Learn from the Paterno, Spanier, Curley and McQuery mistakes
This blog post isn’t specifically about the Penn State case and who was or wasn’t fired. Rather it’s a reality check for all involved with youth: no one is invincible. Joe Paterno, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Mike McQuery did not commit the physical crimes against children that Jerry Sandusky did. However, they were responsible and liable for their own actions when there is even a hint that someone is abusing a child.
The Penn State case is making national headlines because of its legendary coach and its football program, but it’s important to understand that such behavior occurs frequently in youth sports. Most readers of this blog are involved in teams/leagues/youth programs in s
ome capacity or another. Are you a coach, athletic director, team mom or a parent on the sidelines? Whatever your position, today is the day to step back and realize where exactly you fit into the lives of the kids participating in your youth sports organization. You are there to protect them at all costs.
Our previous blog post, Child Predators in Youth Sports, is a must read for anyone who is involved with children. It includes a link to a Sports Illustrated article written with the help of actual predators in youth programs detailing how they got away with their crimes. Did you know that, according to the article, studies have found that the average molester victimizes about 120 children before he is caught? That’s extremely disturbing! The blog post also offers useful risk management guidelines that your organization can implement today. And share this post with others so that we all can make a difference.
Follow this link for more articles on preventing sexual abuse and molestation.
