All-Star Do Eps Require Background Checks Of All Employees?

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Mom2Cheergirls

Cheer Parent
Mar 14, 2012
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Hi I have a question. Someone (adult in this case) at our gym experienced an incident at a comp with an individual and some other parents had expressed some concerns of the same individual acting in a "weird" way around the CPs at a comp. It turns out this individual was working there for the EP - not in a position of direct interaction but certainly had a wider access than a spectator. It was addressed. I will not give further details because at this point it will become hearsay and that is really not my intent I have a true question and would like to really open this to what I feel is an important discussion. Do ALL employees of the EP (including those doing set up/break down who are basically just hanging out there during if they wish) do a background check to see if they have any predator or sexual offenses? I had always thought about the concern of people coming in to watch from the outside but never thought about the other. To me this is something that any USASF approved event should be required of all EPs. I don't expect that they know about every employee like those who work directly for the venue but all of their own employees and if say the subcontract out set up (I apologize for not knowing how this is done) like I said never even crossed my mind before.
 
I guess my question is then as parents/how do we work with USASF to require background checks of both gyms and EP event staff? I think if USASF is so concerned with having athletes registered that to me a sport that involves such close contact with children that not only their safety as athletes but as minors be recognized and a priority.
 
First I would start by asking at your OWN gym. Change begins at home. Does the owner do background check? Beyond USASF credentialing ask how else are the coaches qualified to coach? I find that parents assume that the coaches are qualified to coach their athletes just because they have the title coach. ASK!

What does your state require? Each state has different requirement with working with children and how the gym is classified.

On the larger scale start with the parent committee at USASF. Demand higher standards . . . coaches should be background checked, USASF certified, (could have a higher standard) AND require first aid certification.
 
I guess my question is then as parents/how do we work with USASF to require background checks of both gyms and EP event staff? I think if USASF is so concerned with having athletes registered that to me a sport that involves such close contact with children that not only their safety as athletes but as minors be recognized and a priority.
Do you know if your gym has background checks or all of their coaches?
 
I alway run checks though not required.

As did I when I actually owned a gym. Along with having every head coach AACCA, USASF, First Aid, and CPR certified/credentialed. Our goal was having everyone have all of those and everyone with us for more than 6 months did, but sometimes new employees didn't have everything because of challenges scheduling some of these.
 
In NJ, I had to be fingerprinted and checked to teach CCD at our local Church. And I only had the kids one hour in a classroom environment...
 
First I would start by asking at your OWN gym. Change begins at home. Does the owner do background check? Beyond USASF credentialing ask how else are the coaches qualified to coach? I find that parents assume that the coaches are qualified to coach their athletes just because they have the title coach. ASK!

What does your state require? Each state has different requirement with working with children and how the gym is classified.

On the larger scale start with the parent committee at USASF. Demand higher standards . . . coaches should be background checked, USASF certified, (could have a higher standard) AND require first aid certification.
This actually a great question back to me and certainly worth checking into and I feel with the changes that are going on at our gym that if they don't already that it is something they would be willing to do. So I really appreciate you bringing me back to that.
 
Many times it depends on the venue where the comp is being held. If its at a unionized convention center, the EP must use the convention center's union workers for set up and break down. The same goes for custodial staff and food vendors at these locations. It's not in the EPs control. Most larger venues are unionized.
 
Many times it depends on the venue where the comp is being held. If its at a unionized convention center, the EP must use the convention center's union workers for set up and break down. The same goes for custodial staff and food vendors at these locations. It's not in the EPs control. Most larger venues are unionized.

Yeah and I figured that... do the EPs at that point have the right to remove an employee or ask the venue to have the employee removed if they have reports of said employees suspected behavior in particular with children???
 
I know that our gym does background checks on the coaches and anyone on staff. I hope all gyms do the same.
 
I think requiring coaches to have background checks is a must. CPs are left with them, often alone or in groups of other similar-aged children.

I think this is probably going to be an unpopular opinion, but:
I'm not sure about event staff as these events are public - any richard or Jane can walk in off the street, pay admission, and see the competition.

I think EPs should be open to comments and willing to address any issues that arise, but background checks? Young CPs should (ideally) be with a coach or a parent and never alone with someone strange.

I remember hearing some parents discuss that they are unwilling to leave their CPs alone with coaches (and frustrated when practices are closed). How do you deal with this at competitions?
 
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