Criminal Background Checks

[Jim D]

Originally Posted by TXMike

The local jail or prison in your area has a program where they are trying to rehabilitate convicted guys and they know there is a shortage of officials so they begin a sports officiating outreach where they train and provide officials free of charge to local groups. The officials are guys convicted of a variety of criminal offenses. You would be okay with them working your kid's games because you would be there to observe them? Not me.

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.

[Canfootball52]

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.

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/

[TXMike]

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.

When it comes to child sexual predators, there are many things that can bring them perverted pleasure that you or I would not even give a 2d thought to. Read some of the interviews that have been done with such folks over the years and you will be amazed at some of what can cause them to get their rocks off. They should be nowhere near a kid.

But I also think other convicted felons should not be allowed near the kids either even though they might not be a sexual threat. If you are a convicted felon you lose certain rights and privileges. Officiating should just be another one of them.

[Texas Aggie]

I think its more of a problem at the youth level (i.e. under jr. high) than it would be at the levels that most of us work through associations. That said, I'm certainly not against any kind of check.

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I think its more of a problem at the youth level (i.e. under jr. high) than it would be at the levels that most of us work through associations. That said, I'm certainly not against any kind of check.

I don't think any of us are against it. I think we're against having to pay $30+ for one when we are required to do so. If they (state or organization) requires one, they should pick up the cost. Charge a little more for the league fees to offset the costs.

[TXMike]

Originally Posted by grantsrc

I don't think any of us are against it. I think we're against having to pay $30+ for one when we are required to do so. If they (state or organization) requires one, they should pick up the cost. Charge a little more for the league fees to offset the costs.

Does the state buy your uniforms? Does the state pay your clinic fees? Does the state pay for your association dues/insurance? This is just another cost we should bear for the privilege of engaging in the endeavor.

[Texas Aggie]

I agree with Mike. When I applied for a law license, I had to pay a fee (and still pay annual fees) that, in part, covered a background check. Same when I applied for a handgun license, and so forth.

Now, I do think they should see if they can figure out a way to allow those with recent background checks from the types of licenses I mentioned above go through the system as a pass.

[gscsj]

For you guys who are more familiar with these checks that I am, what does the $30 (or whatever the cost) go towards? Is it strictly the time spent by the law enforcement officer to go through the process? If this is the case and the price is a factor, you might find a few officers who would be willing to do this in their off-the-clock time for much cheaper...especially if they are active or retired officials.

Just a thought.

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I agree with Mike. When I applied for a law license, I had to pay a fee (and still pay annual fees) that, in part, covered a background check. Same when I applied for a handgun license, and so forth.

Now, I do think they should see if they can figure out a way to allow those with recent background checks from the types of licenses I mentioned above go through the system as a pass.

Yeah, I guess I never realized that. I had to pay for my background check when I applied for my teaching license. But just recently, my district performed a separate background check on every teacher, which I didn't have to pay for.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by TXMike

Does the state buy your uniforms? Does the state pay your clinic fees? Does the state pay for your association dues/insurance? This is just another cost we should bear for the privilege of engaging in the endeavor.

The uniform is not the same as a background check. If you are protecting your kids, then you should pay for the background check. Are you going to give a background check to every fan that comes into your arena? Of course they are not. If schools really wanted to, they could keep the kids and the officials completely away from each other, but they often put us right next to each other where all kinds of issues of that close proximity could be a problem and hurting the kids from the officiating point of view is likely not the most inappropriate. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone just walked into the officiating locker room when I was getting dressed and almost completely naked.

Peace