UPDATE
After British Judo Association Ltd (the BJA) censored social media, deleted comments and blocked members from their facebook page.
The BJA has made another U-turn and have produced a survey for a public coach registry!
Original Article, first published November 2023
A recent discussion on social media about safeguarding, who had been suspended from coaching judo, who had been coaching without a British Judo Coaching License and who might have been suspended.
Tends to focus on individuals.
Such discussions shouldn’t be about individuals, whether well known or not, but about whether the insitutions within judo and those in power are making improvements to safeguarding in judo.
And whether the current structures, institutions and people are performing at the level they preach?
UPDATE – Public Judo Coach Registry!
BRITISH JUDO
SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP
In connection with the ITV News story about how British Judo handled one safeguarding case involving an employed judo coach, Simon Moss, having had a sexual relationship with one of his students.
Defined as vulnerable at the time.
See the full ITV News item including video.
British Judo (the BJA) issued a short statement on their their website and shared it on their FaceBook page.
One member of the judo community commented on the BJA FaceBook post suggesting a public judo coach registry would improve safeguarding.
The comment was promptly deleted and the person blocked from accessing the BJA FaceBook page.
On the same day at the ITV News programme was transmitted.
British Judo sent out at least 2 emails to staff, fighters, members, coaches and clubs.
In one, British Judo encourages anybody contacted by a journalist or third party to immediately contact Lynn Madeley, British Judo “Head of Partnerships” (aka head of marketing and communications).
Lynn Madeley is the head of the department that now censors BJA social media.
She has been asked to comment on British Judo’s censorship policy in connection with the deletion of several comments on the BJA statement on FaceBook.
No response has been forthcoming.
But at the same time, British Judo didn’t delete comments by “Scammers” on their FaceBook page despite these trying to con members of the judo community out of money to watch illegal live streams from judo competitions!
Note!
British Judo is NOT a small organisation run by volunteers!
It is a multi-million pound Ltd company with 4 paid staff members working within content.
There are also multiple examples of British Judo back-dating website articles, cloning an old article and altering the content about safeguarding while not changing the publication date.
Including one article that relates directly to BJA safeguarding procedures in this specific case.
References:
ITV News report, including video
BJA Statement
ITV News report including video, 20th June 2023.
British Judo sanctioned coach over sexual relationship with athlete – and then promoted him
British Judo Statement, 20th June 2023:
BRITISH JUDO STATEMENT FOLLOWING ITV CENTRAL BROADCAST ON 20TH JUNE 2023
What can you do?
A Public Judo Coach Registry.
The simplest solutions are often the best and easiest to implement!
PLEASE SIGN THE COMMUNITY PETITION FOR THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC JUDO COACH REGISTRY!
Please
Sign – Share – Support!
You can sign it anonymously – part name or full name!
The petition is for all the love judo and want judo to lead the way for others sports to follow.
Coaches, members, parents, officials and volunteers.
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