Of course this is a good idea. In fact, it’s probably the best idea in history. Background checks on volunteers in youth sports is a critical best practice to ensure child safety, prevent abuse and mitigate legal liability for organizations. It helps identify individuals with histories of violence, theft or sexual offenses, offering peace of mind to parents and protecting the organization’s integrity.
We’re going to offer a real-life incident we encountered here at GroupOne Background Screening. Specifically, a local soccer coach and referee in the neighborhood leagues was arrested for molesting young players. The man was giving the kids rides home which is where the offenses took place. After his arrest, he moved to another state where he again became a soccer coach and referee, and once again, he was arrested for sexually abusing children on his team.
This is certainly a worst-case scenario, and such offenses have actually decreased over the past decade with the advent of quality background screening. At GroupOne, we believe it is a must to protect our children.
Key reasons to conduct background checks include:
- Child Safety: It is the primary tool to screen out predators, with one in six boys and one in three girls experiencing some form of sexual abuse by age 18, making screening essential.
- Liability Protection: Failing to conduct checks can lead to significant legal liability if a volunteer harms a child.
- Financial Security: It helps prevent embezzlement or misuse of funds by volunteers, which is a risk in non-profit, volunteer-run organizations. And yes, we have also encountered this issue at GroupOne several times.
- Trust and Reputation: It builds confidence among parents, proving the organization prioritizes safety.
Best Practices for Implementation:
- Comprehensive Screening: Use reputable companies to perform nationwide criminal background checks, including sex offender registries.
- Regular Re-screening: Background checks should be conducted regularly, not just once, as criminal history can change.
- Clear Policies: Establish written policies defining which volunteers need screening (coaches, board members, drivers) and which offenses disqualify them.
Common Practices and Requirements
- Legal Mandates: At least 13 states—including Alabama, California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania—have specific statutes requiring background checks for youth sports volunteers.
- Frequency: Industry standards recommend conducting checks at least annually to catch new criminal activity. Some organizations require re-screening every two to three years.
- What is Screened: Comprehensive checks typically include:
- National Sex Offender Registry searches.
- Multi-jurisdictional criminal database searches.
- County-level record searches for the most detailed and up-to-date local information.
- Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) for anyone transporting athletes.
While some may worry about costs or the difficulty of finding volunteers, the cost of a check is often minor compared to the cost of a child’s safety.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at GroupOne for more information.