child protection - politically correct monster

[tony08]

Originally Posted by andrew.paterson

I wish parents did take more interest in their kids instead of using archery as a baby sitting service.

Hi Andrew,
It's endemic. We have a boy of 5 and a girl of 3. For our daughter's birthday party we booked a local leisure centre which do the obligatory bouncy castle, games and meal afterwards.
We asked the nursery to pass on invites to all the kids in her group and most of them came.
We were shocked when we noticed that several parents vanished shortly after the fun started. They just cleared off for the hour without saying a word. They didn't know us and we had no contact number for them.
Thankfully nothing went wrong and no kid got hurt. Finally the AWOL parents (some late and with shopping bags under their arms) reappeared, said nothing, and collected their toddlers.

The staff at the centre told us that it happens quite a lot. Now we only invite people we know.

Tony

[mk1]

Originally Posted by Old Bloke

You can make as many informed choices as you like..and the best there is within your abilty to judge..the trouble is..it only needs a finger to be pointed without just cause..and you are on your own.

That's one of the points in the guidlines - don't be on your own.

One of the others is to have a policy which as well as setting out the Club's duties on Child Protection - it also sets out the parents!! - then you won't have parents doing silly things like just dropping their kids off if that's not in the agreement.

[Old Bloke]

MK1, you are right in your approach as it is a common sense approach. Unfortunately, having read the CPP time and time again, if a finger is pointed, there is still no protection for the *coach*. Read the policy document again, and read it in the light of that someone has accused you of improper conduct. Even though you had/have followed the guidlines contained within the policy document, the accusation (and that is all it needs, is an accusation) could have come from a third party and from a distance. The accusation itself could be improper and without innocense and might be mischief making in order to elivate a position. Is it no wonder that *coaches* and those that simply *helped* are no longer wishing to get involved, as the risks are too great. As I say, read the Policy Document again, from the postion of an accused...as it is a Childs Protection Policy..not a Coach Protection Policy.

[andrew.paterson]

Originally Posted by mk1

then you won't have parents doing silly things like just dropping their kids off if that's not in the agreement.

It might be in the agreement, but it doesn't stop them doing it. As was the case when the parent dumped the kid when I was at the field.

Now what happens - I report the parent because they broke the rules. The kid gets hacked off because they can no longer shoot. So the kid looks for someone to blame... reasoning with a kid that is in a sulk that making a false allegation can ruin someones life will hopefully get through to them, then again it might not - 'cos as far as they are concerned you have stopped them from shooting. So as soon as another parent turned up I left - I don't want anything to do with kids, it just isn't worth it.

[not dead yet]

i'm not an irritable person but when i go, move.....


actual 1 father and son in our club. ...son arrows everywhere at 40 yds ...16 yr old.

68" bow 7" bracing height, string touching well down the limb.

told him that it was too low explained why etc. put twists in string. about 30.
made sure string had located stretched rubbed it up and down a little to settle it back in..
he shot 6 arrows came off the line with a right barrage of abuse, its worse than it was b4 what have you done. blah blah blah. ranting and raving.

now off the archery field trust me he would have had a good hiding and his dad for bringing up such a t###.

as it was took the bow wound it back down to a 7 " bracing height and gave it him back.

anyone wants coachin they come to me. i don't go to them. after that i aint bothered.

actual 2 1996. 4 lads threw mud at my car. i stopped and chased them up an alley. one was screeming he's gaining on us .the one at the back stopped and forced himself up against the fence shouting it wasn't me MR.

to the reply you'll do and i forcibly wedged him into a hawthorn hedge.

in my veiw the archers , coaches (me) respect all other archers.

but the crap you have to put up with elsewhere. shouldn't come into the archery system unfortunately.