There’s a significant difference between motivation and emotional abuse:

MOTIVATION: the person doing the motivating is sometimes harsh and loud and tough, but its all meant to be for the benefit of the recipient, to increase their abilities and God-given talents. Its meant to build up and empower the recipient and the recipient can see that so they are able to take any harsh actions that come their way.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE: the person giving the abuse is doing it to destroy that person’s self-worth and God-given value. It’s delivered usually by small, consistent bits of premeditated actions meant to further enslave that person to the person in the position of power. Because of the thousand “little” actions, its very difficult to put a finger on any given action, but taken as a whole, they paint a clear picture of emotional abuse.

Most coaches do not cross that line from motivation to emotional abuse – those that do need to be taken out of their positions of power over young athletes - especially male coaches of young girls. Coach Russell of Snow College is one of those coaches who has hurt many girls.

For years he has exercised his power over young female athletes who are being paid to play on this team and do everything he asks. There is now an official Title IX investigation into his behavior as well as other players coming out and sharing their stories.

These players and their parents wish that someone had spoken up sooner.

We are speaking up now.