Church leaders and Boy Scout leaders need background checks. If these recent years have proven anything, it is that sports have more than their share of bullies. Who needs a background check more, Church leaders and Boy Scout leaders or the Sports Organizations who have more than their share of bullies? Football needs to lead by example to erase the stigma of recent publicity and past deception.
Chip Dalesandro called me today. He and his board asked two football coaches to resign. He explained that the only group that does background checks is the Soccer Association. Chip, correct me if I am wrong. They have had many discussions about background checks but then they get into how many years do you go back, etc., the same issues that were discussed at Monday's commission meeting. They are moving towards doing background checks. Chip brought up costs. I said that a good start might be using the UJS Portal that I had published under "Doing our homework." It is free and easy to use. Chip, thanks for calling and again, thanks for handling this as you did. Elaine
Again, Chip is not entirely correct. The Softball Association (of which I was until recently a board member) requires clearances from all head coaches (every 3 years) and encourages assistant coaches to get them. In at least one instance, we rejected a potential coach who refused to get clearances.--Neil Berch
While background checks will flush out people who have a questionable past, might I remind you of the guy at the Scott Twp daycare who had a clear background check and who was molesting 17+ small children.
Background checks are not the be-all-end-all sadly. You have to understand the character of the people you are hiring.
I think the football team/association/whatever acted appropriately in this case by acting swiftly and it looks like they'll be implementing a better policy.
Neil, do the different sports groups fall under the same association? If so, are there guidelines to follow? Do the various sports ever have joint seminars in this sort of thing? Maybe the Soccer and Girls' Softball Associations can compare notes with the associations who don't have their clearances policies ironed out and offer some guidance. Elaine
My fifteen-year-old daughter wanted to take an exercise class at the Rec Center during the summer but was not permitted to do so because the instructor did not have clearances. I learned that the Center does not require instructors to get them, making the Center of no use to our family.I also understand the limitations of clearances, as a person employed by a home-care agency approved by my son's insurance company turned out to be facing felony charges in another county. She did not make it to our home because I simply Googled her name (before turning to the UJS Portal).
Elaine: I believe they are basically all separate organizations (primarily football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and softball, with rec basketball run by the municipality). I know less about the swim club, hockey, etc. There is an umbrella organization, called YSA (Youth Sports Alliance), but its primary function (in practice) is to organize the payment of monies for field maintenance to the the municipality and school district. I don't know much about YSA (perhaps someone else does), and I don't think it creates umbrella policies like one on clearances. I also agree that clearances are not the end of the world. Part of the work that the softball board (and individual age group level softball league directors do) is the weeding out of bully coaches.--Neil Berch
I left my football program at home today.
ReplyDeleteDavid Huston
This person has quite a rap sheet. Why didn't anyone do a background check before they made him a football coach of our young kids?
ReplyDeleteElaine
Churches require background checks. Why not youth sports volunteers too?
ReplyDeleteJohn Ewing
"The Mt. Lebanon Football Association relies on word of mouth, personal reputation and the willingness to be screened."
ReplyDeleteRead more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07207/804403-54.stm#ixzz1YQp3U6jE"
David Huston
The Mt. Lebanon Girls Softball Association requires at least the head coach of each team to have Act 33 and Act 34 clearances.
ReplyDelete--Neil Berch
Church leaders and Boy Scout leaders need background checks. If these recent years have proven anything, it is that sports have more than their share of bullies. Who needs a background check more, Church leaders and Boy Scout leaders or the Sports Organizations who have more than their share of bullies?
ReplyDeleteFootball needs to lead by example to erase the stigma of recent publicity and past deception.
John Ewing
Chip Dalesandro called me today. He and his board asked two football coaches to resign. He explained that the only group that does background checks is the Soccer Association. Chip, correct me if I am wrong. They have had many discussions about background checks but then they get into how many years do you go back, etc., the same issues that were discussed at Monday's commission meeting. They are moving towards doing background checks. Chip brought up costs. I said that a good start might be using the UJS Portal that I had published under
ReplyDelete"Doing our homework." It is free and easy to use. Chip, thanks for calling and again, thanks for handling this as you did.
Elaine
Elaine, does Chip's organization do background checks on their Board of Directors?
ReplyDeleteMom always told me, "Birds of a feather flock together," and, "You are known by the company you keep."
Congratulations, Chip for moving the ball in the right direction. Now move the ball over the goal line and finish the job.
John Ewing
Hint: You can still be bullies and pass a background check but it is a start!
Again, Chip is not entirely correct. The Softball Association (of which I was until recently a board member) requires clearances from all head coaches (every 3 years) and encourages assistant coaches to get them. In at least one instance, we rejected a potential coach who refused to get clearances.--Neil Berch
ReplyDeleteWhile background checks will flush out people who have a questionable past, might I remind you of the guy at the Scott Twp daycare who had a clear background check and who was molesting 17+ small children.
ReplyDeleteBackground checks are not the be-all-end-all sadly. You have to understand the character of the people you are hiring.
I think the football team/association/whatever acted appropriately in this case by acting swiftly and it looks like they'll be implementing a better policy.
Neil, do the different sports groups fall under the same association? If so, are there guidelines to follow? Do the various sports ever have joint seminars in this sort of thing? Maybe the Soccer and Girls' Softball Associations can compare notes with the associations who don't have their clearances policies ironed out and offer some guidance.
ReplyDeleteElaine
My fifteen-year-old daughter wanted to take an exercise class at the Rec Center during the summer but was not permitted to do so because the instructor did not have clearances. I learned that the Center does not require instructors to get them, making the Center of no use to our family.I also understand the limitations of clearances, as a person employed by a home-care agency approved by my son's insurance company turned out to be facing felony charges in another county. She did not make it to our home because I simply Googled her name (before turning to the UJS Portal).
ReplyDeleteElaine: I believe they are basically all separate organizations (primarily football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and softball, with rec basketball run by the municipality). I know less about the swim club, hockey, etc. There is an umbrella organization, called YSA (Youth Sports Alliance), but its primary function (in practice) is to organize the payment of monies for field maintenance to the the municipality and school district. I don't know much about YSA (perhaps someone else does), and I don't think it creates umbrella policies like one on clearances. I also agree that clearances are not the end of the world. Part of the work that the softball board (and individual age group level softball league directors do) is the weeding out of bully coaches.--Neil Berch
ReplyDelete