Nor, for that matter, was Foster on the list at the time of his death by suicide on August 22, 2022. Nor are they on the list as of this writing … None of the other five cheer coaches named as defendants in the amended lawsuit – Kenny Feeley, Nathan Alan Plank, Josh Guyton, Traevon Black and Peter Holley – were on the USASF/ USA Cheer ineligible list as of the date the pleading was filed (September 15, 2022). Sadly, the “joke” was far more substantive than the consequences faced by many of his “protégés” who stand accused of committing similar acts of sexual misconduct. “It was a joke,” one Rockstar parent told me, referring to Foster’s suspension. This news outlet has been provided with numerous images of Foster ( above) backstage with cheerleaders at various regional and national competitions during the three-year period he was supposed to have been suspended. Specifically, he was supposed to have been “ineligible” to participate in cheer events for three consecutive seasons (from 2017-2018 through 2019-2020).Īs I noted earlier this month, though, the judgment against him appears to have been a “suspension in name only.” In January of 2018, though, Foster was “found guilty of violating numerous provisions of (USASF/ USA Cheer) codes of conduct” and given an “appropriate” suspension, according to a Varsity spokeswoman. In an expansive national report for Sportico earlier this month – one of the first mainstream media treatments of this scandal – reporter Daniel Libit quoted a former Varsity executive named Marlene Cota who raised “concerns about (Scott) Foster” to company leaders in late 2017.Īccording to Cota, nothing of substance was done with these concerns because “Scott Foster and Rock Star Cheer is a multimillion-dollar customer” and “sanctions against him would have potentially hurt profits.” Has that stopped him from having access to gyms (and the children who train inside them)? Several years ago, Hinton was listed as permanently ineligible due to a “member policy violation related to athlete protection.” Unfortunately, neither entity appears to be even remotely interested in exercising this accountability.ĭefendant Christopher Hinton – who was accused in the amended federal complaint of forcing an unnamed fourteen-year-old cheerleader to perform oral sex on him while he was in his mid-twenties – was the only one of the new named defendants whose name appeared on the USASF/ USA Cheer ineligible list. Such broad enforcement language gives USASF and USA Cheer wide latitude when it comes to holding coaches and other industry professionals accountable for their actions. The USASF/ USA Cheer ineligible list – which you can view here – is intended to keep track of those within the industry who are charged with (or convicted of) crimes, as well as those who have engaged in “any conduct inconsistent with USA Cheer rules, policies or standards” or “any action of misconduct … determined to not serve the (sport’s) best interests.”
Varsity founded, funded and controls these ostensibly independent oversight entities.
Why the duplicity? According to the federal lawsuit – filed by attorneys with the Columbia, S.C.-based Strom Law firm – the objective of this “conspiracy” is to keep profits flowing into the coffers of Varsity, a Tennessee-based company which has made billions of dollars selling cheerleading clothing and organizing cheerleading and dance camps/ competitions across the country.
USASF and USA Cheer purportedly exist to promote the safety of cheerleading athletes … but they appear to do little more than provide cover for abusers while giving the appearance of accountability. All Star Federation ( USASF) and USA Cheer. As we continue our investigation into Rockstar, one component of the story which warrants immediate attention relates to the so-called “self-policing” arm of the cheer industry.įor starters: Of the six new cheer coach defendants listed in the updated federal lawsuit – all of whom have ties to the late Scott Foster and his Rockstar gym – only one of them appeared on the current iteration of the “ineligible list” maintained by the U.S.
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