WITH CHOICE COMES RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

CHOICE

With respect to background checks leagues have a choice.  They can either conduct the minimum background check allowed under the regulation which is a nationwide check of each state’s Sex Offender Registry (SOR) or they can go beyond the minimum required and use another system that checks SOR’s as well as additional records such as the ChoicePoint system, which is endorsed by Little League International, and includes additional data from around the country.  Users who conduct a search through the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) are often required to perform more than one search as some state records are often not available as searches are run.  More importantly, the NSOR only checks 1.7 million records versus the ChoicePoint system which checks over 200 million records. 

In 2007, in order to assist local leagues and District Administrators, Little League International started to provide each chartered U.S. league and district with 80 free searches through the ChoicePoint system.  Any additional searches above 80 that may be necessary for each league and district will be available at a reduced cost of only $1 per search.  This year ChoicePoint users will find that the registration process is more user-friendly.  Also, credit cards are no longer necessary unless leagues go beyond the 80 free checks provided by Little League International.  These are just two improvements of many to the overall usability of the system.  For more information regarding ChoicePoint and background checks, go to http://www.littleleague.org/common/childprotect/states.asp

RESPONSIBILITY

Leagues are responsible for making sure that background checks are done properly on an annual basis.  Under Little League Regulation I (c) (8) leagues are required to run checks on not only coaches and managers, but also on “Board of Directors members and any other persons, volunteers or hired workers, who provide a regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players and teams.” 

In order to ensure that the appropriate people are appointed to leadership roles, leagues must evaluate which is the best possible background check they can use.  The individuals who require background checks include, but are not limited to the following:

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      • Coaches
      • Managers
      • Board Members

·       Practice Coaches

·       Team Parents  

·       Umpires

·       Concession Workers

·       Field Maintenance

It is important to remember that leagues are responsible for conducting their own background checks.  If leagues operate on property not owned by the league and that property owner, such as a Park and Recreation Department, requires and conducts their own background checks, this will not alleviate the league’s responsibility to conduct their own background checks in accordance with the regulation.

ACCOUNTABILITY

It is imperative that leagues conduct background checks using the volunteer application.  Regulation I (c) (8) requires that applicants submit a “fully completed official “Little League Volunteer Application to the local league president, prior to the applicant assuming his/her duties for the current season.”  A copy of the official “Little League Volunteer Application” can be found at http://www.littleleague.org/common/forms/volunteerapp_08.pdf.

Applicants are required to submit a copy of a Government issued photo ID with his/her application as well.  Those conducting background checks need to ensure that the name, address and date of birth provided on each volunteer application matches the information set forth on the applicant’s photo ID.  This is an important step as individuals with a criminal history sometimes attempt to disassociate with his/her crimes by making slight changes to their personal information when they fill out a volunteer application. 

Leagues will always be accountable to members and possibly the local community for the decisions they make with regard to background checks.  If an unfortunate incident occurs, the league may be asked why they chose to conduct a certain background check and not another.  With the 200 million records available through ChoicePoint, leagues will find a range of crimes including the following:

·       Embezzlement

·       Theft

·       Drugs

·       Spousal Abuse

·       Child Abuse

·       Child Neglect

·       Endangering the welfare of a minor

·       Providing alcohol to a minor

·       DUI

·       Murder

·       Harassment

·       Sex Crimes related to minors

·       Sex Crimes not related to minors

·       Sex Crimes that will not appear on a state’s sex offender registry because they the offender has pled his/her crime down to a misdemeanor.

Ultimately, the choice of which background check to conduct is up to the league.  However, it is important to remember that with choice comes responsibility and accountability.

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• More information regarding ChoicePoint and back ground checks can be found at http://www.littleleague.org/common/childprotect/states.asp. 

• If you have not yet opened an account with ChoicePoint, you should start the registration process today at http://littleleague.choicepoint.com/.  It may take a few days before you can actually begin conducting background checks. 

• If you are not sure whether or not your league has an account with ChoicePoint, go to http://littleleague.choicepoint.com/ and type in your League ID number for instant feedback.

• Tens of thousands of background checks have already been conducted this season.  Please make sure your league is not only doing background checks in accordance with the Little League Regulations, but they are doing the best possible check to protect the children and participants in your Little League program.

Little League International
P.O. Box 3485
539 US Route 15 Hwy
Williamsport, PA  17701-0485