Background screening on volunteers to be
addressed by New York recreation professionals

The growing concern over pedophiles and other dangerous individuals preying on children in youth sports programs is one of many crucial issues that New York's recreation professionals will address through a special series of upcoming seminars.

The Risks of Recreational Youth Sports seminars, which will be held in nine cities throughout the state beginning on March 13, will confront the issue of performing background screening checks on all volunteers, as disturbing incidents of volunteer coaches abusing youngsters continue to rock the youth sports landscape.

A wide range of other issues affecting youth sports will also be covered, including risk and liability for municipalities; mandatory parent sportsmanship programs to curb out-of-control spectator behavior; and utilizing training programs for volunteer coaches to ensure that they are teaching safe and proper techniques; among other areas.

The New York State Recreation & Park Society is conducting the seminars in conjunction with the National Alliance for Youth Sports, a non profit organization with chapters throughout the state that is committed to ensuring safe and positive experiences for all children.

Michael Pfahl, vice president of Outreach for the Alliance, will be the featured speaker during the sessions. Under his direction more than 1.7 million volunteer coaches have completed the Alliance's volunteer coach training and certification program, and he has conducted educational sessions worldwide covering various aspects pertaining to youth sports.

During the sessions risk managers will also share their insight on the liability a municipality faces when running a youth sports program. There will also be a roundtable forum in which recreation professionals will discuss problems often encountered while conducting a youth sports program, and proven solutions that agencies have discovered.

The Risks of Recreational Youth Sports seminars, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be held March 18 - Erie County Community College in Niagara Frontier, March 19 - Webster Parks and Recreation Department in Rochester, March 25 - North Syracuse Community Center in Central New York.

The registration cost is $20 and the deadline for registering is March 11.

For information contact the New York State Recreation & Park Society at 518-584-0321.