Improper touching

[Lozza]

It happens. I can name three college coaches that ended up living with one of their players.

I don't count that, as I don't have issues with adult women dating/moving in with/marrying their coaches. If they're at college they're adults. I've dated coaches.

 

[mad hornet]

This reminds me of our first 12u practice this year. I had a new player / catcher who wasn't getting the concept of the stance I was teaching - she kept receiving on the balls of her feet. So, I walked up to her (like in the Dave Weaver camp video) and gave her a little shove on the shoulder to demonstrate her lack of balance in that stance. She actually fell over (and that look on her face)!

Yea I was a tad worried that she may never come back (my crazy coach pushed me!) after that but her parents weren't upset at all. She's turning out to be a heck of a player (and catcher - she did learn something from this).

 

[PEPPERS]

Being in law enforcement for 22 years I’ve seen some ugly stuff, coaches, teachers, clergy and family, as a parent be alert to any improper touching, let your child know they are to tell you of any improper touching, improper statements, or any situation an adult makes your child feel uncomfortable about. Make sure they know they will not get in trouble or as some times is threaten by offenders that the parent will not be harmed if the child tells.

I’ve also seen it the other way a child accuses an adult of improper behavior to get even for some reason, even though the adult is proven innocent the stigma will remain, so you must protect yourself as much as possible.

Each state has a sex offender list and can be found at the local sheriff’s department or on the net, bet you would be surprised at how close one may live near your family.

As a coach I only do high fives, even though I’ve wanted to put my arm around a sobbing player I do not because of what I’ve been exposed to. My wife is always close and I leave that to her. As someone advised it is a sad day when a coach is scarred to hug a crying child, but that is how it is. It’s not the child’s fault or the good hearted coach, but the sex offenders and child predators and they are out there looking for the right opportunity.

AS FAR AS YOUR CHILD OR ANY CHILD IS CONSERNED ERROR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION!

 

[Daddylawman]

I don't disagree with much of what has been said, but I'd like to add something from my perspective. I've been coaching my DD's over 10 years, and coaching various teams much longer than that. Also, by profession I deal with folks that have crossed the line as well as those who have not, but were accused of it. Many great points have been raised about what is an "appropriate" touch by a male coach to a female athlete. Lots of very good points, a lot of it may depend on how long and well the coach has known the player or her parents. I know that's no guarantee, but it certainly is a consideration.

I would also like to point out that WHERE YOU ARE matters. Running onto the field in front of both teams and parents and putting your arm around an injured player seems ok. Doing the same thing at a restaurant where your team is eating might not be. Last year my DD's high school team spent a night in a hotel at a tournament (I'm not a coach). One of the girls left her cell phone on the bus and asked if I'd walk the block to where the bus was parked to get it. I told her I would, but she needed to also find a teammate to go with us as well.

As hard as it is to believe, I think 99% of the time common sense does work fine.

 

[quincy]

My previous post was from a coach’s perspective, from a parent’s perspective we have never, nor has my DD, had an Issue with the physical contact that invariably happens between the coaches and her.

Softball is a contact sport.

 

[WARRIORMIKE]

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never heard of a girl having an affair with her coach.

How bout marry there coach??

























Yes Ive seen it done!

 

[Lozza]

How bout marry there coach??

So have I! I used the term girl, so I'm meaning juniors here. Not adult women.

 

[PEPPERS]

Not SB but sports and the guy coached some of my daughters friends. We've had many in our are in cluding SB coach, Basketball and others. How would you like for this guy to coach your kid?

Reported by Mark Bruce
Eyewitness News Reporter/Anchor

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB/AP) -- A computer crimes expert with the Maine State Police is credited for tracking down the North Georgia man charged with making and distributing child pornography.

Agents arrested James "Bart" Huskey at his LaFayette home Monday night. Huskey was a tennis coach in LaFayette, Georgia. He wasn't employed by the city but taught lessons and camps on city owned courts.

"I feel mad and angry," said LaFayette Mom Vicky Copeland. "I don't know what to feel, because you look at yours and you can't imagine it happening to other children."

The Government says Huskey was part of a sophisticated internet group that traded images of child pornography. Agents say Huskey actually made porn with a girl as young as five years old.

"These images depict a young girl ages 5 continuing to 9," said US Attorney David Nahmias. "They've gotten more disturbing over time."

The affidavit says Huskey can be seen holding a knife toward the victim before committing several unspeakable sex acts. The investigation started two years ago when Australian authorities notified the FBI about a sophisticated group of child porn traders. Next there was an arrest in Maine and the effort intensified when agents found the images.

In the pictures and videos, investigators were able to identify a painting from a Carrolton, Georgia hotel where authorities say Huskey stayed. Agents then pinpointed a bedspread, sold to Huskey's LaFayette home. Then several other items were recognized in Huskey's home when officials arrived to arrest him. Agents say Huskey admitted to molesting a nine year old child shortly after his arrest.

"It's such a great day when we can get a child away from a victimizing situation and to a place where they know they'll be safe," Nahmias said.

Huskey is due in Atlanta's federal court Monday. His two children are currently in state custody. Federal and local authorities are encouraging anyone who may know a victim of Huskey's to come forward. They're urged to call the FBI's Atlanta office at 404-979-9000.

ONLINE INVESTIGATORS FROM MAINE ASSIST IN INVESTIGATION

The investigation into the case of a man accused of serially abusing a girl and posting the video online began with a complaint to the FBI by authorities in Brisbane, Australia, and stretched all the way to Maine before ending with an arrest this week in Georgia.

Dawn Ego of the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit gets much of the credit for tracking down the accused abuser by looking for clues from the online images like bed linens, a bow made from ribbon seen hanging on a wall, and the interior of a vehicle that turned out to be a Pontiac Aztek.

Maine State Police Sgt. Glenn Lang described a sense of euphoria when Ego cracked the case by tracking down a motel where some of the abuse took place, leading to Monday's arrest of tennis coach James Bartholomew Huskey at his home in LaFayette, Ga.

Maine investigators learned that evening that Huskey was behind bars and the 9-year-old victim was safe. Huskey's two children were taken into protective custody.

"We rarely get to actually participate in saving a child," said Lang, who noted that the task force usually examines computer hard drives after the fact. "It's so exhilarating to get on the front end of it. It's probably the best feeling in the world."

The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit joined the investigation in response to a May 23 bulletin to Internet Crimes Against Children units around the country, a federally funded program. The Maine Computer Crimes Unit participates in the program.

The Maine team began analyzing 1,800 still photos and video images for clues, and Ego zeroed in on images that appeared to have been taken in a hotel room.

"She was like a pit bull on this thing," Lang said. "She just went after it with a tenacity like you rarely see."

Ego narrowed the location down 17 mostly southeastern states based after finding the manufacturer of a bow made from ribbon that was seen hanging on one of the walls. Then she succeeded in identifying the manufacturer of some of the bedding in another piece of footage.

The clues led to the Jameson Inn in Carrollton, Ga., where a hotel employee recalled a man who paid cash for a room on the date the video was taken, July 21, 2007.

The employee was able to root around in the hotel's attic and find a photocopy of the man's driver's license, which was made when he registered. All of the pieces fit together. The Aztek, for example, was registered to a woman who shares Huskey's home, authorities said.

"We wanted to open up the windows and scream for joy," Ego said.

Ego passed the information on to the FBI. That night, Lang called her at home and said the FBI was planning to try and rescue the girl. At 11:15 p.m., he called to say the girl was safe. "He said 'She's been rescued, she's safe and he's been arrested,"' Ego said.

Once under arrest, Huskey confessed to the assaults and the victim confirmed that Huskey had been raping her for four years, starting when she was 5 years old, authorities said.

The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit began in 1999 as the computer crimes task force. The unit is partially funded by the state and through a grant from the Department of Justice under its Internet Crimes Against Children initiative, Lang said.

New Details: Maine investigator helped track LaFayette Child Porn Suspect - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

 

[rowdy]

Where are you touching them and Why? If you are instructing a player and adjust an arm or bat location I don't think you would be in any situation that could result in accusations. Make sure you have a relationship with the parents that allow them to get to know you personally and explain up front what your expectations for the team will be. I have coached girls for several years and don't go out of my way to touch them but contract is sometimes required. If it is inappropriate then that is a totally different issue and should be dealt with swiftly and aggressively.

 

[Lozza]

I also think it depends on the player and age groups. I coach girls as young as seven or eight. I've currently got one little girl who is TERRIFIED of batting, as she was hit in the face last week. She comes off after batting shaking and crying. The only thing that is calming her down is a hug. It's just a wrap around and rubbing her back.

As I've said previously though, as a female I get more leeway than men.