Former elite soccer coach apologizes to victims in court

WARNING: This story contains graphic detail and may affect those who have experienced sexual abuse or know someone who has.

Bob Birarda stood and delivered an apology before breaking down in tears during day two of his sentencing hearing in North Vancouver provincial court.

"I'm truly sorry to each of you for the pain, upset and trauma I have caused you," he said in a quavering voice. 

"I'm here today to take responsibility for my actions and the impact I've had on you … There's no excuse or justification for my conduct and I offer none," he said. 

Birarda addressed each victim individually. Their names are protected by a publication ban.

The former head coach of both the Vancouver Whitecaps women's team and Canadian under-20 women's soccer team pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of touching a young person for a sexual purpose in February.

The offences took place between 1998 and 2008, and relate to four former players who were teens when he coached them.

Birarda is certain to serve time in jail. Defence counsel is asking for a prison term of eight months followed by four months of house arrest. Crown submitted jail time of two years less a day, plus another three-year conditional sentence. 

In defence submissions, lawyer William Smart told the court Birarda was in his early 20s and volunteering as an assistant coach when he committed the first two offences in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Smart said as a relatively young man, Birarda "didn't understand the power imbalance" between a coach and player.

From 2006-2008, the time period relating to the single count of touching a young person for a sexual purpose, Smart painted a picture of a mentally unwell man who was "losing touch with reality."