Put policies in place to protect participants
As spring sports begin, it’s important to examine the policies and processes in recruiting and signing up volunteers. The National Alliance for Youth Sports’ professional-administrator training course advocates “building a shield” to protect organizations from allegations, and participants from harm. It’s a harsh reality, but these are some of the most important decisions administrators make to ensure the safety of the children, while at the same time protecting themselves.
For some reason, when many people read about an abuse allegation, the first thought is, “I wonder if that person had a background check.” I can say that, from the many court documents I have reviewed, a background check is rarely a factor. A proper check is an important part of an overall screening process, but it is hardly the complete process. Proper screening involves an interview, an application review, and probably the most important aspect—continual review. After all, what is one of the most common statements made after someone has been caught committing a crime? “He (or she) seemed like such a nice, normal person.” Combine that with the likelihood of a person with a criminal record actually signing up as a youth-sports volunteer, and you can understand how difficult it is to find a predator.