Background
In 2010, USA Water Polo determined through benchmarking with other youth sports and National Governing Bodies that a background screening program for USA Water Polo coach members would be a service that we could provide to our membership. Now that we have had a year of experience with that program, which has proved highly successful, USA Water Polo has determined to expand the program to its referee members. As noted in our Statement of Ethics, public trust is critical to the success of our organization and we feel strongly that a formalized background screening process for the referees who supervise our athlete members will substantially further that goal.
Purpose
The purpose of the referee background screening program is to determine the eligibility of referees for membership in USA Water Polo. This screening is not intended to serve as a pre-employment background
screening program.
Program Guidelines
The program is designed to:
1) Protect the confidentiality of information pertaining to existing and prospective USA Water Polo referee
members.
2) Review referee members and prospective referee members pursuant to the Screening Criteria below.
3) Provide those screened with an opportunity to challenge incorrect information found in the screening
process before a result is forwarded to USA Water Polo.
4) Forward information to our outside legal counsel for additional investigation and any action in those
instances where the screening results produce disqualifiers. Except in rare situations, there would be no
disclosure to any third party of the results of the background screen at this stage.
4) Screen members based on name, date of birth, address history and social security number.
5) Remove the involvement of volunteers and staff in compliance, data collection and record retention.
6) Be compliant with the applicable provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Members Required to be Screened
The following USA Water Polo members are required to undergo regular background screening at least
every two years:
1) All coach members and prospective coach members;
2) All referee members and prospective referee members;
3) All National Teams Managers and Coordinators; and
4) All USA Water Polo HQ staff. Requirement includes pre-employment and regular staff screening.
Screening Criteria for Membership Eligibility
The criteria used to evaluate background screenings are designed to identify the following: Found guilty of, imposition of a deferred sentence for, or any plea of guilty or no contest (nolo contendere) at any time, past
or present, or the existence of any pending charges, for:
(i) all sex offenses, (Examples include, but are not limited to: child molestation, rape, sexual assault,
sexual battery, sodomy, prostitution, solicitation, sexual misconduct and indecent exposure),
(ii) all felony offenses involving violence, (Examples include, but are not limited to: murder,
manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery and aggravated burglary),
(iii) all felony offenses not involving violence of sexual misconduct (Examples include, but are not
limited to: possession, distribution or intent to distribute illegal drugs or substances, theft,
embezzlement, fraud and child endangerment),
(iv) all misdemeanor violent offenses. (Examples include, but are not limited to: simple assault,
battery, domestic violence and hit & run driving)
(v) any crimes against children.
(vi) more than one misdemeanor drug or alcohol offense (examples include: driving under the influence, simple drug possession, drunk and disorderly conduct, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia.) or
(vii.)found guilty of, imposition of a deferred sentence for, or any plea of guilty or no contest (nolo contendere) at any time within the past seven years, or the existence of any pending charges, for any misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses (examples include: driving under the influence, simple drug possession, drunk and disorderly conduct, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia.).
Any person applying for a referee membership in USA Water Polo who does not pass the background
screening will not be eligible to become a referee member of USA Water Polo unless they obtain an
exemption pursuant to the appeals procedures described below.
Frequency of Screening
Persons subject to screening will be required to be screened every two years. Expiration for all screening
tests shall be 24 months from the last day of the month in which the screen was conducted (i.e. a screening
successfully completed on 3/15/11 will expire on 3/31/13.) When it is time to update screening records, it is
highly recommended that members submit an application for re-screening within the first 15 days of the
month that their previous screening is scheduled to expire.
Screening Provider
After conducting an extended search, USA Water Polo 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 this Colorado Springs company is available on
their Web site at www.tclogiq.com.
Cost
The cost in the registration years 2011 - 2012 for the background screen required by USA Water Polo is $20. This fee will be paid to TC logiQ by the applicant at the time that the applicant goes online to initiate a
background screen. TC logiQ accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover for online
transactions.
Process
1) An individual subject to screening must go online to the TC logiQ Web site (or connect through a link on
the USA Water Polo web site) to initiate and pay for a USA Water Polo Background Screen.
2) The applicant will promptly receive a screening report that provides address history and criminal
information, if any. Until TC logiQ reviews this search report against the USA Water Polo screening
criteria, the applicant's "Screening Status" on the TC logiQ Web site will reflect "Pending". TC logiQ's
determination regarding membership eligibility will be emailed within 3-5 business days after the
screening has been completed.
3) If the applicant passes screening, the result will be updated to "Approved" on the TC logiQ Web site and
will be communicated electronically to the USA Water Polo membership database. The expiration date
for the screening is reflected on the USA Water Polo website in the same manner as all other referee
certifications.
4) If the background screen returns a finding that the applicant is not eligible to become a USA Water Polo
referee member, there is a process for review of the accuracy of the information through TC logiQ.
5) If the final background screen returns a finding that the applicant is not eligible to become a USA Water
Polo referee member, then the membership will not be granted and the membership database will display
no information regarding the applicant.
Review Process
In the event that a background screening returns information that the applicant believes is not accurate, he or
she will have the opportunity to dispute that information with TC logicQ. To protect the applicant, that
opportunity will precede any communication of information by TC logicQ to USA Water Polo.
In addition, an applicant who does not pass a background check may initiate a grievance under Article 15 of
USA Water Polo's Bylaws, at no additional charge, should the applicant choose to challenge a negative
finding on membership eligibility or request a waiver of the requirement that that applicant pass a background screen as, for example, if the failure to pass the background screen was due to a minor violation many years in the past. As described in USA Water Polo's Bylaws, in the event that an applicant is dissatisfied with the results of that appeal, the applicant may file a further appeal with the American Arbitration Association.
Information Management and Exchange
This program places the responsibility for information management and retention on the screening provider.
Except in those few instances where a member's background screen returns information indicating a
disqualifying event, USA Water Polo will not be privy to or store the information returned in a member's
background screen, and only then that the applicant did not pass the background screen.
Nationwide Rollout for 2011
A nationwide rollout for the new USA Water Polo Background Screening Program for referees will be
implemented for the 2011 membership year. This rollout will begin during the first quarter of 2011. All 2011
Referee members will be subject to background screening and must successfully complete a background
screening and have the results on file with USA Water Polo's national office by May 1, 2011. On May 1,
2011 all Referee Members do not have on file a successful background screening will have their membership
marked as "suspended" until the completed successful screening is received from TC logiQ, or the applicant
has been granted an exemption as described in the section regarding the Review Process, above.
Current Referee Members can begin the background screening process by clicking here.
New or renewing members must first either purchase or renew their membership at which time you will be prompted with further information and directions on completing your background screening
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON BACKGROUND SCREENING FOR REFEREES
