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Background Checks For Officials
I am writing out of concern for all student athletes.
It has come to my attention that referees and umpires are not subjected to background checks. This is concerning because these officials often times are in the same locker rooms as the students. One particular offical has come to my attention...(although I am sure there are more out there). XXX has domestic violence convictions, assault convictions and 2 DUI convictions. A further search of his background shows drug charges 20 years ago in MA. XXX currently officiates IAABO Basketball, NHIAA Baseball and NHIAA Softball. I am concerned that this person is of questionable character and is less than the role model we expect those whom are PAID to be around our children should be. XXX is currently without his license due to his 2nd DUI conviction and is on probation for assault. Is this the kind of person we want around our athletes???? I believe that those whom are paid to be around our children should be held to the same ethics and standards as any teacher or other person employed by the school districts. Without a background check, how can we be certain the people officiating our athletes are not pediphiles, drug dealers or similar unsavory characters. I trust that you will agree with me and push for background checks on all officials and persons whom are "employed" on any level with the school. Especially those individuals whom are in positions of power and whom are in close contact with the students. |
djmaryb,
I have removed the name as this is not the place to post. We do not know of this individual and can not prove any of the information you posted therefore please refrain from specific names. All of that being said, I am a father of three and share your concern in that those that have access to our children be upstanding individuals. I have no problem agreeing to a reasonable background check of myself as part of my officiating credentials. However, this is probably not the right forum to address this issue. You should be writing to your state/ governing body for extra curricular activities and voicing your concern. |
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In Missouri, we do a background check. I really don't know about your state, but we do in the show me state
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djmaryb I am curious where you got the information that you posted and secondly why did you feel the need to investigate this person and post this on an international WEBSITE that is not connected with your program? |
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As part of a concerned officials group, I am pushing for background checks on all parents. It has come to my attention that parents and other relatives are not subjected to background checks. This is concerning because these parents and relatives often times are in the rooms as the children. Several particular parents have come to my attention through media reports [not merely heresay] ...(although I am sure there are more out there). These parents have domestic violence convictions, assault convictions and DUI convictions. Further search of backgrounds show drug charges 20 years ago all over the united States and Canada and currently currently work in health care, education and security. I believe that those whom are free to be around our children should be held to the same ethics and standards as any sports official or other person that spends numerous hours per week around the children. Without a background check, how can we be certain the people teaching and looking after our children are not pedophiles, drug dealers or similar unsavory characters. I trust that you will agree with me and push for background checks on all pepole and persons whom are free to be around children on any level in their lives. Especially those individuals whom are in positions of power and whom are in close contact with the students and non-students alike. mick |
Regardless of one's point of view on the background check issue, this type of ranting is very, very dangerous. The use of the last name may or may not be intentional, but a public airing of somebody's dirty laundry is going in the wrong direction, IMO. Some of us might have access to verifying this information, and if it is NOT verified, djmaryb might be facing problems of her own.
I agree, take it to your local school boards, associations and state authorities. Don't bring it here. It is not remotely the correct forum. Z |
I'm not against it, but I hardly think it's a cure-all. The contact officials have with athletes is, for all intents and purposes, supervised.
Maybe parents should stop letting their kids spend time alone with adults they don't know. |
My fellow forum members...Are any of you EVER in the same locker room with the players? I have never had this happen nor would I allow it to happen. I would dress in a closet before sharing a locker room with a participant in a high school contest.
-Josh |
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It isn't that anyone is necessarily against background checks what I am against and I think others also, is how they are handled and what the criteria for disqualification is, and the irrisponsible public airing of information that is really no bodies business who isn't invloved in your league. So be careful what you go posting and where. |
Mick, thank you.
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As Bud said,
In Missouri we do have do a background check. Here is the kicker, when you register online, you click a little box that says somethign to the nature of yes I submit to a background check. The thing is the fact that I know of 2 guys for sure just in my area who have been in some trouble. My thinking is they are looking for those officials whose names are already registered on the internet for something other than officiating, if you get my drift. |
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I am fine with back ground checks if I dont have to pay for it. Funny how mary hasn't been back to respond to any thing.
I vote we delete her fly by post. |
To get licensed in Kansas we have a background check as well; you are required to put it on your application if you've had any contact with the law. Lying on that form to a State institution would be bad news.
And I have NEVER been in the same locker room as a student. |
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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 association only requires us to sign a legally binding paper that we have never been convicted for any crimes involving minors.
And why on Earth would an official be in the same locker room as the players? I would rather change outside in the pouring rain. That's just asking for trouble. |
I've been in coach's offices where we had to ask a kid to leave (wrestling coach's son doing homework).
I've been in coach's offices that were located within a locker room; meaning we had to pass through the LR to get to our room. I've even had wrestling coaches bringing their wrestlers in the office to weigh in. Again, I'm not opposed to the idea, I just want to know specifics before I submit. |
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I dressed in a, extra girl's locker room a few weeks ago. I had the AD walk through the locker room prior to me going in. Then I yelled into the locker room for anyone to speak up if they are in there. I don't want to put myself into any situation with a student. -Josh |
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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. |
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" |
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