A coach has not started coaching until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is designated not only to raise the  awareness of violence against girls and women, but also to challenge the  cultural constructs that breed gender violence. While Domestic Violence by  narrowest definition is violence within a home, I am including it as part of an  all inclusive gender violence that includes the physical, sexual and emotional violence of rape, dating abuse, sexual assaults, battering, bullying, stalking, intimidation and harassment.  The internet, texting, and social media are becoming weapons of mass destruction with daily casualties being treated every day in ER’s and doctor’s offices as psychological injuries, suicides, depression and PTSD are triaged. Continue reading

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Download: Lesson Plans to Combat Sexual Exploitation

Hall of Fame NFL linebacker, Lawrence Taylor, pleaded not guilty to an indictment  that alleges he paid a pimp $300 to have sex with a 16-year-old girl. He was indicted  on third-degree rape, patronizing a prostitute, sexual abuse and endangering a child.    The pimp is accused of assaulting the teenager before forcing her to Taylor’s hotel room. The girl had texted her uncle for help who then alerted the police. According to court papers Taylor admitted to sex acts with the girl but was told she was 19. In 2004 during a tearful 60 Minutes interview, Taylor admitted to spending about $1,000 daily on escort services, often calling six prostitutes a day saying, ”It was a hell of an expensive party, let me tell you. That party never ended!” Continue reading

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I went to Yeardley Love’s funeral with my twenty two year old son.  The  University of Virginia lacrosse player was apparently murdered at the hands of a  former boyfriend. My son, a college lacrosse player, was friends with Yeardley,  her accused murderer, and many of the men and women on the UVA lacrosse  teams.   Sitting next to him, I could feel and see him trying to process the conflicted emotions surrounding the enormity of this tragedy, compounded by knowing both the victim and the victimizer. The young men sitting around me sobbed and sniffled. At one point in the ceremony I turned to an emotionally distraught young man and asked him if I could give him a hug. I was surprised at the strength and endurance of his hug as he held onto me seeking comfort and, I suspect, affirmation of his emotions and manhood. As he let go he said “thank you” without ever looking at me. Here lies part of the problem and a solution to the epidemic of violence women experience every day in Maryland and America. Continue reading

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