End abuse in youth athletics

Imagine your favorite coach. Now imagine your favorite coach as a sexual predator.

Disgusting, isn’t it? Yet unfortunately, that was the scenario found in a youth basketball league Dec. 3, when Rick Lopez was charged with 55 counts of felonious sexual and physical assault.

Your reaction is probably the same as mine — shock.

How can a man who was trusted by players and parents commit such acts? And how can a child molester go unnoticed for 12 years?

In 1992, the then-24-year-old Lopez started a female basketball league for 12- to 18-year-olds called the Hoopsters. The program quickly became successful, and girls clamored to play for the man who could almost guarantee a college basketball scholarship.

Lopez appeared to be the perfect coach and formed close relationships with his players and their families. Lopez watched movies with his players, went out to dinner with them and even moved in with some of the families.

Rumors circulated that Lopez might be having affairs with players, but they were quickly dismissed by parents who trusted Lopez completely. No parent wants to believe their kid’s coach is a child molester.

So when truth about Lopez’s sexual relations with players began to surface, parents were stunned.

And then the questions began. Where had the system failed these young girls?

What could have prevented this atrocity from occurring? Was it the parents’ fault for ignoring rumors of sexual abuse?

Could there be others like Rick Lopez out there?

One would think that the Lopez case was special, and that it rarely occurs. But sadly, that is a common misconception. A quick search on the Internet brings up numerous Web sites that discuss sexual abuse by coaches.

The Lopez case has spotlighted the trend of sexual abuse that is rapidly being found in youth athletics today.

A survey by the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission found that 8 percent of kids said they had been sexually harassed while playing sports, and 3.4 percent said they had been pressured into sex or sexual touching.

The most vulnerable group for sexual abuse by coaches are teenage girls. They are easy targets because they are at an emotional and insecure age.

And often, young girls are too scared or ashamed to report incidents of sexual abuse. The girls who had sex with Lopez when they were as young as 13 never came forward until they were well into college.

The lesson learned from the Lopez case is that a change is needed. Measures must be taken to prevent this crisis from happening again. Players, parents, and most importantly coaches must all be educated about sexual abuse.

Players and parents must be aware of what is appropriate behavior for a coach and what to do if a line has been crossed. Coaches need to know what precautions can be taken to prevent false accusations.

Unfortunately, it is too late for the coach, players and parents of the Hoopsters program.

On Dec. 26, Lopez was found dead in his prison cell — he had committed suicide. It makes sense that a sleazy and spineless man who preyed on innocent girls would choose to take his own life rather than face the consequences of his crimes in court.

The families affected by Lopez’s actions will never see justice fully served, but at least they can be comforted by the thought that Lopez will never again touch another little girl.

Contact Briana Gorman at bggorman@email.unc.edu.