Coach/Volunteer Background Check Policy Statement and Process

I. Statement

Criminal background screening on Coach/Volunteers is conducted by an outside third party which specializes in such work, and overseen (in specific instances) by a screening committee, a subset of the Palms West Athletic Association (PWAA) Board. This is executed in an effort to protect the children who participate in organized cheer, football and related activities associated with PWAA.

II. Definitions

PWAA recognizes a Coach/Volunteer is any person who leads and instructs players at practices and/or games - or portions of practices and/or games - for Cheer and Football at any PWAA or Pop Warner event.

The criminal background screening is mandatory, no exceptions.

III. Procedure

All candidates for the above mentioned positions must sign a Release Form for Criminal History which gives PWAA the right to check criminal history records and verify social security numbers. 

No other personal information (e.g. work history, financial, credit, etc.) is checked or researched. The company executing background checks has agreed to such terms contractually, and confirms such direction annually. This work is executed directly, through www.protectyouthsports.com,and the secure URL at which coach/volunteers can execute their PWAA check is: https://opportunities.averity.com/PWWildcats  Please note that there is a charge of $34 to process this background check. The rise in cost is due to background check standards and requirements becoming increasingly stringent in the State of Florida as well as within Pop Warner; however, it is to ensure only the safest environments for our young athletes. 

The company never forwards any individual's information to the league where no issues are discovered.

In the event information surfaces via the background check, a screening committee, consisting of PWAA Executive Board member’s, will review such background check information to determine coaching eligibility. Only members of the screening committee will review data obtained, which will then be processed discreetly. All information is strictly confidential and will not be made public under any circumstances.

Reasons for being declined the opportunity to coach/volunteer are noted below as part of this policy. In some instances, factors of time may be taken into account when considering coach/volunteer eligibility (i.e. length of time since disposition of certain offenses).

The decision of this screening committee may be appealed, for the purpose of clarifying facts or explaining extenuating circumstances, to the screening committee.

All criminal history record information will be given to the Treasure Coast Football Conference (TCFC) for Pop Warner approval. All records will be promptly destroyed at the end of the current PWAA/Pop Warner season.

All coach/volunteers are required to notify the committee immediately following an arrest or conviction of any of the listed offenses. Any coach/volunteer, who while associated with the PWAA is arrested for committing an offense as listed, will immediately forfeit his/her coach/volunteer eligibility until disposition by the courts. A conviction of an offense as listed will result in termination of coach/volunteer eligibility as stated in the policy.

The following is a list of offenses prohibiting an applicant from participation as a Coach/Volunteer under PWAA -- offenses including but not limited to the following:

Arson

Assault (including aggravated and sexual)

Aggravated Kidnapping

Aggravated Robbery

Crimes against Children (including abandonment, abuse, endangerment, pornography, possession or promotion of pornography, enticement, solicitation, sale or purchase of, injury to, or indecency)

Criminally Negligent Homicide

Deadly Conduct

Delivery of Marijuana

Manufacture of or Delivery of a controlled substance or dangerous drug

Any violation of a law intended to control the possession or distribution of any controlled substance or illegal drug

Indecent Exposure

Injury to Elderly or Disabled

Intoxication Manslaughter

Kidnapping

Manslaughter (voluntary or involuntary)

Murder

Prohibited Sexual Conduct

Prostitution (including promotion of, aggravated promotion of)

Public Lewdness

Rape

Sexual Abuse

Marijuana Possession*

DWI /DUI*

Theft**

*If a first offense and not currently under probation --- eligible, but cannot drive any child other than his/her own.

More than one violation has occurred or currently on probation --- ineligible.

**Eligibility dependent upon the severity and length of time since offense occurred...