Youth Club: Criminal Background Check Program - Overview

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Program Overview
Sports are supposed to be fun. One way to ensure our sport remains a fun and safe environment for everyone is to perform criminal background screening on coaches and volunteers who have direct contact with youth athletes.

As such, USA Track & Field has implemented a criminal background screening program on coaches and volunteers of youth clubs.

Background Checks have been implemented by USATF to:

  1. Promote a safe, nurturing, and supportive athletic environment in which youth athletes can pursue their athletic goals;
  2. Provide an environment where parents can feel good about allowing their child to participate in the sport of track & field; and
  3. Maintain the sport of track and field as a hostile environment for those who would seek to harm youth athletes.

Please note that this screening is not intended to serve as a pre-employment background screening program, nor can screening guarantee that incidents of abuse by coaches/volunteers will not occur.  Background screening is designed as a preventative risk management tool, but does no insure inappropriate behavior will not occur.

Background
In 2006, USA Track & Field (USATF) approved the implementation of a background screening requirement for coaches and volunteers of youth clubs. In 2007 and 2008 the initial steps of the background screening process were conducted at the Association level by Association appointed individuals (Screening Agents) who utilized national and local databases to determine if the coach/volunteer met the qualifications to be a coach/volunteer in good standing. Beginning March 13, 2009 all background screening will be handled via a centralized online process administered by, an independent third-party company, TC LogiQ, Inc.

Who must submit a background screen (and what are the consequences of not doing so)?
All coaches and volunteers who come in contact with youth athletes during registered club practices or other club-related track and field activities must submit a background check. Coaches/volunteers who "pass" their background screening (and are current USATF members) will have their names posted on the USATF web site as being in “good standing.” Only these individuals will receive the protection of USATF’s club practice insurance liability program. Additionally, if a lawsuit is filed against the club because of an act performed by a coach/volunteer who is not in “good standing” the club will not be covered for the coach/volunteer's actions.

Cost of Background Check
USATF is subsidizing $10 of the background screening cost.  Coaches/volunteers will pay $8.00 to have a criminal background check performed.

Background Screen Submission/Application
USATF has partnered with TC logiQ to provide a secure online process for coaches/volunteers to submit their background check information.  TCLogiQ's system provides the highest level of security and was designed to ensure adherence with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”).

Begin your secure online background screen here.

If you prefer not to process your background screen online you may request a "manual" submission screen (cost is $35-45).   More Information

Offenses Screened For
The following offenses are being screened for when a background check is performed on an applicant:

  1. any crimes against children
  2. any sexual offenses
  3. drug convictions (within 5 years)
  4. weapons violations
  5. assaults, battery or any other crime of violence
  6. lewd conduct
  7. Two or more criminal convictions within the past five years and/or three or more criminal convictions as an adult.

Frequency of Screening
 The background screen is valid until the end of the USATF membership year during which the background screen was submitted. 

Screening Provider
 After conducting an extended search, USATF selected TC logiQ, Inc. as its national provider. TC logiQ is a specialty consulting firm that provides professional employment services in the area of pre-employment and volunteer screening. More information about TC logiQ is available on the TC logiQ website. The Technical Support Desk at TC logiQ can be contacted by telephone at 877-825-6447 (ext. 704) or by email.

Frequently Asked Questions
 For more information, please read the FAQ.