Calgary West Little League: Volunteer Screening

Volunteer Screening Information

Little League goes to great lengths to ensure that no volunteer might present a threat to any of the participants. All rostered coaches, all members of the Executive, and any volunteers who might be in charge of children, are required to pass a Calgary Police Service background check annually. We recognize that this can be a sensitive issue, and can assure all volunteer applicants that the CPS will not release any specific information without the direct approval of the person to whom that information pertains; and the information will then be released only to the President of Calgary West Little League who will treat it with the strictest confidence. A prior criminal conviction which indicates that the volunteer applicant may present a danger to Little League participants, will be grounds for refusing that application. We, as parents and volunteers, have to remain alert to behavior or actions that indicate a potential threat may exist. In addition to the police check, all volunteers are approved by the Board of Directors before appointment. If you are at all concerned or uncomfortable about the way any child is treated by a Coach, Manager, or other League Volunteer, please contact the Safety Officer, Player Agent, Vice-President or the President. We cannot be at every game or witness every situation, but we are committed to having volunteers who have the children's best interests as their Number One Priority.

All applicants must successfully complete the screening procedure as outlined below.

Who pays for the screening and what do I submit?: The cost of the PIC screening is paid for by the league. The PIC must be completed by the applicant and submitted unsigned, along with a photocopy of two pieces of acceptable identification (as outlined below), in person to a member of our screening committee who is required to witness your signature. The PIC must be completed in blue ink only.

What type of identification is required?: A photocopy of two pieces of I.D. are required - one piece of government issued picture I.D. such as Provincial Driver's License, Alberta Identification Card, Passport, Citizenship Card, Native Status Card, Firearms P.A.L or P.O.L. Card, or Military I.D. Card PLUS one piece of other government issued I.D. such as Birth Certificate, Social Insurance Number Card, Alberta Health Care Card, Immigration Documents, Marriage Certificate, or Permanent Residency Card.

IMPORTANT!: All forms must be submitted to a league screening committee member in person. Please do not mail or fax forms to the league or go to the Calgary Police Service to submit forms. The league must submit the PIC and the photocopy of your I.D. by mail as we have a 'Memorandum of Understanding' approved by the Calgary Police Service that gives us special permission to get this done without requiring all of our volunteers to go to the Police in person.

When can I submit the forms in person?: Please attend the In Person Registration dates in February or Evaluation dates in March. After those dates they must be submitted to the Safety Officer. Contact Ken Scott at  ken-scott@shaw.ca

What happens after the forms are submitted?: Once we have a group of applicants to screen, the PIC and the photocopy of your I.D. is sent to Calgary Police Service for processing. They will return a letter to the league president with the applicant's names stating whether they were 'cleared' or 'unable to clear'. If an applicant is 'cleared' then they will not hear anything back from the league and will be permitted to Manage / Coach. However, should an applicant be 'unable to clear' they will be contacted and asked to go down to the Calgary Police Service in person and provide further information, which may involve fingerprinting, to try and resolve their 'unable to clear' status. Should an applicant not wish to complete this procedure they will not be permitted to volunteer with our league. Applicants who are subsequently 'unable to clear' after going to the Police will be required to submit their information in a confidential manner to either the Safety Officer or the President for final determination against Little League Volunteer Requirements.