The new background check will begin January 10, 2011

To take the background screen you will need to go to the USA Swimming web site. The easiest way to find the link is usaswimming.org/backgroundcheck  please distribute to all your non-athlete members.

Effective 2/15/11 all non-athlete members will need to pass the new background check before they can register as a member of UAS Swimming, all current members will need to complete the screen by the dates below.

All non-athlete members who have not previously completed the USA Swimming background check must successfully complete the new background check program by February 15, 2011.

All non-athlete members who have previously completed the USA Swimming background check before September 1, 2010, are required to complete the new BGC prior to April 30, 2011.

Any non-athlete members who completed the USA Swimming background check after September 1, 2010 must complete the new background check prior to December 31, 2011.

There are two different Levels to the background check, be sure you sign up for the right one.

Difference between Level 1 and Level 2:

Both the Level 1 and Level 2 background checks will include a search of national criminal and sex offender databases, a social security trace, a search of alias names, and a once per month update of the national criminal database for a period of 24 months. The only difference in the two packages is the physical search of county criminal records. The Level 1 check includes a county criminal search in the current county of residence; the Level 2 check includes a county criminal search in all counties of residence the past 7-10 years.

Coaches and officials will need Level 2 initially.  Once they have passed it – and provided that they don’t let it lapse – they will renew at Level 1 every two years thereafter.

Price of the Acxiom background checks:

            Level 2 – coaches and officials - $39.00

            Level 1 – other non-athletes - $19.00

            Renewal – all non-athletes - $19.00

            Conversion from Level 1 to Level 2 – to be determined

Questions from teachers and others who are required to pass a BGC as part of their professional lives. They want to know why they need to pass the USA Swimming BGC if they have already passed one for another reason.

There is significant duplication of efforts with regard to background checks required by schools, churches, youth sports and employers. Unfortunately, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which is the series of federal regulations governing the background screening industry, includes several stipulations intended to protect the privacy of the information. Those regulations do not permit the various entities that conduct background checks to share that information with other entities. The other challenge that contributes to the duplication of screening efforts is that the different entities that require background checks also use different criteria to judge someone’s suitability for employment, membership or service. Just because someone successfully completes a background check for an employer doesn’t mean that individual would pass the membership eligibility criteria for a youth sports organization.

No one will be able to initiate a background check until Monday 1/10.

If you have questions about the background check process itself, please send your questions to backgroundcheck@usaswimming.org.