The United States All Star Federation has taken important steps to ensure the highest level of safety within our All Star member organizations. One of these steps is the background screening for anyone age 18 years or older in a given competition year who accompanies a team into a warm-up or backstage area at all USASF-sanctioned events. This includes owners, coaches, volunteers, non-coaching staff and adult athlete members associated with a program.
The United States All Star Federation is proud to partner with the National Center for Safety Initiatives, which facilitates all background screenings of our adult members. This includes a comprehensive screening program using NCSI's full-service product and a simple red light/green light determination report issued in accordance with the criteria chosen by the USASF. Only those applicants receiving a green light report will be considered for eligible membership.
*Adult Athletes: Any athlete that turns 18 years old prior to 6/1/22
The USASF member eligibility screening is secondary to the pre-employment/pre-appointment application, screening and background check requirements outlined in the USASF Sexual Abuse and Prevention Policy. The policy, which has been accepted by all USASF member programs (also referred to as member clubs), outlines the following:
EMPLOYEE HIRING and VOLUNTEER APPOINTMENT PROCESS
APPLICATION: Each individual that may have the opportunity to interact with youth must complete our organization's written application that sets forth appropriate background information, requires disclosure of any prior claims or allegations of sexual abuse or other inappropriate conduct, and provides the names of at least two individuals as references.
SCREENING: A designated representative(s) of the organization will interview each prospective employee and volunteer.
BACKGROUND CHECK: Prior to interacting with minors, any potential employee or volunteer will be subject to a background check, including appropriate inquiries regarding any previous record of sexual abuse or other unlawful activity. This background check will be updated at least every two (2) years for each employee or volunteer. All current employees and volunteers are required to update their background check every two (2) years. This is in addition to the required screening by the U.S. All Star Federation for all eligibility as program owners, coaches, and personnel at USASF-sanctioned events.
It is important to note that each screening serves a separate purpose:
PRIMARY SCREENING - Pre-employment | Pre-appointment
The primary screening, which is to be done by the member club prior to an adult interacting with minors, is required as a condition of club membership in the USASF. It is one step in a three-step process for the club owner or director to determine if an individual is suitable to work with youth. While the USASF cannot dictate which screening process the club owner chooses to use, we do recommend that the club owner follow any local or state requirements for clearance to work with youth. If a local or state-wide clearance does not exist, we recommend the owner research and utilize the most comprehensive and thorough screening available to them, including screens that use fingerprint-based searches when reliable and available. If the owner needs guidance in selecting the process that is most in line with the standard of care in their area, we recommend contacting legal counsel or researching what is required of similar positions in the area, such as teachers, coaches, bus drivers and daycare workers.
SECONDARY SCREENING - Membership Eligibility
The secondary screening, which is done during the membership application and eligibility process with the USASF, serves to establish criteria that would disqualify from membership those persons who have something in their background that would preclude them from working with children. The USASF's screening is consistent with the standards used by similar youth-serving organizations, sports organizations, and governing bodies.
NCSI's background screening programs are recognized as the "Standard of Care" in the youth-serving industry. NCSI was formed in partnership with the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS), with the goal of significantly increasing the level of safety for our youth.
The U.S. All Star Federation has elected to implement the same comprehensive screening that the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee requires all National Governing Bodies to follow for members involved with minor athletes. NCSI is named as a screening provider under the USPOC screening policy to fulfill its screening program.
The USASF screening program includes:
NCSI handles ALL aspects of the screening process from start to finish saving time, money and helping to protect athletes and youth sports organizations with thorough background screenings.
The USASF offers two options for our organization members:
OPTION 1: Direct Submission
OPTION 2: Club Account Submission
Many organizations prefer to have an account with NSCI to manage their internal process for background screenings of their employees, potential employees, and volunteers. With a club account, the member organization has access to the complete record for all applicants who apply using the organization’s self-registration number.
If you set up a CLUB ACCOUNT it is important that you instruct your employees as follows:
The fee for each screening is $30.00. If you are registering with US All Star Federation as a Coach or Owner, the cost of the domestic USASF screen is being covered by USASF.
In line with the USOPC policy, any applicant who either currently lives internationally, or has lived internationally for a period of six months or more over the past seven years will be required to submit to an international background check. The cost of the international background check will not be covered by USASF, but is to be paid by the applicant.
If you are registering as a part of your club, either an applicant will pay this fee themselves, or a Club Account administrator would provide you with a self-registration number that is tied to the organization pay Club Account.
Owners, Coaches, Personnel (age 18 and older), and Adult Athletes on Open teams (born in 2004 or before, is 18 years old as of May 31, 2022)
Personnel (non-coaching adults that interact with minors)
Before a background check can be initiated for a personnel member, the program administrator must send a background screening invite:
If you have any questions or problems submitting your information, contact NCSI directly:
Email: applicantservices@ncsisafe.com
Phone: (440) 542-9833
Toll free: (866) 966-7412
For technical support with your USASF profile, contact greenlight@usasf.net.
Background checks will be valid for two, single-year membership terms, expiring on July 31 two years from the year of completion. Example: A background check completed April 10, 2020 will expire July 31, 2022 AND a background check completed November 1, 2020 will expired on July 31, 2022 as it pertains to the USASF qualifications for professional membership
It is important to note that NCSI will monitor each applicant’s criminal records against a multi-jurisdictional database on a regular basis. If something in the applicant's history were to change and NCSI were to issue a red light, the member would no longer be eligible for membership within the USASF.
After the National Council for Safety Initiatives returns a GREEN LIGHT determination, the applicant must then AUTHORIZE SHARING their determination to the USASF.
Share from CLUB ACCOUNT (Club Account) to USASF:
Owners, Coaches & Adult Athletes
Personnel
Share from USASF to CLUB ACCOUNT:
If you have previously completed a background check with the USASF Direct Processing Portal and you would like to share the determination with a CLUB ACCOUNT, follow the instructions below are the instructions for the share from USAF to a club:
Background Screening Criterion Offenses
A reportable record or disclosure that contains a disposition or resolution of a criminal proceeding, other than an adjudication of not guilty, or the existence of pending charges, for any of the below criminal offenses will be flagged as a Red Light Review, meaning it does not meet the initial screening criteria and the individual will be subject to the USASF’s policies and procedures to determine the individual’s level of access and involvement with regard to athlete interactions, USASF member facilities and Sanctioned Events (as defined below):
Criminal offenses include "Attempted Crimes" in the above classifications.
Applicants will be asked the following questions during the process and will respond with a YES or NO:
Client Advisory: Register Early for Screening To Avoid Delays
We wanted to let you know that there are several court jurisdictions that are experiencing delays in returning criminal history information due to staff furloughs and reductions or other issues with their reporting systems. Listed below the most notable courts, some of which can take up to four weeks to return their county report.
New Hampshire
California, including but not limited to San Luis Obispo , Shasta, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Sutter
Washington State
Maine
West Virginia
Michigan
Worcester Massachusetts – six weeks
Therefore, anything you can do to have your registrants start their screening earlier will help to ensure that they're available when required.
The U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) has a mission to support and enrich the lives of our All Star athletes and members. We strive to provide consistent rules and safety guidelines, drive competitive excellence and promote a positive image for the sport. The USASF credentials coaches, certifies legality officials and sanctions events - all with the goal to provide the safest possible environment in which athletes may train and compete. Founded in 2003, we are a not-for-profit corporation established in Tennessee and governed by bylaws, officers, a board of directors and fifteen standing committees.
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