Background Clearances Required for All Volunteers:
The safety and welfare of every child is our first and foremost priority. Because of this, and in accordance with Pennsylvania state law, MTAA requires current criminal background checks and child abuse clearances for EVERY volunteer. Please complete these simple steps:
If you had coached or volunteered with MTAA last year and you submitted and renewed your clearances last year, please click the link below to add yourself to the 2022-23 coach’s directory.
If you are a new coach or volunteer this year, please click the link below and follow the instructions. Babe Ruth Ripken leagues require a specific set of background checks, child abuse clearances, and abuse prevention trainings for volunteers who have direct contact with players through league sanctioned activities. Pennsylvania residents must complete the Pennsylvania requirements in addition to the Babe Ruth League requirements. You will be directed to create a Sports Engine account if you do not currently have one. You should then receive a link to obtain your Babe Ruth background clearances. Make sure you check that you are a volunteer in Pennsylvania. MTAA is in the Mid-Atlantic Region. MTAA has pre-purchased codes (contact mbrickner@mtaaonline.org) that will cover the costs of the background check. I have been told the process is rather straightforward. Before attempting to complete the Babe Ruth background check you will need to have your Pa State Police Criminal Background Check (FREE) and PA Child Abuse Clearance (FREE) done and have the documents as pdfs in order to upload to Babe Ruth. Both documents are good for 5 years, so if you have either of these documents that were issued on or after September 1, 2018, they are still good for this year. You will also receive a link to take the required Abuse Prevention System (APS) training. The training takes approximately one hour and once completed will not need to be taken again. Certification for life.
Additionally, you will need one of the following options: Disclosure Statement or FBI Fingerprint Clearance (One of these options must be completed even if clearances came from another organization). Please read carefully and select the option that is appropriate for you.
Option 1: If you have been a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for at least the past 10 YEARS, sign, scan and submit the (Disclosure Statement for Volunteers) form which can be downloaded and printed. You do not need to get FBI fingerprinting if this option applies to you.
Option 2: If you have NOT lived in Pennsylvania for the last 10 years, you will need to obtain your FBI fingerprint clearances. You can use this link from PA Dept of Human Services to obtain your clearances instead of through the DOHS website. The cost for fingerprinting through the DOHS contractor is $23.25, which you will have to pay. You do not need to submit the Disclosure Form if this option applies to you.
By completing the above requirements, you will have a clearance to volunteer with MTAA. Even though both the Pa State Police and Pa Child Abuse Clearances are good for 5 years, for Babe Ruth League volunteers, you must also renew Babe Ruth League clearances every 2 years.
THANK YOU ALL for your help in this very important matter!
Any questions related to these requirements please reach out to the safety director Mark Brickner (mbrickner@mtaaonline.org), your league commissioner, or the league president.
