Oct. 20, 2005 — Oct. 7, 2019 Alec Flores
On the morning of Monday, October 7, 2019, Alec Flores, a 13-year-old 8th-grader, left
home through the garage to walk to school. Dressed in khaki pants, a baby blue short-sleeved t-shirt, and checkered slip-on Vans, Alec had his burgundy backpack slung over his shoulder, ready for the day ahead.
Student athletes who remain substance-free show better long-term outcomes in academics and beyond.
Team Reflection Sessions that Build Emotional Intelligence: Create a rhythm of short, guided reflection after major games, practices or events. Use a 5-minute circle at the end of practice or a team journaling prompt for quiet reflection. Potential Prompts: • “What was one moment you felt proud of the team?” • “What did you learn about handling pressure?” • “Who showed leadership today, and how?” Why it works: Reflection strengthens self-awareness and empathy. These are two key emotional intelligence skills that buffer against impulsive and risky decisions.
A few minutes into his walk, a driver veered off the side of the road into the bike lane, hitting Alec from behind, without even attempting to brake or stop. Alec flew about 80 feet and landed near a brick wall. The driver, with her three young children in the car, briefly stopped about 100 yards away before fleeing the scene. Several people rushed to help Alec, including a nurse who had just dropped her kids off at school. She performed CPR on Alec — who was lying crumpled, bloody, not breathing, and with no heartbeat — until help arrived. Another parent stopped and called 911. Authorities quickly arrived on site and used a photo taken by a parent to identify the address of the driver who hit Alec. They proceeded to the driver’s home, where they observed her arriving with her children in the car, displaying signs of intoxication. The police then arrested her. In the meantime, Alec was life-flighted to a nearby trauma center where he never regained consciousness and died later that day. Alec was a wrestler, a football player, a swimmer, and a garage weightlifter. His personality and energy could fill any space he entered. The next day, the driver who killed Alec was released on bail and remained free until she was convicted of murder and four additional charges. She was taken into custody nearly two years later.
Every tradition you create becomes a cultural blueprint. When celebration, bonding, and belonging happen in healthy, intentional, and inclusive ways, athletes learn that joy and connection don’t require substances. They come to experience that it comes from shared purpose, growth, and pride in the team identity you’ve built together. The best prevention doesn’t look like a lecture. It looks like a team having fun in a healthy way.
MADD Sports | Coaches’ Guide 34
33
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator