A Fit Person
Ever since Jimmy Saville died and the skeletons began to fall out of his erstwhile tightly-locked cupboard, sexual abuse, particularly of children, has become News.
Partly it's the way we like to build up people into idols, then knock them down again and chew over the fragments. Partly it's that finally, FINALLY, those in authority are beginning to believe people, even children, when they eventually screw up the courage to go speak to someone about what has been/is being done to them.
Most recently it's been British footballers coming forward to admit that they were abused by various youth team coaches. In fact I sometimes cynically wonder if there are any professional footballers, past or present, who haven't been abused, so many are coming forward.
Then I wonder about the others. Many footballers were abused when in youth projects attached to big football clubs. What about the boys who enthusiastically attended the projects but never made it to professional status? How many of them were/are abused? How many coaches are involved?
Are these few (we hope) abusing coaches now giving parents pause? Will they be less inclined to take their sons to youth projects attached to big football clubs? Will the boys themselves be less keen to join youth football clubs? So much for improving general fitness!
How are decent, honest, non-abusing coaches who only want to help children play better football and help keep them off the streets faring these days? Or, for that matter, anyone who runs any sort of club for young people?
Surely there are more people 'out there' running clubs of various sorts for young people precisely because they want to help said young people? Or am I naive and there are more predators out there wanting to help themselves to young people? Even with mandatory background checks. I sincerely hope not.
Ack, have some good news, and a suggestion for something you could do to help a young person.
Y'all have a good day now!
Partly it's the way we like to build up people into idols, then knock them down again and chew over the fragments. Partly it's that finally, FINALLY, those in authority are beginning to believe people, even children, when they eventually screw up the courage to go speak to someone about what has been/is being done to them.
Most recently it's been British footballers coming forward to admit that they were abused by various youth team coaches. In fact I sometimes cynically wonder if there are any professional footballers, past or present, who haven't been abused, so many are coming forward.
Then I wonder about the others. Many footballers were abused when in youth projects attached to big football clubs. What about the boys who enthusiastically attended the projects but never made it to professional status? How many of them were/are abused? How many coaches are involved?
Are these few (we hope) abusing coaches now giving parents pause? Will they be less inclined to take their sons to youth projects attached to big football clubs? Will the boys themselves be less keen to join youth football clubs? So much for improving general fitness!
How are decent, honest, non-abusing coaches who only want to help children play better football and help keep them off the streets faring these days? Or, for that matter, anyone who runs any sort of club for young people?
Surely there are more people 'out there' running clubs of various sorts for young people precisely because they want to help said young people? Or am I naive and there are more predators out there wanting to help themselves to young people? Even with mandatory background checks. I sincerely hope not.
Ack, have some good news, and a suggestion for something you could do to help a young person.
Click to viewY'all have a good day now!