PREVENT CRUELTY TO YOUNG ATHLETES
Prevent Cruelty to Young Athletes and Prevent Criminal and Civil Risks for Coaches. Government Agencies, non-Government Administrative Athletic Organizations, Educational Boards and Associations, including High School Athletic Associations, should take the lead and incorporate Child(<18) and Youth(15-24) Protection Laws into their School and Non-School Rules and Regulations.
Cruelty to Young Athletes is crossing the line by Coaches when they push and punish Child and Youth Athletes beyond their Physical and Psychological (Emotional) Limits and perpetrate Sexual Abuse and Human Rights Violations.
Young Amateur Athletes are a Vulnerable, Susceptible, “Health Disparity Population”. They have more morbidity and mortality than non-Athletes in their same populace. Sports Participation can be the pathway for Athletes from marginalized, neglected, ignored, shunned Populations; a way out of poverty and hope for success. Some almighty Coaches exploit the Power Gap manifest between Coach and Athlete. Some Coaches, who deviate from Child Protection Laws, take advantage of Young Athletes. naivety and innocence.
“Win-At-All-Costs” Coaches and their Colleagues, who turn a “Blind Eye” to Coaching negligence and deviance, seem to convey to Athletes “Let me Abuse you and I’ll make you a man, according to Rhonda Fincher, whose son died at football practice from Dehydration. [Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation]
Dysfunctional Athletic Communities have promoted Closed Sports Societies, similar want-to-be closed Religious organizations, that have recently appeared like they were above the Law and impervious to the Law. Closed Sports Societies promote “Socially Approved” Child Athlete Abuse Syndrome.
Closed Sports Societies breed Ego, Greed, Excess. Economic Gluttony and Win-At-All Costs. But as we are now discovering there are No Closed Societies to the Rules of Law.
“Ours is a government of liberty by, through and under the law. No man is above it, and no man is below it.” Theodore Roosevelt
We U.S. Citizens serve the Rule of Law. We don’t serve President Obama, Joe Paterno or any other idol for that matter. [See the Virginia Bar Associaion Rule of Law Project http://ruleoflaw-vba.org/]
Abnormal, Deviant Coaching Behaviors will put the Coach in the Front Yard of Society one week and at the Top of the Stairs of the Court House the next. Ignorance of Child and Youth Protection Laws, including Reporting Laws, are no excuse in Court and certainly no Court Defense
For example, Negligent Coaches Run Athletes until they sustain Heat Stroke, Yell and Scream at Young Athletes until they suffer Emotional Nightmares and even Sexually Assault and Sodomize Athletes in the shower after “special” practices. Athlete Abuse is merelly a venue change, but the Cruelty to Children who are Athletes remains the same.
Child Athletes are not little Adults. When Young Athletes are seen as Athletes first, not Children, Child Protection and Supervision Law violations threaten sports participation with negative consequences.
Children have a strong reliance and dependency on adults. in Athletic Competition it’s the Coach whom they rely and depend-on. Young Athletes develop deep Trust for Coaches because of the Athlete’s age, innocence, smaller physical size, immaturity and defenselessness. The power of the Coach can be a remarkable human growth and development catalyst when properly exercised.
Conversely, some, who are Coach Culprits and Perpetrators, take advantage of Young Athletes’ susceptibility to force and trickery, The Coach Offenders are someone Athletes love, trust and admire in the beginning; only to be shamed, maltreated and wounded forever.
Young Athletes don’t relinquish their Human Rights once they step between the boundary lines, on the court, parallel bars or cheerleading mat.
Today soccer and sports in general destroy adolescents” said Coach Johan Cruyff [Paulo David, Human Rights in Youth Sports, 2005]
Example: Jerry Sandusky, 67, a former Penn State Football defensive coordinator to Joe Paterno, 46 year head coach with the most career victories in major college football, who helped propel Penn State to the top football ranks was arrested yesterday, Saturday, Nov 2 2011, on charges of sexually abusing eight boys during a 15-year period. Gary Schultz, senior vice president, and Tim Curley, Penn State Athletic Director, were charged Saturday with perjury and Failure to Report to authorities what they knew of the allegations, as required by state law. Penn State and Paterno had one of the most sterling images in college athletics up to now. [New York Times, Sam Borden Nov 6, 2011]
New Criminal Charges and more victims are increasing daily. Today Nov. 11, 2011 is no exception. They will continue to mount. The Civil trail, restitution and damages will be astronomical.
”How To Report Child Abuse in Pennsylvania: “If you suspect that a child is being abused, abandoned or neglected, contact the agency listed below, call local Child Protective Services (CPS), call 9-1-1.”… “Here is a link Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Toll-Free: (800) 932-0313 TDD: 866-872-1677
I was taught during C.A.R.E. training (Child Abuse Recognition Education) to Report any form of Child and Youth Abuse to both CPS (Child Protective Services) and the County Attorney in my area.
A Child Abuse Report is not an accusation but a call for investigation. Reporting Law states that Reporters are entitled to Anonymity (identity unknown unless they want it known) and Immunity for potential HIPPA violation.
The Juvenile session of the District Court or the Family division of the Circuit Court Shall have exclusive jurisdiction for Children OR Youth less than 18 years and who allegedly are neglected, or abused; KRS 610.010
The Burden of Proof for Criminal Child Abuse is less than charges in Adult Criminal Court.
The County Attorney or Prosecutor can file charges of Criminal Child Abuse in Juvenile and Family Court.
In Adult Criminal Court, the County Attorney or Prosecutor must bring the case to the Grand Jury for an Indictment.
“In cases where criminal charges arising out of the same transaction or occurrence are filed against an adult alleged to be the perpetrator of child abuse or neglect, such charges shall be tried separately from the adjudicatory hearing held pursuant to this chapter.” KRS 620.120.
In other words there can be collateral or parrallel Court Cases in Juvenile or Family Court and Adult Criminal Court.
To insure an investigation and potential Adjudication into Suspected Child Abuse Report Child Abuse to both CPS an the County Attorney.
The Mission of the Child Protection Sports Unit (CPSU) in London, England is “To build the capacity of sports to safeguard children and young people in and through sport and to enable sports organisations to lead the way in keeping children safe from harm.”
Compulsory Incorporation-of and completing testing Education-about Child (<18) and Youth (15-24) Protection Laws will lessen the promotion of Closed Sports Societies and Cruelty to Young Athletes. Child Protection Laws have been enacted in all 50 United States and Internationally by the United Nations.
Increasing Knowledge in school and non-school Rules and Regulations of Amateur Athletic Organizations, Federeations and Associations and emphasizing the consequences when the Laws are violated, will Prevent U.S. and Global Cruelty to Young Athletes.
Increased Education and Awareness about Cruelty to Young Athletes
• ↑Prevention and Deterrence of Cruelty to Young Amateur Athletes
• ↑Protection of both Athletes and Coaches from unlawful, Coaching reckless misconduct and Substandard Behaviors
• ↓Closed Sports Societies
Socrates said, “It’s not the Spartan tradition to do wrong rather than right.” Knowledge and Awareness are crucial elements for the Promotion of Athlete Safety. “A more knowledgeable mind is more just and a more ignorant one more criminal”, he said.
The United Kingdom is more advanced than the U.S. Protecting Young Athletes from Cruelty. Sport puts Child Welfare in first place, says the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Oct. 2011 is the Tenth anniversary of NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit. [Child Protection Sport Unit, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter]
Cruelty is inhumane treatment that endangers life and health. Cruelty causes mental suffering and fear. Synonyms for Cruel Behavior: Atrociousness, Atrocity, Babarity, Brutality, Heatlessness, Inhumanity, Inhumanness, sadism, Savageness, Savagery, Viciousness, Wantoness. [Merriam-Webster Dictionary][Thesarus.com]
Government Agencies, non-Government Administrative Athletic Organizations and Associations including High School Athletic Associations, should take the lead and indorse, publicize and promulgate both Federal and State Child and Youth Protection Laws for complete understanding, while realizing Child Protection is within the jurisdiction of each state:
• Federal Child and Youth Protection Law:
1. Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (first enacted Child Protection Law 1974) Has been ammended several times. Most recent ammendments 2003 and 2010
2. Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003. Public Law 108-36.
3. Public Law. 111-320, the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010
• “Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (1974) as Amended by Public Law. 111-320, the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec. 206. PERFORMANCE MEASURES. [42 U.S.C. 5116f] A State receiving a grant under this title — 1. shall demonstrate effective development, operation, and expansion of a community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect that MEETS THE REQUIREMENT OF THIS TITLE. 7. shall describe the outcomes under the State program to demonstrate the effectiveness in meeting the purposes or the program;”
• State Laws that exist in all 50 states, that MEETS THE REQUIREMENT OF THIS TITLE, Public Law. 111-320, the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010. For example, Kentucky Child and Youth Protection Law: Kentucky Unified Juvenile Code KRS 600-645. Juvenile/Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction for Child Abuse and The KY Code has Dual Function:
1. Protection of Children from Endangerment, Maltreatment and Abuse with adjudication of offenders
2. Sanctions and Rehabilitation of Delinquent Juveniles when they commit crimes.
Thus, CHILD ATHLETE ABUSE SYNDROME IS ILLEGALIZED. KRS 600-645, KY state statutes:
CHILD ATHLETE ABUSE SYNDROME IS A SHORT TITLE For
A CLUSTERING of CHILD (<18) or YOUTH (15-24) ATHLETE MORBIDITY AND MORTALLITY SECONDARY TO:
►PHYSICAL ENDANGERMENT, MALTREATMENT and/or ABUSE
► PSYCHOLOGICAL ENDANGERMENT, MALTREATMENT and/or ABUSE
► SEXUAL ABUSE
► FAILED CHILD CUSTODIAL PROTECTION
► NEGLIGENT COACHING CARE-GIVING SUPERVISION
► HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
► THAT WERE INFLICTED, CAUSED, CREATED, OR ALLOWED TO BE INFLICTIED, CAUSED, CREATED, DIRECTLY OF INDIRECTLY BY THE COACH OR OTHER PERSON WITH CHILD AND YOUTH ATHLETE CUSTODIAL PROTECTION AND SUPERVISION.
CHILD ATHLETE ABUSE SYNDROME IS “MEDICALIZED”
• Medicalized definition: To identify or categorize a condition or behavior as being a disorder requiring medical treatment or intervention [Online-Dictionary]
• CAAS IS LEGITIMATE DIANOSIS WITH ICD-9 CODES because all child abuse is Medicalized. (ICD-9) “International Classification of Disease, 9th edition, Clinical Modification is a standardized classification of disease, injuries, and causes of death, by etiology and anatomic localization and codified into a 6-digit number, which allows clinicians, statisticians, politicians, health planners, health insurance and others to speak a common language, both US and internationally”. ICD-9s are used to bill medical insurance by Doctors. ICD-10s are ready for implementation.
See this website: http://www.cappaa.com/category/use-icd-9-abuse-codes
PLEASE SEE THE CLINICAL PODCAST by linking to the URL, Universal Resource Locator or web address below:
http://www.athletesafety1st.com
Title: CHILD ATHETE ABUSE SYNDROME, “A NEW DISEASE”
Battered Child Synrome was reported in 1962. It evolved into Child Protection Laws. [“The Battered-Child Syndrome”, C. Henry Kempe, M.D.; Frederic N. Silverman, M.D.; Brandt F. Steele, M.D.; William Droegemueller, M.D. ; Henry K. Silver, M.D., JAMA. 1962;181(1):17-24.]
19 years later, in 1981 Dr. Edwin R. Guise and Dr. Richard M. Ball, in disapproval, first described the terms respectively:
• “Socially Approved Athletic Child Abuse”
• “Battered-Child-Athlete-Syndrome”, [ 3.]
April 29, 2011 Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D., this reporter, presented Child Ahlete Abuse Syndrome, “A New Disease” at the Athlete Abuse Summit, Omni Parker House, Boston, MA. Additionally, Dr. Robert Cantu presneted “Concussion Awareness” at the Summit. There were other compelling expert presentations at the Summit.
In Suite 101, Terry Zeigler reported, “While 2010 has become known as the “Year of Concussion Awareness”, 2011 needs to become the “Year of Child Athlete Abuse Awareness”.
“Actions by coaches resulting in youth athlete injuries need to be taken seriously by both the parents and by athletic administration. Immediate action should be taken by the team’s athletic administration to remove the coach, report the incident to the local authorities, and assist in providing the authorities with their full cooperation during any ensuing investigation.”
[Read more at Suite101: The Athlete Abuse Summits report from Terry Zeigler:
http://terry-zeigler.suite101.com/child-athlete-abuse-syndrome--when-athletes-pay-the-price-a393385]
Child Abuse Recognition Education is a very important endeavor. The mission of C.A.R.E. (Child Abuse Recognition Education) is to develop, support and grow a statewide network of doctors, key medical personnel and medical office staff who have committed themselves to ensuring the children in their communities are free from abuse and neglect as a result of receiving office-based training from their medical peers. [Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, http://www.pcaky.org/care.html]
Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D. was trained and certified with many other doctors by C.A.R.E. for the instruction of physicians and their office staff in their community based offices about the recognition of Child Abuse. C.A.R.E. is a division of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky.
C.A.R.E. staff reported after a pointed question from this reporter, mbmsrmd, concerning the investigation of Coaches for Child Abuse:
“The Child Safety Branch of DCBS (Department of Community Based Services which has a branch in each Kentucky county) has responded to the question regarding coaches as caregivers”……“Our agency [DCBS] investigates abuse and neglect allegations involving situations where a person is providing care, has custody or has control of a child. Teachers, camp counselors, bus drivers, babysitters, grandparents, coaches etc fit in to that category if they are left to care for a child and the parent is not present (for supervision and caregiving). To my knowledge we are investigating these type situations in this manner across the state. If [DCBS] staff have questions about whether a person falls into these categories, they can consult with Central Office or their regional attorney.” [C.A.R.E. Coordinator, Feb. 27, 2009]
CRUELTY TO YOUNG ATHLETES IS A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC AND MANIFEST BY CHILD ATHLETE ABUSE SYNDROME, “A NEW DISEASE”. (CAAS) reported by mbmsrmd, Micheal B. Minix, SR., M.D. 2010, 48 years after “Battered Child Syndrome”. [http://www.usasportsafety.com/boston/index.php]
The same Systems in Crisis, that were disclosed by the Surgeon General in 2005 for Child Abuse in general, continue their paultry, insignificant consideration of Child Athlete Abuse Syndrome. Some increased Awareness and Education for Child Abuse in general has imporved since the surgeon general’s workshop. [Surgeon General’s Workshop on Making Prevention of Child Maltreatment a National Priority: Implementing Innovations of a Public Approach, Surgeon General's Workshop Proceedings Lister Hill Auditorium National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland, March 30–31, 2005]
SYSTEMS IN CRISIS THAT ARE NOT DOING THEIR DUTY TO PREVENT CRUELTY TO CHILD ATHLETES [are the same systems from ^Surgeon General]
• Failure Doctor Reporting
• Criminal Justice System - Failure Enforcement of Child Protective Laws for Athletes
• Public Health
• Social and Child Welfare Services
• Education / Awareness services
• Failure of Doctors To increase Awareness and Education about CAAS
• Failure of Doctors To Intervene: When Coaches Exercise and Punish Athletes Beyond Physical and Emotional Limitations
• Substandard Sports Medicine: Some Sports Medicine Doctors Have Sold Their Souls To Coaches. They Don’t Take Helmets, Sneakers rather allow Athletes to participate in sports while injured
• Failure Coach Education by High School and University Athletic Associations Concerning Child and Youth Athlete Protection Law
• Coaches and others were targeted as potential Abusers and Perpetrators by SG
• Lack of Attorney Standards of Practice and Guidelines in Child Protection Proceedings [NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNSEL for CHILDREN / NACC and AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION / ABA]
Turning a Blind Eye to Child and Youth Athlete Cruelty is the prevailing attitude of “winning at all costs” by the entire dysfunctional Sports Community, including some Doctors, that is carelessly though unintentionally supported by the systems in crisis.
EXAMPLES FROM QUOTES:
“Competitive Sports begins where healthy sports end”. Bertolt Brecht. German Author [Human Rights in Youth Sport, Paulo David, 2005]
“The Coach is the caretakaer who has the responsibility to protect these youth athletes form all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation”
“Coach has power and authority over children when they are training” The Coach is a “father figure”.
Coach Breta Karolgi said of Athletes, “With or without injury they have to compete; they must compete without any kind of doubt”
“Societies should celebrate athletic accomplishment as a triumph of human body, mind and spirit.”
“Instead, societies seem obsessed with winning. Vince Lombardi told us “winning isn’t everything–it’s the only thing.”
A Nike ad put it this way: “You don’t win the silver–you lose the gold.”
“The legendary Knute Rockne cracked, “Show me a good and gracious loser and I’ll show you a failure.”
“If our children and athletes buy into this ‘win at any cost’ philosophy, then for them the end of winning will justify any means, including doping.” [Winning at Any Cost: Doping in Olympic Sport, A Report by The CASA National Commission on Sports and Substance Abuse September 2000]
KRS Chapters 600 to 645, the Kentucky Unified Juvenile Code.
(2) KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall be interpreted to effectuate the following express legislative purposes:
(a) The Commonwealth shall direct its efforts to promoting PROTECTION OF CHILDREN; to the strengthening and encouragement of family life for the protection and care of children; to strengthen and maintain the biological family unit; and to offer all available resources to any family in need of them;
(b) It also shall be declared to be the policy of this Commonwealth that all efforts shall be directed toward PROVIDING A SAFE AND PROTECTIVE HOME
(c) The court shall show that other less restrictive alternatives have been attempted or are not feasible in order to insure that children are not removed from families except when absolutely necessary;
(d) Any child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment reasonably calculated to bring about an improvement of his or her condition and, to the extent possible, have that treatment administered in the county of residence of the custodial parent or parents or in the nearest available county;
(e) KRS Chapter 635 shall be interpreted to PROMOTE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD through providing treatment and sanctions to reduce recidivism and assist in making the child a productive citizen by advancing the principles of personal responsibility, accountability, and reformation, while maintaining public safety, and seeking restitution and reparation;
(f) KRS Chapter 640 shall be interpreted to promote public safety and the concept that EVERY CHILD BE HELD ACCOUNTAABLE FOR HIS OR HER CONDUCT through the use of restitution, reparation, and sanctions, in an effort to REHABILITATE DELINQUENT YOUTH; and
(g) It shall further be the policy of this Commonwealth to PROVIDE JUDICIAL PORCEDURES in which rights and interests of all parties, including the parents and victims, are recognized and all parties are assured prompt and fair hearings. Unless otherwise provided, such protections belong to the child individually and may not be waived by any other party. Effective: July 15, 2002 History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 257, sec. 20, effective July 15, 2002. — Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 534, sec. 5, effective July 14, 2000. — Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 57, sec. 1, effective March 17, 1998. — Created 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423, sec. 1, effective July 1, 1987.
Legislative Research Commission Note. 1986 Acts ch. 423, sec. 199 provides: “KRS 446.250 to 446.320 to the contrary notwithstanding, [1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423] shall prevail in the event of a conflict between [1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423] and other Acts passed by the 1986 regular session of the General Assembly.”