USA Wrestling Background Screening Policy

It is the policy of USA Wrestling (USAW) that all coach, referee/judge and pairings official members, and prospective coach, referee/judge and pairings officials members seeking to become a member and intending to participate in any USAW sanctioned event, camp, club practice or activity must submit to and pass a background screening in order to become a member, or remain a member of USA Wrestling, and participate in the above mentioned sanctioned activities. In addition, all non-athletes on State Association national and regional team staffs or who work with such teams at events, camps, club practices or other activities must submit to and pass a background screening. Failure to submit to a background screen or pass the background screen may be grounds for automatic denial, suspension or termination of membership privileges and participation in any USAW sanctioned event, camp, club practice, or activity.

Any individual who fails the background screen will have the right to dispute the findings of the background screening through the appropriate measures established by USAW.

USAW will enforce the appropriate actions resulting from a negative background screening report.

USAW, any USAW club or any USAW recognized State Association will not register, or allow to be registered, any individual who refuses to consent to a background screen or fails a background screen if that person intends to participate in any USAW sanctioned event, camp, club practice or activity.

The Screening data and results will be in conformity with the screening criteria of USAW at time of screening. Any individual's back ground check shall only be valid for two consecutive USAW recognized membership years, beginning with the membership year in which the individual successfully completes a background check. However, USAW reserves the right to require additional background screenings at any time.

The following shall disqualify an individual from being a member of USA Wrestling, and shall disqualify said individual from participating in any USAW event or activity:

"Conviction of, imposition of a deferred sentence for, or any plea of guilty or no contest at any time, past or present, or the existence of any pending charges, for (i) any crime involving sexual misconduct, (ii) any crimes of abuse against children, (iii) any crimes involving firearms, and (iv) any offense involving distribution or intent to distribute illegal drugs or substances, (v) felonious assaults or batteries."

USA Wrestling reserves the right to change these criteria at anytime.