BACKGROUND CHECKS ON SPORTS COACHES AND TRAINERS

HOW SAFE IS YOUR KID

Many organizations across the country that conduct youth sports programs are beginning to realize what the City of North Miami (Florida) Parks and Recreation Department has known for quite some time: Background checks on coaches are crucial to a youngster’s safety and well-being.

For more than a decade the City of North Miami Parks and Recreation has been training and screening its coaches to ensure that the more than 2,300 children who participate in its wide range of sports programs aren’t subjected to the destructive touch of a child molester.

“It’s extremely important to do background checks,” said Ron Bell, the recreation coordinator there. “We want anyone dealing with children in our programs to clear a background investigation.”

Background checks on coaches have become increasingly more common as horror stories continue to emerge across the youth sports landscape regarding coaches who have taken advantage of youngsters under their supervision.

“We’ve heard about web sites for child predators that are out there that tell them that youth sports are an ideal place to take advantage of kids,” Bell said. “That’s pretty sobering. Background checks are one of the most important things you can do.”