Background Screening

Instructions

1. Log in to USATF Connect using your email address and password.
   1. *Note: if you have one or more accounts linked to your USATF Connect profile, please select your personal account.
2. Click “View” on profile card.
3. Select “Background Screening” on the menu to the left.
4. Click the blue “Add Background Screening” button.
5. Choose the type of background screening you’d like to complete (coaches, officials, or volunteer).
6. Complete the form as instructed.  You will be prompted to complete the disclosure, consent, and rights sections
7. Once you’ve completed the form (you reach page 8/8), click “Add & Checkout.”
8. Complete the checkout to purchase your background screen by clicking the blue “Checkout” button.
   1. Click “Pay by card.”
   2. Enter your email address, name, and postal address.
   3. Enter your card details and click “Pay.”
   4. Your payment will be processed.
9. Your information will be sent to USATF’s background screen provider (NCSI) and will remain in a “pending approval” state until it’s processed by NCSI.
10. You will be notified of the results and your USATF Connect profile will be updated accordingly.

More Information

NCSI provides a comprehensive search with the assurance of the highest quality information available, and they work confidentially with each client. The following are included in the comprehensive search:

• Identity verification

• National Criminal database search
• OFAC terrorist database search
• Sex Offender registry search of all available states
• County search of residency within the last five years

Screening Criteria

Convictions for, disclosures of convictions for, and pending dispositions for any of the following crimes, and registrations or sanctions, or disclosures for any listed registrations or sanctions, will prompt a determination that an applicant does not meet the criminal background screening criteria:

• Any felony including an element of violence or of a sexual nature regardless of the amount of time since the offense, and any non-violent felony within the past five years (felony defined as any crime punishable by confinement greater than one year).

• 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.
• 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 greater than one year.
• Any lesser crime involving force or threat of force against a person within the last ten years.
• Any lesser crime in which sexual relations is an element, including "victimless" crimes of a sexual nature (including but not limited to pornography, lewd conduct, and indecent exposure) regardless of the time since the offense.
• Any lesser crime involving controlled substances (not paraphernalia or alcohol) within the last five years.
• Any lesser crime involving cruelty to animals within the last ten years.
• Any criminal offense which causes harm to a child regardless of the amount of time since the offense.
• Any sex offender registrant.
• Any individual that is not in good standing (sanctioned) with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) (as monitored by USATF).

Screening Provider

If you have any questions or problems, please call the National Center for Safety Initiatives at (866) 833-7100 or by email at ClientServices@ncsisafe.com.

Pennsylvania Act 153

Applicants who work with youth and reside or work in Pennsylvania, as determined during their background screen, will be directed to upload the required documents, per the Pennsylvania Act 153, using the Pennsylvania Document Repository Services (PA DRS) through NCSI.  The applicant will be required to pay the associated fee for this service. NCSI will maintain these records until their expiration. Completed background screen results will be reported to USATF as soon as applicants have completed the PA DRS requirements, if applicable. 

Note: Refunds will not be distributed for the background screen. Please ensure you review all information prior to beginning the application.