Youth football coaches and volunteers spend a significant amount of time with today's youngsters. That's why USA Football continues to support its partnership with the NCSI (National Center for Safety Initiatives) program.
USA Football continues to offer $15 two-season gold-standard background checks through NCSI - the official background screening company of the U.S. Olympic Committee. USA Football dedicates $500,000 to the background check program, reducing the cost from the regular price of $25. The NCSI background check is open to every youth football league across the country and USA Football commissioner members receive the subsidy.
"Our league has definitely seen the positive outcomes from the NCSI," said Robert Meadows, football commissioner of the Annandale Boys & Girls Club. The ABGC operates within the Fairfax (Va.) County Youth Football League which encompasses more than 7,200 youngsters. "The background checks really allow you to see what kind of individuals are volunteering and working with our kids. We have been using the background checks for about three years now, and we've gotten nothing but positive feedback."
The purpose of the background checks is to help youth football leagues determine if a coach or volunteer is deemed suitable to interact with children. NCSI performs searches in two national criminal databases as well as all state sex offender registries. The search also includes county records. Depending on the individual league's preferences, NCSI can search lifetime records or just a time frame for when certain crimes have taken place.
After the applicant's report is complete, the individual is flagged with a "green light" or a "red light." If an individual receives a "red light," he or she will be notified by NCSI and will be given the opportunity to explain or dispute the record. After the discussion, NCSI sends all of the results to the league but no confidential information is exchanged.
The criteria for "red lights" is separated into specific categories: any felony - 47 percent of the 662 red lights in 2009; any lesser crime involving force or threat of force against a person - 26.7 percent; any lesser crime in which sexual relations is an element, including "victimless" crimes of a sexual nature (including pornography) - 3.5 percent; any lesser crime involving controlled substances (not paraphernalia or alcohol) - 19.3%; and any lesser crime involving cruelty to animals - 2 percent.
Mark Boles, president and co-founder of South County (Mo.) Athletic Club, made sure background checks were utilized even before his league's existence. He found out about them in a coaches meeting with Joe Owens - USA Football Central Regional Manager.
"When we started our organization back in 2007, we were adamant about doing background checks on everyone having contact with the players and the officers of our club," he said. "I sat down with Joe and he detailed the program and the ease of use by the user and the league. It's a small cost incurred by the organization that gives volumes of peace of mind to both the parents and players.
"We actually had a uniform supplier that was on the watchdog list. Upon finding out and verifying that he was a registered sex offender, we severed all ties with him and the company and any future companies he works for."
Youth football background checks conducted with USA Football's financial help have resulted in more than 1,300 "red lights" during the past two youth football seasons. The program's success is due in large part to the simplicity of the NCSI application process. They manage the data entry with a quick online survey and leagues are able to check the status of the application online.
"One of my favorite features is the red light/green light," Boles said. "Remember, no go until you get the green light."
