In going after GM, I think they would need the minor to be under the age of consent in the date at the time of the abuse. (16 in New Jersey in 1968). Post the introduction of SafeSport it will be 18 regardless of your state.
How can the Government tell a club what to do? And is a “National Governing Body” really just a club? I don’t think so. I think there is more to this and I am not so sure they can just say the rules apply because we are a club when the rule is actually a federal regulation that is mandated is is and not merely a “club rule” as so many keep stating. The club only has the rule because the regulation requires them to do so.
Think about it - pony club doesn’t follow this, and that is an organization entirely of children. But hey it doesn’t feed into an olympic sport directly so who cares about those kids? This isn’t a law to protect children. It’s a regulation to protect the USOC. Otherwise, this regulation would apply to all youth activities. How sad is it that the pony club or AQHA kid matters less than the USEF one? That is the real atrocity in all of this. Too many holes.
You can agree to disagree but I think there is a lot of work to do on SS before it actually helps today’s child athlete in a way that is not contradictory to federal and state jurisdiction . The courts will need to decide.
1 Like
Many pony club kids are also USEF members. Yes Congress has to step in to regulate the National Governing Bodies of the various sports. Also, this law wasn’t enacted to protect every single kid. No law can protect everyone. I wish people would stop using this argument.
The AQHA along with other associations have chosen not to be a part of USEF. You(g) too could choose to not be a member. Don’t like the rules? Don’t play in their sand box. Easy day.
14 Likes
It was a public post by Kristin Hardin (yes, the person whose Facebook name includes several last names). I heard that she took it down. I just looked and couldn’t find it. It referenced threats to her and family members (in-laws? former in-laws?) from GM and from a BNT who took the rap for George’s drug infraction with AHSA/USEF.
14 Likes
Actually pony club does follow it. This is from their website:
NOTICE OF CHANGE TO MEMBER PROTECTION TRAINING - PLEASE READ BELOW
Pony Club is now accepting the U.S Center for SafeSport online training to fulfill the Member Protection Training requirement. For 2020, all individuals holding positions required to complete the Member Protection Training will need to have completed the SafeSport[SUP]TM[/SUP] Trained course.
Safesport covers more than just those organizations involved in Olympic sports. I also found this:
Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017
There are additional and more specific requirements for several categories of youth sports providers listed as ‘Applicable Entity’ within the Bill. Those listed under this category include:
- National Governing Body (NGB) – Such as the United States Soccer Federation
- Amateur Sports Organization (sanctioned by NGB) – Such as your local State Association and Member Affiliates (town programs, clubs and leagues)
- Amateur Sports Organizations (NOT sanctioned by NGB) – Such as YMCA, Church Leagues, Municipal Leagues, Independent Recreation Leagues, Camps, all others
It does. Because you have adults working with youth. And even though you do not have an affiliation with a national governing body or do not have any international or interstate travel, the requirement still does say that you need to follow the Safe Sport act requirements, which include abuse awareness training and, the biggest change, which is the mandatory reporting aspect of it.
In a quick Google search of camps, clubs, I found this :
“In practice, for the vast majority of our customers, this law simply codifies what was already standard protocol. All staff, and all volunteers, have been expected to report red flag behaviors or signs of abuse. All staff, and all volunteers, have been expected to follow and enforce rules such as no alone time, no favoritism and no inappropriate touch. And all staff, and all volunteers, have been expected to take Child Sexual Abuse Prevention training.”
The equestrian world is world is up in arms over what those in the real world consider to be “standard protocol”. Does anyone see anything wrong with that?
28 Likes
Thanks Peggy. I think GM has already done a good enough job out of his own mouth, I don’t think we need to add things that may or may not be accurate.
1 Like
Pony Club already has its version of MAAP and procedures around youth: https://www.ponyclub.org/Volunteers/Safety/Default.aspx
And yes, the SafeSport law actually does have provisions that apply to any interstate athletic organization that includes youth, and that is going to include USPC and AQHA whether they know it yet or not. They are obligated to have a policy for safe interactions with youth and training for adults who interact with youth.
10 Likes
Originally posted by Keep It Simple
…Amateur Sports Organization (sanctioned by NGB) – Such as your local State Association and Member Affiliates…
Hm. Interesting. I wonder if this could be applied to non-USEF rated Horse show associations, like, say, the Virginia (or any state) Horse Show Association?
4 Likes
It might, especially for local associations that are affiliates of USEF. Though they don’t necessarily enforce USEF bans, at least about ten years ago. A USEF-banned, and fairly notorious, trainer showed up at the Orange County association’s year-end show.
It doesn’t say anywhere in that article, from
August 6, that he has filed an appeal. It says it can be appealed. I’m curious how long does he have to file it and what happens once it has been filed?
2 Likes
5 days, what happens during the appeal, I don’t know.
No. Because they aren’t “going after” GHM. The accuser, minor or not at the time of the misconduct, has to file a claim, which is what gets an investigation rolling. They aren’t just out there silly nilly looking into the backgrounds of trainers.
Age of consent is irrelevant when the accuser DID NOT CONSENT. It’s only relevant if someone is making a claim for statuatory rape.
22 Likes
He has 5 days to say he is going to appeal. He does not have to present his case within 5 days. He can also file for extensions. Trust me - they get plenty of time …
10 Likes
Why are people obsessing over ‘age of consent’? I’m a college professor, I teach people who are adults in all legal definitions, and I could still be hauled up on charges if I slept with an (over 18, obviously adult) student, because I was in a position of authority over them. The issue here isn’t entirely “how old was this kid,” it’s largely about POWER. Yes, we obviously think banging 13 year olds is worse than banging 17 year olds (rightfully so, I suppose?), but to get hung up on whatever state’s definition of “age of consent” is to miss the point by miles. IDGAF what New Jersey’s AOC law was in the late 1960s, because I have no doubt Morris was abusing his position of authority, whatever age his victims happened to be.
49 Likes
Excellent point!
8 Likes
Tryon web site has updated stadium name…now just called Tryon Stadium.
31 Likes
Does it seem odd that this thread isn’t listed anywhere on the "Trending Forums"list? With more than 250K views and 2,218 posts, one would think it would be considered trending… or maybe I don’t understand correctly how the algorithms select the trending threads? 
5 Likes
It was on the list a couple days ago. Someone on another thread said it also has to do w/ how recently a thread was started, so may have dropped off for that reason?
3 Likes
