It’s no secret that a number of high-profile criminal scandals have affected the world of sports. Without identifying any names, long-serving college football coaches, accomplished cyclists, and trainers for gymnastics have all betrayed supporters’ confidence and committed major crimes against unsuspecting victims.
Even though the perpetrators of these crimes frequently hide behind a veneer of wealth and status, wrongdoings frequently come to light—but not until after irreparable harm has been done.
The need for background checks in the sporting industry is vital as there are several factors at play when it comes to selecting athletes and staff for sports teams. In the world of sports, a lot of things either happen in front of the public or are eventually found out by them. A team’s reputation among fans, sponsors, and advertising could suffer greatly if the wrong person or player is chosen for a position.
Background checks for individuals working in the sports industry must cover the following key elements:
Criminal Background Checks
Criminal background checks and drug tests are frequently part of a thorough background check for sports sector employment. At the local, state, and federal levels—or some combination of those—criminal history checks may be performed. You should anticipate that a pre-employment criminal history check will look at candidate information from various jurisdictions for at least the last seven years.
You may be sure that you are getting complete information about a candidate by searching multiple jurisdictions. To protect young athletes, it is especially crucial to do a thorough criminal background check. You should thoroughly screen everyone who works with students before hiring, from coaches who oversee sports programs to drivers who take students to games. Additionally essential for professional sports franchises are criminal background checks.
The idea that a criminal’s past is kept on file with their social security number is a widespread one. In actuality, a person’s name and birthdate are used to preserve and index their criminal history. Usually, the ultimate form of verification is the partial or complete social security number. Criminals will try to keep you off their trail by giving false information, such as Bob instead of Robert, Lisa instead of Elizabeth, etc.
They know how their names are listed on their criminal records. When providing information for a background check, they might even employ cunning techniques like using their middle name as their first name, coming up with a misspelled name, using their maiden name, or even coming up with a pseudonym.
In order to manage financial transactions and run concession booths at venues, professional franchises rely on their workforce. Those who influence the success or failure of your company must be people you can trust.
Social Security Number Trace
A Social Security Number or SSN trace is a database search that reveals a social security number’s year, state of issuance, past addresses, and names. It is a crucial part of a background investigation and helps to unearth a lot more information about a person’s past than a search by one name or one address.
According to a poll by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA), 80 percent of background checks also include an SSN trace for all sports applicants. This is because the SSN trace is such an important part of background checks.
It’s critical to recognize what an SSN trace is not while evaluating the benefits it offers. An SSN trace may occasionally be mistaken for an identity verification process. An SSN tracing can provide addresses, aliases, and the validity of a particular SSN, but, it cannot confirm that an SSN belongs to the person who submitted it. Because of this, SSN trace is a strong background check tool that works best when integrated into a larger background check program.
5 reasons for incorporating an SSN trace into the background check procedure
- It can determine which criminal record searches are appropriate.
- It enables analysts to obtain more extensive background checks.
- It can expand criminal history searches by revealing previous name changes.
- It can produce a more thorough address history and reveal gaps.
- It can detect illegal and fraudulent activity.
Drug testing for the sports industry
Pre-employment and occasional post-hire re-screening drug tests should both be conducted. Options for lab-based urine testing, breath alcohol testing, and on-site testing will be available from a high-quality drug testing firm. Random drug testing is crucial to guarantee that sports business employees are drug-free.
Here is a look at some drug screening practices:
Football – Even during the offseason, the NFL regularly tests its coaches and players at random. Any athlete found taking performance-enhancing substances faces a four-game minimum suspension and even greater penalties for multiple offenses. When it comes to drug testing, the NFL is thought to be the strictest.
Baseball – The Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program is a strategy used by the MLB. This initiative aims to make it easier to stop using illegal drugs and prohibited substances. Instead of randomly testing, they do so for good purpose. Any player who is found using drugs faces a suspension and/or fine.
Hockey – Each NHL player is subject to two yearly random drug tests. In the event of a positive test, suspension and participation in a substance abuse/behavioral health program are required. A permanent suspension is necessary after more than three positive tests.
Association soccer is renowned for its lack of testing, yet FIFA may have some of the strictest penalties for drug usage, including a two-year suspension for a first infraction. Having stated that, each nation has a unique program for drug-testing its sports teams.
It should come as no surprise that testing is treated far more seriously when it comes to events like the World Cup, given how significant titles are to teams and supporters.
Protecting your team’s assets and reputation by running thorough background checks on players and employees is a smart move. A thorough background check can support your choice to hire a player or staff or let you know if any areas of the person’s past could be problematic for the team or franchise.
