National News
Background checks required for youth sports coaches in Republic
October 08, 2015 posted by Steve Brownstein
The Republic Parks and Recreation Department (Springfield, Missouri) has made a major change in who they will and will not let coach youth sports. Starting now, anyone, 18 years or older, who applies to coach youth sports must submit to a criminal background check. There will be no exceptions.
"As a parent I want them to be protected as possible," said Brett Baker.
He isn't just the parent of an athlete but a coach for youth sports in Republic.
"Anybody who deals with kids, it's just something that's mandatory and I was shocked that it hadn't happened here," he said.
Baker has been a volunteer for various sports programs in various cities.
He continues, "When we were kids, you know, we worried what was on the cartoons on Saturday mornings. We didn't have to worry about online predators, didn't have to worry about predators just hanging around the park, stuff like that. Nowadays with society, how it is, a lot more has opened up a lot more people's eyes."
This is why Republic has hired a security company to run background checks on adult volunteer coaches. The check will include running social security numbers. Also, current and past addresses will be traced. The names of applicants will be checked in national and local criminal data bases. This includes a national search in the sex offender registry.
Baker said, "Me, as a parent, me, as a coach, I feel much safer if I knew the person I'm coaching with, the person I'm coaching against, the person I'm officiating for knows those boundaries."
Angie O'Donnell feels the same way. She says her kids are protected having their dad as a coach.
She said, "I don't have to worry about it too much. But all the other kids who are out here, you never know. Where ever there's kids that's where the people want to be."
She knows it's important for her husband to participate in the program.
"I would want every family to be ensured that he's safe and can be around there kids," she said.
As an added precaution, volunteers will be re-screened every 2 years.
"Yes, kids are going to get hurt playing sports but do you want them to get hurt off the field with somebody that they thought they could trust," said Baker.
This policy has been in the works for a little over a year. The city expects to pay about $6700 in screening fees. That cost will cover over 360 adult volunteers.
The Republic Parks and Recreation Department says more than 400 youth athletic teams participated in various sports last year.
This new program will protect hundreds of kids who play.
