In Coach We Trust?

There used to be a day when coaches were the cornerstone of communities.  They were the ones that helped rear children in the right path.  Not rear children in the ass.  It is scary to think that the eighteen plus years I played recreational travel, and varsity sports, that I could have encountered one of these coaches.  A coach that uses his power and dominion over the kids that looks up to them and in some ways as their sole patriarchal figure.  To take advantage of this, and to use their power as coaches and teachers in the area of life that allows so many joys and triumphs is mind boggling.  With all of these stories do we really have complete trust in each one of our kids’ coaches?  It is sad to think that we are coming to a point in our society where parents will have to be at every practice, and game just to ensure their children are allowed to play sports in a safe environment.  As more and more information on the Bernie Fine and Jerry Sandusky case unfold.  It will be interesting to see just how the attitude towards the neighborhood and recreational coaches turns.  Just from these two disturbing stories, maybe that’s exactly what some coach’s need.