WHAT IS A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION, BACKGROUND CHECK, AND MANDATORY TRAINING?
WMLL follows the Little League International Child Protection Program. An overview and additional information can be found at this link (Click Here). The volunteer application and background checks are a component of the overall Child Protection Program. In addition, volunteers are also required to complete Abuse Awareness Training.
WHO NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION & BACKGROUND CHECK?
WMLL actively screens all applicants, 18 and older, who wish to be a head or assistant coach, team coordinator, member of the Board of Directors, paid staff, volunteer, or any other person who provides regular services to the league and/or has repetitive access to or contact with players or teams.
WMLL has implemented a new process since 2024 where we require all coaches and team coordinators to fill out a registration through Sports Connect. This will allow WMLL league officials to know upfront who are the coaches and team coordinators. That registration will trigger the background checks, mandatory training, and will also help identify individuals who are awarded Dibs credits as part of WMLL's mandatory service program. Sometimes parents may help out here and there throughout the season and in most of those instances they do not need to go through the coach registration process and subsequent background checks and training. But if the help becomes more regular week to week and game to game then they will have to go through the process.
WHEN DO BACKGROUND CHECKS OCCUR?
Every year new background checks and training need to be done for any individual who fits the description above. At the beginning of each calendar year WMLL will start by doing background checks of all board members and paid staff new or returning from the previous year. Once the coaches and team coordinators start to be identified then the background checks and team coordinators will start to be completed.
HOW ARE THE BACKGROUND CHECKS DONE?
Little League International’s preferred background check provider is JD Palatine (JDP). JDP offers a quick and easy option for potential volunteers, board members, paid staff, to complete their volunteer application and a background check all in the same process.
A representative from the Board of Directors or the Executive Director will first reach out to the individual(s) that are about to go through the process via email. In this email will be a notification that they are about to receive an email from JDP along with detailed instructions to guide the individual(s) through the process.
For more information about the program visit Little League International website linked above or view this pdf file (Little League Child Protection Program)
For questions on this topic please contact the WMLL Board President, Jerry Schmitt at [email protected] or the WMLL Executive Director, Ryan Allen at [email protected]