Background Screening

Important message from NCSI about COVID-19: 

Court closures may cause delays in background screening results.  We're [NCSI] aware of court closures happening in parts of the country, and as a result, you may experience some delays in background screening results for your organization.  While court closures are out of our [NCSI's] control, please know that we [NCSI] will do all that we can to return screens back to you as soon as possible. 

To keep up to date with current court closures, please click here.

Instructions

Please note the different instructions below for completing a USATF background screen based on whether you are adding a new background screen to the account, you are renewing a preexisting screen, or you are renewing a lapsed screen.

To add/complete a new USATF background screen, please follow these instructions:

1. Log in to USATF Connect.

   1. *Note: if you have one or more accounts linked to your USATF Connect profile, please select your personal account.

2. Click “View” on your profile card under “Members”.

3. Access the Background Screening tab from the menu to the left.

4. Click the dark blue/black “Add Background Screening” button in the upper right-hand corner of your page.

5. Find the type of background screening you’d like to complete and add it to your account by clicking the blue “Add” button next to this screening type.  This will open your background screen application.

6. Move through the application by clicking the “Next” buttons at the bottom of the page.  You’ll be prompted to complete rights, acknowledgments, and disclosure sections.

7. When you are finished with all pages in the form, click “Add & Checkout” at the bottom.  You should be directed to your shopping cart to pay for your screen.  If you are not immediately directed to your shopping cart, you can access your shopping cart by clicking the icon in the upper right-hand corner of your page.  Once your screen is paid for, it will be sent to USATF’s background screen provider, NCSI, for processing.

Your USATF background screen will remain in a “pending approval” state while it’s being processed by NCSI. Once your USATF background screen is cleared by NCSI, you will be notified of the results via email and your USATF Connect profile will be updated accordingly.

To renew a preexisting screen before its expiration, please follow these instructions:

1. Log in to USATF Connect.

   1. *Note: if you have one or more accounts linked to your USATF Connect profile, please select your personal account.

2. Click “View” on your profile card under “Members”.

3. Access the Background Screening tab from the menu to the left.

4. Find your background screen marked “Current” in the middle of the page.  Click on it to open it.  This will open your background screen application.

5. You can move through the application by clicking the “Next” buttons at the bottom of the page.  You’ll be prompted to complete rights, acknowledgments, and disclosure sections.

6. When you are finished with all pages in the form, click “Renew” at the bottom.  You should be directed to your shopping cart to pay for your screen.  If you are not immediately directed to your shopping cart, you can access your shopping cart by clicking the icon in the upper right-hand corner of your page.  Once your screen is paid for, it will be sent to USATF’s background screen provider, NCSI, for processing.

Your USATF background screen will remain in a “pending approval” state while it’s being processed by NCSI. If NCSI clears your USATF background screen before your current screen has expired, your new screen will post to your account after your existing screen expires.

To renew a lapsed background screen, please follow these instructions:

1. Log in to USATF Connect.

   1. *Note: if you have one or more accounts linked to your USATF Connect profile, please select your personal account.

2. Click “View” on your profile card under “Members”.

3. Access the Background Screening tab from the menu to the left.

4. Find your background screen marked “Lapsed” in the middle of the page.  Click on it to open it.  This will open your background screen application.

5. You can move through the application by clicking the “Next” buttons at the bottom of the page.  You’ll be prompted to complete rights, acknowledgments, and disclosure sections.

6. When you are finished with all pages in the form, click “Add & Checkout” at the bottom.  You should be directed to your shopping cart to pay for your screen.  If you are not immediately directed to your shopping cart, you can access your shopping cart by clicking the icon in the upper right-hand corner of your page.  Once your screen is paid for, it will be sent to USATF’s background screen provider, NCSI, for processing.

Your USATF background screen will remain in a “pending approval” state while it’s being processed by NCSI. Once your USATF background screen is cleared by NCSI, you will be notified of the results via email and your USATF Connect profile will be updated accordingly.

Descriptions

Click here to view detailed descriptions for each type of background screen.

• Officials – A member applying to be a USATF certified official
• Vendors – A supplier (individual or company) that sells goods or services at USATF events
• Volunteers – A member of USATF applying to volunteer with a USATF club, USATF event, or who otherwise will have access to USATF athletes
• Youth – A member of USATF applying to be a youth (<18) coach
• Non games (elite coaches) - a USATF coach who coaches athletes over the age of 17
• Athlete - A USATF athlete who has been selected for a USATF national team or currently holds a leadership position; athletes aged 18 years of age and older who access or train at the Olympic Training Sites (such as CVEATC).  Masters athletes do not complete this screen.

More Information

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:

• All felonies (any criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; no time bar)
• Any misdemeanors involving:
  • All sexual crimes, criminal offenses of a sexual nature to included but not limited to; rape, child molestation, sexual battery, lewd conduct, possession and distribution of child pornography, possession and distribution of obscene material, prostitution, indecent exposure, public indecency, and any sex offender registrant (any Participant that has been convicted of, received an imposition of a deferred sentence for, or any plea of guilty or no contest for any sexual crime, criminal offense of a sexual nature, and/or is a sex offender registrant must be reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport);
  • Any drug related offenses;
  • Harm to a minor, including, but not limited to, offenses such as child abandonment, child endangerment/neglect/abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and DUI with a minor;
  • Violence against a person, force, or threat of force (including crimes involving deadly weapons and domestic violence);
  • Stalking, harassment, blackmail, violation of a protection order and/or threats;
  • Destruction of property, including arson, vandalism, and criminal mischief; and
  • Animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect

Screening Provider

USATF has selected the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) to conduct the background checks.  If you have any questions or problems, please call NCSI at (866) 833-7100 or by email at ClientServices@ncsisafe.com.

NCSI provides a comprehensive search with the assurance of the highest quality information available, and they work confidentially with each client.  NCSI screens for criminal convictions, sex offender registrations, and pending criminal cases. Screening includes identity verification, two independent multi-jurisdictional criminal database searches, multiple national watch lists including an OFAC terrorist database search, two sex offender registry database searches, and at least one county search of residency within the last seven years.

International Screening Information

International background screening is required for those who currently live or have resided outside the United States for more than six (6) consecutive months during the last seven (7) years.  International screening costs will be borne by the applicant.  International background screens take roughly six (6) weeks for processing.

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.