they are wasting their parents money and they should quit,
- getting mad at them if they don't master a skill or make a mistake and tell them they are not coachable or they wont' coach them anymore - the coaches have actually then walked away from the girls for the rest of practice and I've been told this happened once during a competition last year.
- telling an athlete they're going to scratch them just before a competition because they didn't do a skill the way the coach wanted.
- constantly yelling at the girls in the gym (not just raising their voice because it's loud)
- refusing to spot athletes when they ask because "they should know how to do it"
- talking to parents about other athletes (not their own) and how they won't be asked back next year because they're not motivated and not skilled.
- when parents or athletes try to raise concerns they are met with hostility, and are told it's the athletes fault and then are essentially ignored, mistreated and pushed out at the end of the season.
- athletes are forced to sit out on the sidelines at practice if the coach feels they aren't listening or working hard enough.
We have only been at this gym for a couple of years and my child isn't with the head coach yet but will be after this season - I've already made the decision to leave this club as in my mind this is abuse and it's not ok. We have the option to leave this club now and go to a different club which I am leaning towards doing - my daughter is sad to switch mid-season but she feels sick every time she goes into the gym. We tried to talk to the head coach this week about their communication and it went horrible - lots of pushback, blaming others, they called a board member a liar - this is the typical type of response from my understanding.
I'm shocked that this has gone on for so long and no one has reported it......maybe it's just easier to walk away from a gym rather than report the issues, but I feel an obligation to report this to our provincial body (we are in Canada). Maybe people are worried that reporting it could lead to suspension of the coaches which negatively impacts the girls, but in all honestly I feel like the current situation is more damaging....the morale is terrible, the girls leave the gym in tears most days...... Given we are leaving I have no fear of reporting them because they can't retaliate against my child.
I am feeling confident that moving gyms even if it's mid season is the best thing for my child, and I know reporting it is the right thing. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has encountered this or moved gyms mid season....I know deep down I'm doing the right thing but I feel sick about it.....