Richmond Canoe Club - Verbal Abuse to kids

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Richard Shead

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Try again - this is the short version having lost the last one…

So walking back tonight along the path towards Twickenham I was witness to a shocking scene of verbal abuse.

Opposite Petersham Slip two kids (10 – 12 maybe) in their kayak being coached by another chap (40 ish grey hair) in another kayak, the young girl who I believe was called Amelia was subject to a volley of abuse from the trainer after she failed to get her stroke right.

Such was the abuse a member of the public shouted to him from the bank to calm it down as they were only kids, only to be told to F OFF…in front of the kids.

I believe this is Richmond Canoe Club and I have written to the Commodore and Secretary to not only to express my disgust but also question how someone who displays such pathetic bullying tactics can coach young children. If he were teaching my kid he and I would be having “words” right now.

I have also said I will be posting this.

I can assure you his abuse was ten times worse then what I just gave to my keyboard having lost the first post I wrote.

I feel sorry for those kids and hope they chuck in the towel and join Trowlock.
 
Richard,
I'm sure that you have the contact details but if not:

Email addresses

General Contact Point- info@richmondcanoeclub.com

(IMPORTANT: this address is only checked very occasionally):



Mailboxes that are forwarded to club officers:

Club Secretary - secretary@richmondcanoeclub.com
Starter Group - novice.coaching@richmondcanoeclub.com

Membership Secretary - membership@richmondcanoeclub.com

Sprint Race Coaching - race.coaching@richmondcanoeclub.com

Marathon Racing Secretary - marathon@richmondcanoeclub.com

Galley - galley@richmondcanoeclub.com

Website, publicity and information - media@richmondcanoeclub.com

Commodore - sean@richmondcanoeclub.com
 
Thanks Steve yes I sent it to Sean the Commodore and the club secretary.

Would not normally bother but this chap was out of order, the chap that told him to cool it was also very shocked and he was a very very large chap with lots of tattoos and was incredibly polite about it!
 
RichardShead said:
Thanks Steve yes I sent it to Sean the Commodore and the club secretary.

Would not normally bother but this chap was out of order, the chap that told him to cool it was also very shocked and he was a very very large chap with lots of tattoos and was incredibly polite about it!
Click to expand...

Perfect!!! you need to employ him to serve the beers on the YBW stand at SIBS! ;)
 
lovezoo said:
Maybe they were his own kids?

Did you by any chance take a photo on your iphone?
Click to expand...

I thought about that long and hard and did put that in my original post but they were using the route that the club uses, round the island and back.

In my lost post I did say I would apologise if it was found not to be Richmond or it was his kids but I would find it highly unlikely.

Either way, I am very glad he was not my dad...

As for pix, I was too shocked!

I walk it everyday and know how they operate, whilst an assumption I am sure they were part of the club, very happy to be corrected if not and I will remove the post.
 
Richmond and twickenham robos

Richard

I used to regularily pass through Richmond and Twickenham and it must be said the robo lot from those clubs were by far the rudest I encountered so when I read your story it didnt come as a surprise ! One individual from the twickenham club had even got a website where he encourages bad behaviour designed to p!55 other river users ( raggies ditch crawlers fishermen Mobosetc )
 
chuckaduck said:
Richard

I used to regularily pass through Richmond and Twickenham and it must be said the robo lot from those clubs were by far the rudest I encountered so when I read your story it didnt come as a surprise ! One individual from the twickenham club had even got a website where he encourages bad behaviour designed to p!55 other river users ( raggies ditch crawlers fishermen Mobosetc )
Click to expand...
Richmond Canoe Club are not roboers (if by robo you mean a rowing boat) - they are kyakers (with one or two canoes) and face the direction of travel, unlike the rearward facing rowers.
 
This sort of behaviour is unfortunately the "norm" in other sporting fields.
By far the worst in football at all levels.

A previous house was located next to local authority sports field and on Sunday mornings was used by several junior football clubs with extremely young members. The sheer volume and frequency of four letter abuse from both the crowd and players was appalling.
Not sorry when we moved.
 
lovezoo said:
Richmond Canoe Club are not roboers (if by robo you mean a rowing boat) - they are kyakers (with one or two canoes) and face the direction of travel, unlike the rearward facing rowers.
Click to expand...

I aware you have an involvement with them or used to belong there so perhaps you could draw their attention to it ?

I see see them everyday but never seem this level of abuse aimed at kids before.

Cheers
 
I've forwarded the link on to some of the people I know at the club - how often they check their emails I don't know. Shame you haven't got a photo as it would have been easy to id the individual concerned.
 
lovezoo said:
I've forwarded the link on to some of the people I know at the club - how often they check their emails I don't know. Shame you haven't got a photo as it would have been easy to id the individual concerned.
Click to expand...

Lost my post AGAIN!!!!

Ok no pic but it was 1840 ish they were heading down stream just below the bottom of the island opposite Petersham slip.

He was about 40is, grey hair, slim and kneeling in an open Kayak behind the two kids (one boy, one girl) in an open type Kayak again both kneeling with a single paddle each. The girl I believe was called Amelia, I only clocked this as someone very close to me shares the same name.

No camera but a fairly good memory and I am sure they cant have been too many coaches on the stretch at that time sharing the features stated above.

I emailed the secretary and the commodore Sean.

That man has no place whatsoever in a coaching or indeed parental role and I would be very happy to tell him…..
 
There is absolutely no need to behave this way towards children. I know with my nephew it has put him off one sport completely by having a bully of a coach and he refused to go back, he's 10.

I coach rugby and I prefer to use encouragement and praise!!

Well done for intervening.
 
Pathetic little man....should be ashamed of himself.

Both of my sons have played club football from a very young age right through to now, where the oldest is in his Uni team. Despite the persistent aggressive behaviour of many parents & coaches in the game, the boys always played at local teams where the ethos was 'compete and enjoy' rather than 'win at all costs'.

The net result was that each of the clubs consistently finished in the top 3 of the local league tables throughout that 15 year period and have reputations for fair play and success. We used to use this positive attitude to wind-up the aggressive ones who simply had no sense of self-control and knew only aggression and brute force....and certainly benefitted from cards/send-offs against the oponents over the years :D

This chap has no place in kids' sport......
 
Update

Today I received an email from the Club, firstly apologizing and secondly assuring me that my complaint has been taken very seriously.

The contents of the email gave me confidence that it will indeed be taken seriously and whilst I was not the person that suffered as a result of this gentleman’s behaviour I am pleased that positive action will be taken.

Case closed.

Cheers
 
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