It's hard to believe, but the stories of players abused by coaches in youth sports continue to flood the news lately. Sadly enough, these are very real stories happening to kids who are passionate about sports, living in communities like ours. These sexual predators could be living in our neighborhood, coaching our kids. Yes, the threat is real ~ but no one wants to think about it because it's just too scary.
Here are some of the latest offenders:
- A Gulf Breeze, Florida basketball and softball coach was arrested upon his arrival
in Michigan, where he believed he was going to have sex with a 5 year old girl. The coach, 53 year old Roy Atchison, had been chatting on line for two weeks with a detective posing as the girl's mother. After one failed suicide attempt in prison, the coach succeeded in killing himself two weeks later. More here...
- The Yakima Herald (WA) reports that
an AAU basketball coach is behind bars, waiting for his case to be heard -- a case that now involves allegations of rape by four young boys who played on his private basketball and other teams over the years. Randy Sayler (in photo), who had a clean background check according to the school superintendent, has been charged with sexually abusing boys at his home, on away games and during family trips. Since his initial arrest on 2 counts of child rape, three more of his 13 and 14 year old players have come forward with allegations. Detectives claim there are likely more. - In another case in Washington, a Longview softball coach, age 44, was arrested on charges of having a sexual relationship with one of his players in 2004 and 2005, starting when she was 16. Perhaps the most amazing part of this story is the heated debate in comments posted by community members on both sides of the issue -- some staunchly defending the coach and others calling him a predator who has finally been brought to justice.
- Last in this series is the case of a Garden Grove, CA softball coach who was arrested after allegedly taking a 12 year old softball player to his house and sexually molesting her. The girl immediately reported the abuse to her mother, who contacted police. The coach is currently out on bail, but faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
This is tragic stuff and even more difficult to take in when you consider, "What if that were my son or daughter?" Parents are characterized these days as being overly involved in their children's lives -- the "helicopter parent" who is always hovering over their child is laughable to some. But in the case of sports where there are coaches who prey on children, parents can't hover enough over their kids. Don't give a predator an opportunity with your baby.
For more, see my article, "Ten Steps to Abolish Abuse in Sports."
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