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Several Points of Clarification with respect to registration and the CORI Process

From the Executive Director of Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association

To All:

.... there are a few misconceptions with respect to the registration and CORI process. This memo is an effort to clarify the process for everyone.
 

1. All players, coaches, managers, team administrators, club board members, league board members and anyone having a recurring involvement in any youth soccer programming with your organization MUST be registered. For most this means registered with Mass Youth Soccer. This is the rule from US Soccer, US Youth Soccer and Mass Youth Soccer.
    
2. There are basically two ways to register. The club submits a registration file, using the new secure submission system, to us ( Rachel Woo). Or an individual goes on line and submits an individual registration and pays the requisite fee.
   
   Please note, submitting a CORI background ( preferable on line) DOES NOT register someone with us.
   
   The CORI process
    
3. Massachusetts state law with respect to CORI is as follows: Notwithstanding section 172 or any other general or special law to the contrary, any entity or organization primarily engaged in providing activities or programs to children 18 years of age or less that accepts volunteers, shall obtain all available criminal offender record information from the criminal history systems board prior to accepting any person as a volunteer.
   
   Please note what this law does NOT say. It does not say just those whose names appear on a roster. It does not say just those who interact with kids. IT SAYS ALL VOLUNTEERS.
   
   Also note there is no age restriction on who may be a volunteer and thus who will require a        background check.
   
   Mass Youth Soccer interprets volunteers to include paid coaches, and those who are compensated for running youth sports organizations.
   
   Thus the Mass law ties directly to Mass Youth Soccer’s policy on who must be registered. Since Mass Youth Soccer runs the background checks, we only run those checks on individuals whose names appear of the registration file ( or who submit an individual registration). It is the submission of that registration file which provides the authority to Mass Youth Soccer to run the background check.
   
   Again, submission of the cori background does not trigger a background check nor provide authority for us to run the background check. Only submission of the registration file does this.
    
4. The Criminal History Systems Board, in carrying out its responsibilities of administering the criminal records in Massachusetts, has adopted a rule which states that everyone, upon whom a background check is to be run, must submit the CORI background form. This is where the requirement to submit the form arises. So, everyone who is on your registration file ( or who registers individually) MUST submit the background form.
   
   There have been recent reports in the papers and on the TV about individuals whose conduct leaves much to be desired. The media will make much of these stories and they will only be worse if clubs have not registered their volunteers with us and if we have not run the background check. Please, get these files in to us.
   
   A word about accuracy of the information on your file.
   
   Please ensure you use an individual’s legal name, not a nickname or shortened version of their first name. Also, please ensure the DOB is accurate. If we run the background on someone using an incorrect DOB, the report we receive back from Boston will be inaccurate.
   
   I hope this helps clarify the issues of registration and the background check process.
   
   John Burrill
   Executive Director
   Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association
   512 Old Union Turnpike
   Lancaster, MA 01523
   978-466-8812 x 237
   978-466-8817 fax
   jburrill@mayouthsoccer.org
   

So, If you have not done so, Click here to register