Gridiron Football is an organization dedicated to providing a best-in-class non-contact football experience for both parents and players. This includes screening for coaches who might present a threat or do harm to children. Gridiron Football performs national and local criminal background checks on all volunteer coaches and reserves the right to exclude coaches from participation based on the criteria listed herein.

Persons who are interested in participating as a coach for any Gridiron Football, or affiliated, event, season, or practice are required to submit, complete, and clear a criminal background check, at no cost to the coach, BEFORE any engagement with any players registered to play with Gridiron Football or any of its affiliates. This background check is completed via a third party system, and Gridiron Football does not store the personal identifying information of any coaches submitted to background checks.

Gridiron Football has the sole discretion to deny eligibility to potential coaches that may pose a threat to vulnerable subjects, such as children, game day officials, administrators, opposing player/coaches, and spectators regardless of whether the results of the Background Check directly violate any of the listed criteria in this policy and disclaimer.

WHAT WE SCREEN FOR:

Crimes Against a Minor

Screening includes but is not limited to crimes such as: Indecent solicitation of a child, Abandon/Endangerment of a child, Sexual abuse of a child, Child molestation, Child abuse, Furnishing alcohol to a minor, Sexual conduct with a minor, Aggravated sexual abuse or assault of a child, Indecency with a child, Kidnapping, Child Neglect, Child Trafficking or Human Trafficking of any nature.

Use, Possession or Sale of a Controlled Substance

Screening includes but is not limited to crimes such as: Possession, Possession with intent to distribute, Trafficking, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Drug Manufacturing and Cultivation.

Use or Threatened Use of Violence against a Person or Property

Screening includes but is not limited to crimes such as: Murder, Domestic Violence/Abuse, Theft/Burglary/Armed Robbery/LarcenyBreaking and Entering, Assault (Simple and Aggravated), Disorderly conduct, False imprisonment, Escape from penitentiary, Manslaughter, Harassment/Stalking.

A Sexual Offense

Screening includes but is not limited to crimes such as: Prostitution, Rape, Sexual Assault, Solicitation, Indecent Exposure, Statutory Rape, Child Pornography, Pimping and Pandering.

Illegal Gambling or Financial Crimes

Screening includes but is not limited to crimes such as: Embezzlement, Fraud, Identity Theft.

GRIDIRON DEFINITION OF A FELONY

Any crime that results in the eventual conviction of what was originally a Felony charge. This includes:

Felony level crimes that were “plead down” or conviction of lesser level crime due to acceptance of a plea bargain, lowering of crime level due to successful completion of terms of probation.

UNDER REVIEW / “PRE-ADVERSE ACTION” PERIOD

Coaching applicants are placed under review and into a pre-adverse action period when results of the background screen return any violation to the listed criteria below.

The preliminary results of the background check will be shared with both the applicant and Gridiron Football Customer Success Manager. The coaching applicant will be allowed 15 calendar days to dispute the findings (see additional guidance below). During this period, the coaching applicant will NOT be allowed to conduct practices, coach games or events, or appear in any sort of official capacity representing Gridiron Football or affiliate programs.

Crimes that violate the Gridiron Football criteria for coaching eligibility include but are not limited to:

ANY felony level conviction in the last ten (10) years, More than one (1) felony on Lifetime criminal record, ANY crime of sexual nature, ANY crime toward or involving a child or minor, ANY crime resulting in loss of life, ANY Domestic Violence convictions on Lifetime criminal record, ANY DUI/DWI/OWI offense in the last 5 years, three (3) or more DUI/DWI/OWI offenses in the last ten (10) years.

DENIAL OF COACHING ELIGIBILITY: PROCESS AND PROCEDURE

Coaches that have been put into a pre-adverse action period will be required to supply additional LEGAL DOCUMENTATION in order to dispute the background check results.

Letters of Reference will not be accepted. Letters of Appeal will not be accepted.

Crimes of all levels (misdemeanor, reckless misconduct, gross misdemeanor and felonies) will be considered when screening a coaching applicant.

Upon receipt of information that indicates that an applicant will be denied membership, an email notification will be sent to the coaching applicant. If the applicant does not provide adequate legal documentation to dispute findings in the background screen, the information will be deemed true and accurate.

The applicant will be sent an email notification that their application to be a coach with Gridiron Football has been denied. The corresponding location operator will be sent a notification that the coaching applicant has not met the eligibility standards for participating as a coach for Gridiron Football, or its affiliates.