Login required to started new threads

Login required to post replies

Re: Brett Sutton Article [caf0]
General reply to this thread. I think many good points have been discussed. As a coach in youth sport for 12 years, and currently coaching teens in both clubs and high schools, I don't want to see anyone with a past like Sutton remotely close to the coaching ranks. Coaches are not just people who impart technical skills in a sport. We have to be role models for the kids, give them skills for life, guide them towards what is right and what is not right, teach them about goal setting, execution, winning, losing and fair play. Parents entrust coaches to impart all of this to their kids. It takes a village to raise a child, and there are some things parents cannot do, so they hand their kids off to sports coaches, piano teachers, academic teachers and so on, to make their kids better humans and prepare them for adult life. Sutton failed all of us with his actions.

To Ironpsych, it might be unfair to just pick on Brandon here as he is one of many athletes and is kind enough to actually come here to ST and post on many topics. Many pro athletes much more prominent than him have entrusted their development as adult professionals to Sutton. We can name Caroline Steffen and Chrissie Wellington among that top tier. Going back a decade Siri Lindley and Loretta Harrop (if I recall correctly). Do all criminals in society deserve a second chance to reform themselves? I think the answer is yes.

Does Sutton deserve to be still coaching after violating that most fundamental foundation in his role as a coach. I lean towards no and so does the Australian government. But enough people have leaned towards yes, and there have been no further incidents that anyone is publicly aware of, that maybe (just maybe) he is a reformed man, with the wisdom that comes with age. I don't know the answer to that, but before we throw all Team TBB athletes under the bus, let's think it through. I'm glad to throw Sutton under the bus 1000 times for what he did many years ago as there is no excuse for what he did with his athlete. His current athletes, they know more about him than you or I.

They are adults and need to make their own decisions and I am sure they all weigh the upside of what they can achieve with him with the moral dilemma of association with his past. Bjorn said things very well above. I can see how people might train under him, but for me personally, it just does not sit well. There are many areas in triathlon that Sutton could earn a living in outside of coaching, and I'd have preferred to see that path as everyone should be able to earn a living, once they are reformed past their conviction and served their penalties and re integrated into society.
Last edited by: devashish_paul: Jan 11, 13 5:50

Edit Log: