Open Access to Training

Everyone knows I love gymnastics. That isn't debatable.

In this day and age, what is debatable is whether to support organizations that don’t allow open access to training facilities.

Abuse thrives in the dark.

Abuse can not survive transparency.

Open access to training facilities is critical to preventing abuse of any kind. USA Gymnastics has a policy requiring member clubs to permit parents and guardians access to practice and training sessions.

Required. Not optional. Must happen.

Gyms preventing access is a dangerous practice.

Clubs can limit the number of parents allowed based on space or safety limitations.

But why would they limit access?

Good question.

Especially considering there is an inexpensive solution to space limitations and safety concerns - video and audio.

Why, in this day and age of Covid, are they not using video and audio live-streaming?

Why?

The more important question?

Why do we support these organizations?

Why are we supporting gyms that don't follow the rules?! Why are you *paying* a gym that you *know* is breaking the rules?!

Why are we supporting a governing body that doesn't investigate the rule breaks?! Why are we *paying* for membership to a governing body that refuses to enforce its own rules?!

No gym is above the rules. Covid is NOT a reason to prevent access, especially when live-streaming is available for gyms to use.

Member clubs must allow access through in-person viewing, live feed of video and audio, or another option that allows access.

While parents may choose *not* to view, they should have the option! There should be nothing preventing a parent from "dropping in" to check on practice or choosing to sit there throughout the entire four-hour team practice if they want to.

Let's talk about this for a minute.

Tell me if this sounds familiar.

Social Media Post: "My gym isn't allowing access to practice. We can sit outside the garage door (in the rain and snow) to watch, but that is it. Sometimes they close the doors and tell us tough luck. What can I do?"

You'll get 3 types of responses...

1. Report it.

Which, btw, is always followed up with some reports of how the governing body doesn't investigate such reports, and even if they do, their process and results just suck.

2. You're lucky you get that access. We don't get any access since Covid. Be thankful they let you sit at the door. We have to beg for scraps before they let us watch for 1 minute.

3. Why would you want to watch practice?! I would (gasp) never do that! I *trust* my coaches. You should either trust your coaches and drop them off for 18 days without checking on them, or you should quit gymnastics forever because you're a wimp.

Okay. Maybe I exaggerated just a tiny bit in my responses... or not.

I’ve written about “Trust the Coaches” and “Trust the Process” here, so I won’t repeat it.

But you get the idea. It happens. Repeatedly.

Why?!

Why are we attacking and mom-shaming other moms for their choice - even if it's different than our choice?!

In another post, Courtney Fleming wrote,

"No parent is “better” than another because they “would never sit there for hours” or because they “trust the coaches.” This isn’t a contest. Any parent who desires to view has the right to access. They should also have the right to be respected for that choice. Period. If a parent wants to stay and watch 4 hours per day, that is their choice and we should not judge them or make them feel “less than” or weak or anything other than respected for their choices. Why does everything have to be a one upping contest? A parent who desires to view practice is no less than a parent who choose not to view. A parent who is being denied access and is frustrated about that has every right to feel as they do and we should not judge them or make them feel small for being frustrated."

Well said, Courtney. I literally couldn't have said it better - which is why I used her quote!

So, let's stop the shaming.

Let's stop supporting organizations that break the rules.

Let’s stop supporting the governing bodies that refuse to investigate reports of clubs breaking the rules.

Let's start supporting each other and demanding changes that benefit ALL of our children.

Because this is about the kids.

Remember them?

They're the ones watching you.

They're learning how to handle a situation in the future - by watching how you handle it now, in the moment.

So, whatcha gonna do?