Characteristics of Sexual Harassment Persons who sexually abuse others usually have easy access to their victims. Often the sexual abuser in an athletic setting has authority over the victim either as an administrator, coach, parent or teammate. Most frequently, the victim is someone younger than the abuser. Many sexual abusers are respected members of the community and many have known their victims for an extended period of time. Most sexual abusers of young boys and adolescent girls are adult males, many of whom hold prominent places of status within the community.
Sexual abusers come from all socioeconomic and educational levels.
Often sexual abusers do not feel comfortable with people of their own age and for that reason they choose children and adolescents as targets for their sexual needs in a non-threatening environment. The sexual abuser often uses the abusive relationship as an opportunity to exert power or continued control over the victim. Recorded evidence shows that the abuse will continue until it is stopped by outside intervention. These obligations of responsibility and authority by administrators and coaches call for specific guidelines to ensure that the imbalance of power does not result in physical or emotional harm to the athlete. Likewise, the guidelines must not infringe upon the coach's authority and responsibility to control, discipline and motivate young athletes in the course of training and competition.