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USATF Implements Changes to Youth
Club Coach/Volunteer Criminal Background
Check Program
USATF has implemented changes to its
Youth Club: Coach/Volunteer Criminal
Background Check Program
that provide a better foundation to
successfully meet the three main goals
of the program; to:
-
Promote a safe, nurturing, and
supportive athletic environment in
which youth athletes can pursue
their athletic goals;
-
Provide an environment where parents
can feel good about allowing their
child to participate in the sport of
track & field; and
-
Maintain the sport of track and
field as a hostile environment for
those who would seek to harm youth
athletes.
The main change is the process in which
coaches/volunteers of USATF youth clubs
submit their personal information for
their yearly criminal background screen.
Rather than having the background checks
performed at the Association (local)
level, the new process will be done on
online using a system provided by TC
logiQ, one of the leading providers of
online criminal background screening to
non-profit youth based organizations.
After two years of using a
"decentralized" system of screening
USATF youth club coaches and volunteers,
it was determined that a centralized
process would provide the best avenue
for improving the program across the
country. "We will now have a system
that is consistent and easier to
communicate to all USATF member clubs,
coaches, volunteers, and parents" said
USATF Director of Grass Roots Programs
Andy Martin. "Our constituents were
asking for a more private and secure
process to submit their information and
have their background checks reviewed
and this change is a response to their
requests."
Additionally, the term in which the
background screens are valid has changed
slightly from previous years. Each
screen is now valid until the end of the
USATF membership year during which the
background screen was submitted. This
means that all background screens now
expire on December 31. This change was
adopted so the background screens were
"in line" with the USATF membership
year.
All Coaches/volunteers who have direct
contact with youth athletes during
registered club practices should verify
if they are current with their
background check by visiting the
online list of coaches/volunteers in
good standing.
Club personnel, coaches athletes, and
parents are encouraged to review the
updated information on the program,
including the updated Frequently Asked
Questions page and the List of
Coaches/Volunteers in Good Standing.
Click here
to review the information and submit
your background screen. |
