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 who accompanies a team into a warm-up or backstage area at all USASF-sanctioned events. This includes owners, coaches, volunteers and non-coaching staff members associated with a program. Additionally, adult athlete who are 21 years and older, or will be 21 as of December 31, 2021, are required to be screened before eligibility status is granted.
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: The USASF member database calculates age as of December 31, 2021. Background checks are an eligibility requirement for adult athletes on open teams. Adult athletes are 21 years and older, or will be as of December 31, 2021.
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 day care 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, sport organizations and governing bodies.
The National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) is the only national background screening services specifically dedicated to the protection of children. NCSI is the choice of many of the most renowned and reputable organizations and corporations in the world including the United States Olympic Committee.
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.
NCSI applies the NCYS Recommended Guidelines to its background screening, focusing its efforts, systems, and expertise directly into seven identified risk factors using multiple vendors to ensure client organizations will meet and exceed due diligence.
NCSI handles ALL aspects of the screening process from start to finish saving time, money and the legal issues associated with the many liabilities involved in background screening. NCSI helps organizations meet and exceed due diligence by navigating them through the complex maze of ethical, legal and financial challenges.
The USASF offers two options for our organization members:
OPTION 1: Direct Processing
Personnel (non-coaching adults that interact with minors)
Before a background check can be initiates 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) 833-7100
For technical support with your USASF profile, contact greenlight@usasf.net.
It is important to note that NCSI runs a re-check application on the 12-month anniversary of each applicant's initial screening. 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:
R1. Any felony (any crime punishable by confinement greater than one year)
a. Defined on the basis of exposure to the offense for which the defendant was convicted, pled guilty or pled nolo contendere. If pled down, then the crime to which the defendant ultimately pled.
b. Defined by all crimes punishable by greater than one year in jail or prison, regardless of how characterized by jurisdiction. If range, alternate sentencing, or indeterminate sentencing, outer range > one year.
R2. Any lesser crime involving force or threat of force against a person.
R3. Any lesser crime of a sexual nature or classified as a sex offense including but not limited to "victimless" crimes of a sexual nature such as prostitution, pornography, indecent exposure; and crimes in which sexual relations is an element.R4. Any lesser crime involving controlled substances (not paraphernalia or alcohol).
R5. Any crime involving cruelty to animals.R6. Any sex offender registrant.
R7. Any lesser crime involving harm to a minor.
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:
The following states have counties that require additional fees to process screening requests. These fees will be paid by the screening candidate to NCSI. You can elect to view those counties requiring additional fees for the states listed below.
| ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII ILLINOIS KANSAS |
KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MICHIGAN MISSISSIPPI MONTANA NORTH DAKOTA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEVADA |
NEW YORK PUERTO RICO SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS US VIRGIN ISLANDS VERMONT WEST VIRGINIA WYOMING |
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.
