Parents Potential Safe Sport Violation?

[TumbleTimes4]

Hi guys, I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I have a question that I can’t seem to find a clear answer on, and I thought I would reach out for more experienced opinions.

Daughter is 16 and a second year level 9. Recently, a coach who also happens to be the owner of a neighboring gym in the area has now twice requested to friend her on social media. Daughter has a public Instagram gymnastics account, which this particular coach follows, but this coach tried to “friend” her on my daughter’s private Instagram account, which has nothing to do with gymnastics (as parents we monitor social media very closely). The first time, I just had my daughter decline the request and we went on about our life. But this is the second attempt by this coach. It’s a smaller area and so we know who she is and I know that she knows who my daughter is, but we do not know her personally nor have we ever had a single conversation with her.

The relationship between the gyms is not exactly friendly, and I’m aware that my daughter is also not the only optional from our gym that she has tried to reach out to for an introduction. To me, this is at least a yellow flag and it’s crossing boundaries. You should not be contacting minor children with whom you have no prior relationship with, especially without parental consent.

My question is this and what I can’t find clarity on: is this a safe sport violation (contacting a minor on social media without parental consent and with whom you have no relationship with) and would you report it?

 

[Dahlialover]

A follow request on social media does not strike me as inappropriate. A DM strikes me as inappropriate. I would simply block the person and move on.

 

[NutterButter]

I’m not sure if it’s a safesport violation. My DD’s gym had a situation where the head coach was placed on the permanently ineligible list after a SafeSport violation. In the aftermath of this incident the gym completely changed their policy on social media and no longer allowed coaches to follow athletes or even athletes over 18 following younger teammates. The reason they cited was SafeSport but a couple of years later my DD told me that it actually wasn’t a SafeSport thing to follow on social media and that it was her gym’s rules in response to the issue with the then head coach (the incident didn’t involve social media but the gym, understandably, was over cautious).

If I were in your situation I would not report it to SS, even if it is a violation. I would block the coach and would consider calling the coach to tell her to knock it off. It’s unprofessional even if not a violation.

 

[kecks]

I do not think this is a violation of anything. The kid is 16. She should decide herself whom she follows and whom follows her in my opinion. For a European parent this seems totally over the top. In 24 month she will be a legal adult. If she (!) does not whish this coach to follow her on social media she should just block him and move on.

 

[skschlag]

Here are the safesport guidelines on social media:

https://uscenterforsafesport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MAAPP_OnePagers_Communication.pdf