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Originally Posted by Jim D
I understand you're making up an exagerated senario to make a point, but let's put it this way - if these guys were ever going to be near kids, I prefer it to be on a football field on a Friday night in front of a couple of hundred/thousand sets of eyes. I'm not sure how a football official can be a realistic danger to kids who are helmeted and padded to the nth degree with all of the parents and fans watching them.
The money and time that would be spent of background checks would be better spent elsewhere protecting kids. I don't have a problem with the checks in general, I'd just put officials on the absolute bottom of the priority list.
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I think it should be at the top of the priority list. For the Official's protection. Where I live a Criminal Check is $10. Consideiring I make an average of $30+/game, and work 30+games/year, I think I can afford the expense.
Sports Officials aren't the most popular people in the world. Anything they say or do can and could be used against them. While most Officials would not intentionally cop-a-feel with so many people watching, there are times during a game where an Official will accidentally make physical contact with a player. The parents may see that, and misinterpret it as molestation. If the background checks were done, then the Official can be protected by showing that he has a clean record, and did not intentionally mean to make contact with the player.
For example I've had players approach me and ask for help adjusting shoulder pads when the pad is sticking outside the jersey. At the Umpire position, players may bump into you. The natural reaction is to put your hands out to protect yourself. Anything can be misinterpreted. The article posted at the link below may be one of those times where a touch by the Official was misinterpreted as unacceptable.
http://www.venturacountystar.com/new...ng-four-girls/