TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

 

2008 CLINICS & TRAINING PROGRAMS

(For information about additional classes call the recreation office 908-753-8000 ext 270.)
 

Clinics & Training Programs will be posted when scheduled.

 

 

The Warren Township Recreation Commission is very thankful and appreciative of the many residents who volunteer their time to coach our youth in various sports. We are also committed to providing our volunteers with the necessary tools to effectively interact with the thousands of youth who participate each year. To ensure that both our volunteer coaches and youth participants have an enjoyable and safe sports experience, the Warren Township Recreation Commission and Warren Township Committee have mandated a coaches clinic for all volunteer coaches through the Rutgers Youth Sports Research Council and a fingerprinting and background check process for all volunteer coaches through the Warren Police Department.

 Introduction

 On May 12, 1986, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to pass legislation that protects volunteer athletic coaches, managers, and officials from lawsuits. Commonly referred to as the "Little League Law" (2A:62A-6 et. seq.), this legislation extends partial civil immunity to volunteers who have attended a "safety orientation and training skills program."

Since 1986, the Youth Sports Research Council, in cooperation with the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) has trained more than 140,000 volunteer coaches in New Jersey.

 Objectives

 In accordance with the stipulations in the Little League Law, the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic:

  • Helps coaches minimize the risk of injury to young athletes
  • Provides information about fundamental coaching concepts which enhances volunteer coaches' effectiveness
  • Protects volunteer coaches from civil lawsuits
Topics

 The curriculum for the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic is based upon the Minimum Standards for Volunteer Coaches' Safety Orientation and Training Skills Programs (N.J.A.C. 5:52).

The topics include:
  • Legal Aspects of Coaching
  • Psychological Aspects of Coaching
  • General Coaching Concepts
  • Training and Conditioning Athletes
  • Medical/First Aid Aspects of Coaching
Highlights

 Individuals attending the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic receive:
  • Way to Go, Coach! (pp. 200) custom edition text
  • The Coaches' Reference Manual (3rd edition)
  • The Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic Certification Card
  • The Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic Patch
  • Permanent registration with YSRC (.3 CEU)
This clinic is mandatory for all new volunteer coaches and is offered in Warren Township on several occasions throughout the year. The cost for the course and all materials is $30.00*. Upcoming clinics will be posted on this web site. Below is some detailed information pertaining to the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y clinic.

* Any change in the cost will be posted in the actual announcement of the scheduled clinic.

Fingerprinting and Background Checks
for Volunteer Coaches
  1. POLICY

    It is the policy of Warren Township that all individuals currently volunteering as or seeking to become a coach in the Township of Warren, including head or assistant coaching positions (a “coach”), of children under the age of eighteen involved in sports or recreational activities in the Township of Warren (“minors”) shall be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal history background check. If any coach is determined to have a criminal record containing a disqualifying event, that coach shall be removed from any current position as coach and barred from any future position as coach.
  2. PROCEDURE

    1. Submission of Personal Information and Fingerprints
      Each coach shall submit to the Warren Township Chief of Police (the “Chief”) the coach’s name, address, fingerprints and written consent for a criminal history record background check to be performed. The Chief is authorized to receive criminal history record information from the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation consistent with applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations. The coach shall bear the cost for the criminal history record background check, including all costs of administering and processing the check.

    2. Notification of a Criminal Record
      If the Chief is notified by the State Bureau of Investigation that any coach has a criminal record, the Chief shall promptly notify the Township Administrator.

    3. Investigation of a Criminal Record
      Once the Township Administrator is notified of the criminal record, the Township Administrator and Chief of Police shall contact the coach to request their written authorization to obtain detailed information regarding the criminal record from the State Bureau of Investigation. If the coach refuses to provide such written authorization, the coach shall be removed from any current position of coach and barred from any future position of coach until such time as his or her authorization is received. Once the coach provides such written authorization, the Chief of Police shall obtain detailed information regarding the criminal record from the State Bureau of Investigation.

    4. Determination Regarding the Criminal Record
      Once the detailed information regarding the criminal record is received, the Township Administrator and the Chief of Police shall make a determination within five (5) days as to whether any event in the record constitutes a disqualifying event. The following shall constitute a disqualifying event:

      1. Conviction of any crime or misdemeanor, including but not limited to murder, kidnapping, arson and other burnings, atrocious assault and battery, breaking and entering, bribery and corruption, burglary, conspiracy, embezzlement, conversion and misappropriation of funds, extortion or threats, forgery and counterfeiting, frauds and cheats, indecency and obscenity, larceny, loan sharking, possession or use of a controlled dangerous substance, receiving stolen property, robbery, rape and carnal or child abuse, seduction and any other crimes against the person or crimes involving moral turpitude.

      2. Conviction of any misdemeanor or disorderly persons offense involving being unable to give a good account, common thieves, burglars and pickpockets, carrying weapons or burglar tools, conspiracy, unlawful soliciting, assault and battery, frauds and misrepresentations, possession or use of habit-producing drugs, shoplifting, and any other offense involving moral turpitude.

      3. Business pursuits resulting in fraud, misappropriation of funds or similar activity.

      The above crimes, misdemeanors or disorderly persons offenses shall be deemed to be those as defined or equivalent to crimes and disorderly offenses defined by law in the State of New Jersey.

    5. Notification of a Disqualifying Event,
      Appeal of Determination and Removal of Coach

      1. If a determination has been made by the Township Administrator and the Chief of Police that an event in the coach’s criminal record constitutes a disqualifying event, then the Township Administrator and Chief of Police shall notify the coach in writing of the determination within three (3) days.

      2. Once the coach has been formally notified in writing that the Township Administrator and the Chief of Police have made a determination that any event contained in a coach’s criminal record is a disqualifying event, the coach shall have the right within five (5) days of receipt of the formal notification appeal to the Township Committee for review of the determination of the Township Administrator and Chief of Police.

      3. The coach shall be entitled to speak to the Township Committee on his or her own behalf, and shall be entitled to provide information stating why the event in the coach’s criminal record should not be considered a disqualifying event.

      4. Once an appeal is made, the Township Committee shall review the entire file, the circumstances surrounding the criminal record and any statement or information provided by the coach, and shall make a final determination within ten (10) days as to whether an event on the criminal record constitutes a disqualifying event. The Township Committee may affirm or reverse the decision of the township administrator and the chief of police and shall set forth their final determination in writing.

      5. If the coach does not appeal the initial determination by the Township Administrator and Chief of Police the coach shall be removed or barred from the position of coach within ten (10) days of the date of the formal notification letter of a disqualifying event. If the coach appeals the determination within five (5) days, the coach shall be removed from his or her position until such time as a final determination as to the appeal is made by the Township Committee. Once a final determination is made by the Township Committee that an event on the coach’s criminal record constitutes a disqualifying event the coach shall be permanently removed from his or her position as coach and permanently barred from acting as a coach in the future.

  3. CONFIDENTIALITY

    The criminal history record background check and fingerprinting procedure set forth in this policy will be conducted, to the extent possible, in a manner intended to preserve the privacy of all parties. To the extent possible, privacy and confidentiality will be maintained.


Warren Township Recreation Commission
46 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, NJ 07059
Phone: (908) 753-8000, x270 - Fax: (908) 753-7768