USA rugby Expands Background Checks
USA rugby Expands Background Checks
USA Rugby has announced that its background check policy will be changing.
The changes bring USA Rugby in accordance with the United States Olympic Committee's SafeSport Program, and means that not just coaches, but team staffmembers and rugby officials must undergo background checks every two years.
The new cycle will begin with this fall's CIPP registration (2014-2015). The screening will be conduction by SSCI (http://www.ssci2000.com/) which is a company that conducts background checks for youth sports.
Meanwhile, the USA Rugby SafeSport website (http://usarugbysafesport.com) has been launched to give coaches, parents, players and team and game officials direction on how to behave appropriately and provies the Minimum Standards Policy for Athlete Safety Programs that were instituted this year. Required of all USOC member organizations, the SafeSport program allows USA Rugby members to report instances of abuse and misconduct, occurrences which happen both on and off of the field. The USA Rugby Board of Directors approved the USA Rugby SafeSport Program Handbook – which outlines the requirements regarding registration, screening, and education of members – in Houston, Texas, in June.
David McCann, Director of Rugby Development said: “Our USA Rugby SafeSport Program is now fully functioning with our new web-site, the SafeSport Handbook, a reporting procedure, and an investigative, disciplinary and appeals process. We recently appointed a SafeSport director, Janna Doyscher, to be in charge of the reporting and investigative aspects of the program. These components along with our education and training requirements put USA Rugby at the forefront of athlete safety and well-being.”
Two free online training courses are aso available.
USA Rugby has more information on background checks at: usarugby.org/background-checks.
