USA SWIMMING LAUNCHES BACKGROUND SCREENING PROGRAM 

This past September, the 2006 House of Delegates adopted legislation to require background screening as a condition for coach membership and approved implementation of this requirement for the 2007 membership year. After completion of a successful pilot program during the month of October, USA Swimming is ready to launch the national rollout of the new Background Screening Program. In order to successfully accommodate the 10,000 individuals that must be screened over the next few months, each LSC has been given a specific deadline by which to complete its Background Screening Process. Each LSC has been assigned a specific time period and deadline. In order to maintain their USA Swimming coach membership in good standing, all coaches are required to initiate the USA Swimming Background Screening process on or before the deadline assigned to the LSC in which they are registered.

On Monday, December 4, USA Swimming will hold a three-week open period during which members from all LSCs may initiate their background screens. Starting in January, there will be five specific periods to which LSCs have been assigned. In addition to these assigned periods, there will be one more open period.  

Members are asked to adhere to the schedule and initiate their background screen only during the period assigned to their LSC or during one of the two open periods. All members subject to the requirement must initiate a screening on or before their LSC deadline.

As of Monday, December 4, all members subject to the new screening requirement can take advantage of an initial three-week open period to complete a background screen. Starting in January, there will be five specific periods to which LSCs have been assigned.  In addition to these assigned periods, there will also be one additional open period during which all members may initiate a background screen. Members are asked to adhere to the schedule and initiate their background screen only during the period assigned to their LSC or during one of the two open periods. All members subject to the requirement must initiate a screening on or before their LSC deadline.

The dates for each scheduled period are as follows. There is an attachment to this announcement that outlines the schedule and deadline for each LSC. 

§      Open Period:                           December 4 – 22, 2006

§      LSC-Specific Period 1:          January 8 – January 19, 2007

§      LSC-Specific Period 2:          January 29 – February 9, 2007

§      Open Period:                           February 19 – March 23, 2007

§      LSC-Specific Period 3:          April 2 -13, 2007

§      LSC-Specific Period 4:          April 23 – May 4, 2007

§      LSC-Specific Period 5:          May 14 -25, 2007 

The following USA Swimming members are required to undergo regular background screening. Cost for the 2007 swim year is $20. This fee will be paid to TC logiQ, Inc., our third-party screening provider, by the applicant at the time that he/she goes online to initiate a background screen. 

1)   All coach members and prospective coach members.

2)   All non-athletes on national team staffs or working with USA Swimming sponsored camp programs.

3)   All USA Swimming Board members.

4)   All candidates for office at the Annual Convention.

5)   All USA Swimming HQ staff.  Requirement includes pre-employment and regular staff screening.

This communication includes three additional attachments that provide more information about the new program. The attachments are as follows:

§      A general program announcement that summarizes all components of the program.

§      Directions for initiating a background screen (includes link to TC logiQ website to start process).

§      A FAQ document that answers the most frequently asked questions from the pilot program.

We hope that you will take a moment to review this information. It will answer many questions that you might have about the program. Once you review the attachments, go to http://www.usaswimming.org/bgpilot to initiate your background screen.

Please remember, that in order to maintain your 2007 USA Swimming coach membership in good standing, coaches are required to complete the new USA Swimming Background Screening process on or before the deadline assigned to their LSC. Please check the schedule published in the separate document titled “LSC Rollout Schedule” in order to find your LSC deadline.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation in implementing this new requirement which will ensure the ongoing quality and safety of our sport.