Unfortunately, times have changed, lawsuits are on the rise and crime is prevalent. The safety of our players, coaches and volunteers has and will never take a backseat to vulnerability. While the affiliate club is the first level in protecting the safety of the youth players, the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association is committed to working with affiliates to help ensure the success of their programs and to ensure that any negative findings are properly disseminated to protect youth players throughout the state and region.
As part of its overall risk management program, MSYSA intends to exclude from participation in all sanctioned activities persons convicted of felonies, crimes of violence or crime against persons. MSYSA and its affiliate clubs have the right to perform criminal background checks of all coaches, administrators, and registered volunteers. MSYSA will not knowingly allow any person convicted of a felony, a crime of violence or crimes against persons to be in a position that would allow direct contact with children.
As of January 1, 2010, MSYSA requires all affiliated clubs and organizations to provide background checks for all rostered adult team officials. This requirement will become one of the benchmarks in establishing affiliates standing and could have a negative effect on their ability to participate in US Youth Soccer and state activities and events.
MSYSA has an agreement with the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) for background screening and has established a statewide background-screening program for its clubs. NCSI is a full-service screening organization that works in accordance with the Recommended Guidelines© established by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS). In addition to conducting the background search, NCSI is responsible for interpreting the results, issuing a “red light/green light determination” and handling all aspects of communication with applicants and the organizations to ensure the highest level of accuracy and confidentiality in the process. NCSI is also responsible for maintaining the privacy of applicant information obtained in the background search process.
MSYSA has the ability to confidentially view Red Light / Green Light results for applicants in all participating club accounts. All accounts within the program will operate with the same set of:
· Background Search Components
· Criteria
· Program Length (Annual program with a 6 month re-check)
Through participation in the MSYSA statewide program, individual clubs can take advantage of discounted pricing (only $20 for each person screened) and operate on a consistent platform with the other participating clubs throughout the state. Thus, all coaches and administrators are being screened in the same manner and using the same criteria.
All MSYSA affiliate clubs and organizations not using NCSI as their background screening provider are required to provide MSYSA the name of their selected background screening company, background screening contract start and end dates and the name of their club risk management point of contact. In addition, affiliates not using NCSI must provide MSYSA immediate notice of any negative background determinations that may affect an individual’s right to participate.
