Background Checks For Officials

[Adam]

My biggest objection is the availability of the information. Who gets to know what's on it? What disqualifies a person?

There are things in the OP that I don't think should matter. Frankly, I can't imagine anything other than sex offenders or recent drug convictions should matter. But some mom is going to be upset if she finds out Suzie's referee had a DUI 10 years ago; or too many speeding tickets last year.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

My biggest objection is the availability of the information. Who gets to know what's on it? What disqualifies a person?

There are things in the OP that I don't think should matter. Frankly, I can't imagine anything other than sex offenders or recent drug convictions should matter. But some mom is going to be upset if she finds out Suzie's referee had a DUI 10 years ago; or too many speeding tickets last year.

My recent true story. One of the local assignors has started the fingerprinting scan DOJ Homeland Security thing. Exaggeration intended.

I declined. For not the usual reasons but I don't get that many games from him, the games are last minute 3rd/4th grade type stuff and I'm not that interested in those games at all. So for me it was a no brainer. If my HS assignor went that way I would get my scan done.

So I'm talking to another official about it and he casually mentions that he heard I was passing on the scan. I'm thinking WTF. That was a little more then annoying that he told other people this info. I can only imagine if there was something of interest to talk about who would hear about it.....Just some food for thought.

[Oz Referee]

If working in Queensland (one of the states of Australia) referees must get a "working with children" clearance done by Queensland Police, however this is the only state that I know of in Oz that requires such a thing.


On the locker room issue - true story

A few years ago there was a transgendered player (biologically/physically a man, waiting to go through the op to restructure genitalia). Legally a t/g person is the same as a person born that gender - in this sitch a woman.

She was banned from playing in women's competition, won a court case to allow her. Team-mates refused to get changed with her in girls change room. She was told to use guys, she refused and took the matter back to court. Court ruled that a third changeroom had to be provided at every venue she played at...created quite a few logistical nightmares with offices/storerooms/etc being used as "changerooms"