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Purpose:
Framingham Youth Lacrosse (FYL) conducts criminal history background checks of all of its coaches and assistant coaches in order to provide a higher degree of safety and protection for our children and to adhere to best practices for management of youth sports organization.
Q: Why are we (FYL) doing this now?
A: MGL Chapter 6 § 172H mandates that organization that are primarily engaged in providing activities for children (under 18) that accept volunteers must obtain all criminal offender record information prior to accepting the volunteer.
Q: Does it cost me anything?
A: No. FYL will bear any costs that arise from our (FYL) compliance with this statute
Q: What do I have to do?
A: Once FYL receives your signed application (to coach or be an assistant coach) you will be given information on how to comply. You will be required to give demographic (name address, age …) to a confidential source. Based on the information provided you’re a search will be conducted and any results evaluated and a recommendation made
Q: Will I know the results?
A: If the confidential source makes a ‘green light’ (eligible to coach) recommendation your application will be submitted to the board of directors for approval. If the confidential source makes a ‘red light’ (not eligible to coach) recommendation you will be notified by the confidential source.
Q: Can I appeal the decision?
A: Appeals based on the accuracy of records retrieved can be filed (at no cost) with the confidential source. FYL will not consider any appeals based on the evaluation of content.
Q: What if there is inaccurate information?
A: You can appeal any decision based on inaccurate information.
Q: Who will know the results?
A: The board of directors will only be apprised of the names of applicants that have cleared screening. The executive board of directors will be aware of the status of all applications (‘red light’, ‘green light’) but not the details of the search. It is likely that FYL will use a third party commercial vendor to perform background checks; in this case certain employees of such a vendor would know the details of the search. MGL Chapter 6 § 172 prohibits the dissemination of this information to any outside party for any reason other than the protection of children.
Q: What are the potential impacts to me?
A: The impacts are limited to being unable to coach (or assist in coaching) an FYL team if a ‘red light’ recommendation is returned. If FYL engages the vendor that is recommended by US Lacrosse then further impact would include loss of US Lacrosse membership and certifications fi a ‘red light’ recommendation is returned.
Last updated: 6/24/20081 of 2