Background Checks - Needed?

[epeeforlife]

Hey lindajdunn,
I think you hit a nerve with someone. I’m not even sure what he was trying to say!

Originally Posted by foiled once again

If the person is not a registered offender and the parents feel comfortable with the program their is no reason for the person to continue on doing what they love to do; when they are falsely accused.

I think you meant to say
If the person is not a registered offender and the parents feel comfortable with the program THERE is no reason for the person NOT to continue on doing what they love to do; when they are falsely accused.
Is this what you meant to say? If so, is this for someone who has been accused once or multiple times?

Originally Posted by foiled once again

If a program does not want new volunteers, adults or parents around there is something wrong.

Did you have someone in mind with this? Not sure where you were going with this one.

Originally Posted by foiled once again

The key is PARENTS GET INVOVLED adn know where your children are, wtih whomm and for what purpsoes.

I agree that parents are the most important link in this chain. Fortunately, most parents have a sense of these things.

[foiled once again]

All I was trying to say is that most people I've heard about that should not be around youth, want to do everything themselves and have a few new staff, volunteers and help because the fear of being caught and seen doing things that might lead to them getting caught.

If a coach is asking to meet one on one a lot for lessons, going out to eat, traveling with no other adults around or other students then their program is to be looked into. If a coach spends time with students outside of program time, the parents or ALL the fencers should be invovled and know exactly where they are going and what they are doing.

[epeeforlife]

Originally Posted by foiled once again

All I was trying to say is that most people I've heard about that should not be around youth don't want to do everything themselves and do not foster new staff, volunteers or help because the fear of being caught.

Again, I think you mistyped. Did you mean that they DO want to do everything themselves?
I think an even better red flag to watch out for is a program that has a very small kids program (or high turnover rate) for an extended time. If a person who wants to teach kids cannot keep kids in his program, then that is a signal that something is amiss. It could be that he/she is just not a good coach, a pervert, a creepy person—or a combination of all three.

[MdA]

Originally Posted by epeeforlife

Hey lindajdunn,
I think you hit a nerve with someone. I’m not even sure what he was trying to say!



I think you meant to say
If the person is not a registered offender and the parents feel comfortable with the program THERE is no reason for the person NOT to continue on doing what they love to do; when they are falsely accused.
Is this what you meant to say? If so, is this for someone who has been accused once or multiple times?



Did you have someone in mind with this? Not sure where you were going with this one.



I agree that parents are the most important link in this chain. Fortunately, most parents have a sense of these things.

As a parent and a coach I agree that it is most important that parents be involved. I would not agree that most parents have a sense of these things. Many are the dop off and pick up type...often picking up late from club while the coach waits alone with their child

[Phincer]

Originally Posted by MdA

As a parent and a coach I agree that it is most important that parents be involved. I would not agree that most parents have a sense of these things. Many are the dop off and pick up type...often picking up late from club while the coach waits alone with their child

It amazes me that coaches (who are in the business of making money) do not charge for every 15 minutes a parent is late picking up. $10 ought to do it.

Another thing parents need to be aware of is lack of supervision after class is over. I know that at one club, the younger kids get out at an earlier hour and parents are always late picking them up. Those kids are unsupervised and allowed to run around outside. This is a HUGE safety issue that is not addressed by the club at all.

I was very involved (and highly trained) in Scouting before fencing and incorrectly assumed that all youth organizations were as structured as scouting. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

[normanwiebe]

We instituted background checks for our Provincial association a few years ago upon the advice of our insurance company. They provided a briefing on liability risk for clubs, organizers, and coaches; with the result being that this additional bit of protection can go a long way. Not to mention the old adage 'an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure' still holds true. A criminal background check is required by most employers these days, so it only stands to reason that similar requirements would eventually be adopted by sports associations as well.

[MdA]

The USFA started a program to do background checks on national team coaches and managers for junior teams about six months ago. They used an online service. Coaches and managers were required to login, pay the online fee and enter info for the background check. I don't know how far they got with this program but it looks like we are moving in this direction.

Any good club should use a similar service.

[foiled once again]

Originally Posted by MdA

The USFA started a program to do background checks on national team coaches and managers for junior teams about six months ago. They used an online service. Coaches and managers were required to login, pay the online fee and enter info for the background check. I don't know how far they got with this program but it looks like we are moving in this direction.

Any good club should use a similar service.

Do you know what on-line service the USFA used? Maybe we should start having coaches do it now and if/when the USFA decides to move on this we can have a lot of people already in the system.

[epeeforlife]

Originally Posted by MdA

As a parent and a coach I agree that it is most important that parents be involved. I would not agree that most parents have a sense of these things. Many are the dop off and pick up type...often picking up late from club while the coach waits alone with their child

Statically you may be correct. I’ll restate - most parents I know have a good sense of these things.

Going back to the OP - Craig, as an engaged parent, I would also recommend you get the list of Volunteers from the Y and just do a simple Google search on the names. You might be surprised at what results are returned.

[MdA]

Originally Posted by foiled once again

Do you know what on-line service the USFA used? Maybe we should start having coaches do it now and if/when the USFA decides to move on this we can have a lot of people already in the system.

Here is the info the USFA sent out last year. The last update I received was in Jan 2008. I think it is a good idea for private coaches to go with the NCSI. That way if you get selected for national team duty (or you accompany your fencers as part of an international team) you already have the check completed...from the same organization.

USA Fencing has taken important steps to ensure the highest level of safety within our programs - for the youth participants and also for you, who make the programs a success. One of these steps is the implementation of a standardized approach to background screening for our coaches, armorers, managers and medical personnel through the National Center for Safety Initiatives. This includes a comprehensive background screening using the Center’s Check it Twice™ product and a simple “Red Light/Green Light” clearance report issued in accordance with the Recommended Guidelines® published by the National Council of Youth Sports. This is part of a national movement towards the standardization of safety programs for youth-serving organizations in this country. All coaches, armorers, managers, medical personnel traveling in an official capacity as a member of a USFA delegation will now be required to pass a background check.

USA Fencing has worked with National Center for Safety Initiatives to ensure that this process is convenient, secure and confidential.

Simply go to http://www.ncsisafe.com and click on “Background Check Self Registration” on the left side of the webpage.
The cost for the check will range from $22 - $70. USFA Weapon Squads WILL be reimbursing this cost for coaches - the payment page may be printed as a receipt for reimbursement.

If you have any questions or problems submitting your information, please call the National Center for Safety Initiatives at (866) 833-7100 x109.

I think my check cost met $35.