Penn State lessons can extend to youth leagues - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

In addition to fines and sanctions against Penn State announced Monday, the NCAA is demanding the university change the culture of sports.

The organization wants the university to build a culture where honesty, integrity and responsibility are more important than hero worship and winning at all costs. It is a lesson for universities and, perhaps, parents with children as young as little leaguers.

The heinous attacks former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky inflicted on children, the downfall of legendary coach Joe Paterno and the unprecedented sanctions imposed on the school for allowing the crimes to continue are a message to other universities.

"If you find yourself in a position where the athletic culture is taking precedent over the academic culture, a variety of bad things can happen," said NCAA President Mark Emmert.

Yet the roots of a culture that puts success over what's right can be as close as a community ball field.

"Maybe as early as Pee Wee little leagues and Little League Baseball," said clinical psychologist Gregory Sipes.

Sipes sees that the lessons begin with parents.

"Did they teach you the courage to be able to say no to a culture, or a person you admire or is doing something wrong," he said.

Even the best child protection policies depend on people seeing, saying or doing the right thing. If they don't, how can you protect your own children?

"You teach them about, 'How do you feel about this?' Not 'What does somebody else feel?' or 'What is going to happen to somebody else?' How do you feel?" said Sipes.

At Penn State, witnesses apparently felt fearful that the consequences speaking out against larger-than-life legends were worse than remaining silent.

Child protection advocates see this as both a tragedy and an opportunity - to educate organizations and individuals and change a culture of protecting heroes to one of protecting children.